Evening Gentleman Page 6
LESLIE
Same with me. You know that I should still file for divorce. It is still in my head.
NATHAN
Please don’t. I don’t want to lose you.
LESLIE
No, you don’t want to lose what we have built. I can clean you out.
NATHAN
This is what I get for being honest. I don’t want you to walk out on me.
LESLIE
Look at the times that you walked out on me.
NATHAN
Leslie I am sorry. Aiden meant nothing to me.
LESLIE
For two years he meant nothing. You bought him a house and he meant nothing.
I took my napkin and wiped my tears.
LESLIE
I am going to give you another chance. But there are some things that you MUST do.
NATHAN
Anything…just name it.
Insomnia
Aiden arrived home from work and threw his bags in a chair. He flounced down on the bed and laid back. While staring at the ceiling fan he just listened to his cell phone ring. In no way did he want to be bothered. Before he knew it he was off to sleep.
Thirty minutes into his nap his door bell rang. He noticed that he was still clothed while in bed. He looked at his clock and it showed 6:48. Aiden didn’t realize that he had been asleep.
The door bell rang again. He slowly crawled out of bed to go and answer the door. Without looking through the peephole he just opened it. There I stood with a bushel of roses and a bottle of wine. I could tell that Aiden wanted to slam the door but he just stood there. I extended the roses and the bottle to him but he stood there speechless.
NATHAN
Will you please accept my apology?
AIDEN
Why should I?
NATHAN
Because I am sorry. I love you. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.
AIDEN
I know you didn’t. You thought that you were going to have all the fun that you wanted and never get caught.
NATHAN
May I come in?
Aiden finally stepped to the side and allowed me to enter. I tried to give him a kiss but he refused it. I walked into the kitchen and got two flutes from the cabinets. I opened the bottle and poured.
When I came from the kitchen Aiden was sitting in his favorite recliner that I gave him. I passed him a flute and I took a seat on the couch.
NATHAN
Why don’t you come sit on the couch with me?
AIDEN
Why are you here?
NATHAN
Did you and Leslie talk at work today?
AIDEN
She and I haven’t spoken since all of this went down.
NATHAN
I don’t think that you two should be upset with each other. Everyone should be mad at me.
AIDEN
Again, why are you here?
NATHAN
I have something that I want to talk to you about.
AIDEN
Go ahead.
NATHAN
Leslie and I are trying to make amends. I really want my marriage to work.
AIDEN
Great for the both of you.
NATHAN
She wants me to make you move out of this house.
Aiden paused. The look on his face was like none other. My heart skipped several beats awaiting his response.
AIDEN
Excuse me?
NATHAN
In order for us not to get a divorce she wants me to sell this house. She wants to make sure that I don’t come here to visit you, speak to you, or anything.
AIDEN
I can’t believe this. Are you serious?
NATHAN
Aiden, baby I am sorry.
I swallowed my wine so hard that you could hear it going down. I got up to pour another flute. I offered to get Aiden another one but he just sat there. Tears began to form in his eyes. In the two years that I have known him I always hated to see him cry.
Aiden’s cell phone began to ring. I walked over to the table where it was and looked at the screen. When I saw Demarcus’s name I answered.
NATHAN
Hello.
DEMARCUS
Um – I was calling for Aiden.
NATHAN
He is busy right now. May I ask who is calling?
DEMARCUS
This is Demarcus.
NATHAN
Demarcus let me ask you something? What is up with you and Aiden? Why are you calling him?
Aiden quickly jerked his phone from my grasp.
AIDEN
Demarcus call me back later.
DEMARCUS
Sure. Is everything okay?
AIDEN
Just call me back.
Aiden threw the phone on the table.
AIDEN
Don’t you ever answer my phone again!
NATHAN
Tell me the deal with you and him.
AIDEN
I don’t have to tell you anything.
NATHAN
If you value our love and togetherness you would.
Aiden turned and looked at me. He folded him arms across his chest.
AIDEN
When do you want me out of “your” house?
NATHAN
I don’t want to talk about that.
AIDEN
That’s what you came here for. To talk. To tell me to get the hell out of your house. This is the reason that I didn’t want you to buy this house for me. This is why I don’t like for anyone to do anything for me.
NATHAN
Pride.
AIDEN
It has nothing to do with pride. It’s because people like you that give and take.
It felt like he punched me in the chest. I wanted to cry but I could not allow him to see the hurt.
NATHAN
Are you fucking Demarcus?
AIDEN
I wish I could put you out but you know…this is your house.
Aiden walked over and picked up his phone. I watched as he dialed a number and placed the phone to his ear.
AIDEN
Hello Mr. Webb. This is Aiden. I am going to need a sub for the rest of this week. I have some personal things going on that I have to take care of…Okay…Thank you sir. I will keep you updated.
