successful, traditional part of the Atlanta community.
I’m sure Daryn and his mother were livid when they couldn’t get in touch with me after my doctor’s appointment. I’m sure she was waiting at his office with the perfect dress in hand and a team to get me television ready for the appearance that I had no idea was supposed to happen.
“I need you to take me home through my building’s private entrance, not the front. I can’t take a chance of anyone seeing me exit your truck.” My voice is shaky as I direct him where to go. I’m not even remotely ready for what is possibly waiting for me back in my apartment. I am sure that Daryn is there seething about the fact that he couldn’t get in touch with me earlier. I have no idea how I’ll explain my disappearing act.
“Do you wanna tell me what’s up? You are shakin’ and you look like you are about to pass out. It wasn’t long ago that you were smiling and happy, now this. I don’t like it. I know it’s got something to do with Ol’ Boy. It’s pissing me off that one phone call makes you react like this. If you need me to come up to your place with you, I will. I am not going to let this asshole keep –”
“No!” I snap. “I’m sorry, Quinton. I didn’t mean to snap at you. You don’t deserve that. But, no. I think it would be best if you just drop me off. I need to handle this on my own. It’s going to be a mess and I don’t want to make it worse with a confrontation. I appreciate your concern, but everything I said before may not matter. Go home and turn on the news and you’ll finally see why this way of life and these social circles I am a part of will forever dictate what I do, what I say, and how I’m forced to behave. I’m sorry if I led you on.”
Once we pull up to the private entrance in my building, I am thankful to see Neesa standing there waiting. She knew as well as I did that Daryn was probably waiting for me upstairs. I’m sure she realized that there would be too many questions if she showed up without me.
Before I get out, I give Quinton a kiss on the cheek, knowing that this one day of happiness will be my last one for a while. Over the next year, my life will not be my own. My every action will be judged and dissected by reporters waiting for me to do something that will be fodder for gossip. I will have to be on my best behavior and that means staying away from Quinton Ramsey. My only wish is that I would have been brave enough to make the decision I made earlier today, much sooner. Now I know I can’t say anything. I can’t.
Neesa comes over and helps me out of his truck. I then walk past her and with each step I take; I feel my body returning to and transforming back into the person I don’t like. I faintly hear Quinton asking Neesa what’s going on, but I don’t wait around to find out what she says back to him. It doesn’t matter if she says nothing or tells him everything. He’ll find out soon enough what kind of people I have to deal with and what lengths they’ll go to in order to get what they want.
Eight - Lies
When Neesa meets me at the elevator, I don’t bother to ask what she told Quinton. She doesn’t volunteer the information either. She is my friend, my best friend, and she is there for me no matter what. I feel like this will be a time where I’ll need her more than ever. And though this