After listening to his conversation I could tell that he was talking to his principal. I watched him dial another number.
AIDEN
Demarcus. Is it okay if I stay with you a few days?
DEMARCUS
Yes sure. Is everything okay?
AIDEN
It will be. I will be there in about an hour.
Aiden ended the call and walked to his walk-in closet and began to throw clothes into a bag.
NATHAN
You are not staying with him.
Aiden ignored me while I was talking. I wanted to pull him out of the closet and make love to him. I wanted to make him forget everything that I just said to him.
Aiden continued to pack items while I was trying to talk to him. He would not stop for anything. The louder I got the harder he pack. I followed him throughout the house as he was packing. But he would not stop. Forty-five minutes later he stopped and fell against the wall. I wanted to just hold him.
NATHAN
Please Aiden. Please don’t cry.
AIDEN
I am cried out over you. You have hurt me for the last time.
NATHAN
Do you want me to leave her and move in here with you?
AIDEN
Hell no. So that you can sneak around on me like you did on her. Come to think about it there is no telling how many people that you have drug along. You know my grandmother used to have a name for men like you. She called them “evening gentlemen”. You meet people, male or female. Wine and dine them. Show them all the perks. But you can never be seen with them in daylight. It was always after dark thirty. I saw the s
igns but never acknowledged them.
NATHAN
We have been out in public.
AIDEN
Yes when we were out of town or in another state. I want more than that.
I dropped my head and took a deep breath.
NATHAN
I love …
AIDEN
Don’t even finish that lie. I don’t want to hear it anymore.
Aiden walked passed me and got into his car. The next thing I saw were his tail lights going down the street. I turned and locked up the house. I got into my truck and drove home.
As I laid in my bed I could not help but toss and turn. The thoughts in my head were on Aiden. What was he doing? How was he feeling? Was Demarcus consoling him? I got up and got a bottle of water from the refrigerator. I didn’t know that Leslie followed me.
LESLIE
It is 1:56 in the morning. Why are you up?
NATHAN
I can’t sleep.
LESLIE
What’s on your mind?
NATHAN
Nothing just thinking about a new potential client.
She walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me.
LESLIE
Let’s go away for the weekend.
NATHAN
Where would you like to go?
LESLIE
How about a three day get-a-way to Jamaica?
NATHAN
I will set it up when I get into the office.
LESLIE
Great. I think this is what you need to get your mind off of things. Question. Did you place that house on the market for sale?
NATHAN
I didn’t.
LESLIE
And why not? I told you I want that house gone.
NATHAN
I could not get in touch with my realtor. I will keep trying.
LESLIE
The sooner the better. Now…come on back to bed.
NATHAN
I think that I am going to go for a walk.
LESLIE
The only walk that you will be doing is up those stairs and into bed.
I decided to follow my wife and go back to bed.
Can’t Run Away
Demarcus walked into the bedroom where Aiden was asleep. Aiden was snuggled in the Elizabeth Queen bedding set. He placed a breakfast tray on the nightstand and started to fan the aroma of pancakes, turkey bacon, strawberries, turkey sausage, eggs, and a mimosa towards Aiden.
The covers began to move by Aiden turning over. Arms were the first thing that came from under the covers. Aiden flung the covers over. When he saw Demarcus he smiled. He sat up in the bed and looked at the breakfast tray.
AIDEN
What is all of this?
DEMARCUS
I figured that you needed some breakfast so I fixed you a quick meal and brought it to you.
AIDEN
You didn’t have to do this. I could have gone to IHOP or somewhere and got something.
DEMARCUS
After everything you told me last night I felt that you needed to be spoiled a little.
AIDEN
I think that is part of my problem.
DEMARCUS
How did you sleep?
AIDEN
Great. Your sheets are so soft and comfortable.
DEMARCUS
Great. With 1500 thread count they should be.
AIDEN
Look, I thought you said you were a personal trainer.
DEMARCUS
I am.
AIDEN
Not counting you money or anything but you must be doing pretty damn good.
Demarcus chuckled as he sat on the bed. He was being very evasive about the question.
DEMARCUS
I do okay. How long do you plan on staying here?
AIDEN
Not long. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.
DEMARCUS
That will not be a problem. But listen…I have to go out of town for a few days. I want you to stay and watch my house for me.
AIDEN
How long?
DEMARCUS
About a three to four weeks.
AIDEN
Training people out of town?
DEMARCUS
You can say that.
AIDEN
Will your partner be coming by checking in?
DEMARCUS
If I had a partner don’t you think that he will be staying here?
AIDEN
Everyone don’t live together.
DEMARCUS
Well as for me and my house I believe that if I had a partner he would be living here. Not separated. I can’t deal with that.
AIDEN
How long was your last relationship?
DEMARCUS
We were together about three years.
AIDEN (while eating his breakfast)
What happened?
DEMARCUS
I was afraid of losing some things. I didn’t know how to handle certain things.
Aiden finished the breakfast that Demarcus prepared. Demarcus took the tray downstairs and began to wash dishes. Aiden offered to help but Demarcus bumped him out of the way. He turned and flicked soap bubbles on Aiden. Demarcus laughed and did it again. Aiden reached into the water and returned the gesture to Demarcus. They wrestled with the soap water for a few moments.
Suddenly Aiden heard his phone chime from upstairs that indicated he had an email. Aiden scurried away. When he reached his phone he began to read the email from Nathan.
Aiden…how are you? I would have text but it is cheaper to send
this email. My wife and I took a weekend vacation to the Caribbean Islands.
I hope that all is well. I just wanted you to know that I have received a few offers
on the house. I will keep you informed on everything. Remember
you can stay in the house. I hope to you see when I get back in the
states. Take care and I love you.
After reading the email Aiden just held his phone in his hand. He covered his mouth with his left hand. Demarcus walked into his room.
DEMARCUS
Hey I meant to tell you about….what’s wrong?
Aiden passed Demarcus the phone with the email. Demarcus read the email and told Aiden not to worry about anything. He assured him that everything would work out.
DEMARCUS
Look when I get back I want to take you on a vacation.
AIDEN
You don’t have to do that.
DEMARCUS
No. I want to plus you need it.
Demarcus surprised Aiden by giving him a kiss on the forehead. He walked out of the room and snapped back. He gave Aiden a quick wink.
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LESLIE
Honey, come on, if we don’t get down there early enough we won’t get a good seat.
Leslie yelled loud enough so that I could hear her in the bathroom.
NATHAN
I’m coming.
We were headed down to Greenfield Stadium for the annual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, which features dozens of local and international acts performing over three days. I loved to get a seat early because I’d be damned if I was going to walk in the stadium late. I am a music lover. This year the concert was featuring Toni Braxton, One Third, Brian Art, Najee, Chrisette Michele and the great Chaka Khan.
I was excited about being with Leslie. I think that this was the first time in a long time that I was feeling those old feelings when we first met. Since the incident at the church things hadn’t been right. I could feel that we were forcing ourselves to “like” one another.
We got down to the show just before it started. People were walking around talking, drinking, and laughing. I held Leslie’s hand and we made it to our seats.
I remembered growing up and music would always be playing around the house. Especially on the weekend when me and my brother would be cleaning and doing out other weekend chores. I ca
n remember seeing my mother with the vacuum dancing as she made her way around the house. My father was usually out getting drunk and would come home and fight with my mother. He would cuss me and my brother so hard that once I found a knife under my brother’s pillow where he was planning to slit my father’s throat when he passed out.
I can admit that I was damaged. It wasn’t something that I was proud of. I never discussed it and tried not to think about it.
Since things were going good between Leslie and me I wasn’t going to jinx it and think bad thoughts. I wanted to look at the future and be confident that things would get better.
The show started and local artists came out first. I wanted to see Toni Braxton perform since it had been over five years when I saw her in Las Vegas. After about two hours there was an intermission. I knew that she would be up next. I went and got Leslie and me something else to drink. As I was walking back to my seat I noticed a very attractive older gentleman looking in my direction. I stopped and observed him for a minute. I noticed when he tilted his head to the side beckoning me to follow. I looked down at the drinks and back at him. Leslie was waiting and I was waiting on Toni’s performance. I could feel my nature growing intensely in my pants. For once I had to think with the head on my shoulders and not the head in my pants.
I made my way back to my seat. I passed Leslie her drink and took a long sip of my cognac. Leslie placed her hand on my thigh. I looked at her and smiled.
LESLIE (noticing my manhood on the side of my leg)
In the words of R. Kelly, “Seems like you’re ready.”
NATHAN
Anytime that I am next to you I am ready.
LESLIE
We can leave now and take care of that.
NATHAN
Baby I need to see Toni Braxton perform. Then we will go and take care of each other all night.
NATHAN
Toni gave a great show didn’t she?
LESLIE
She was good.
NATHAN
She was better than good. She was awesome. Towanda and Trina still got it too. Great women and great singers.
LESLIE
You know she was lip-syncing?
NATHAN
Never that! Don’t be a hater baby. Toni has nothing on you.
Leslie began to take her clothes off. I decided that I wanted something else to drink.
NATHAN
Bae, I am going down to the bar and get a bottle of wine. I will be back.
LESLIE
Okay. Take your time, but hurry up. I have something for you.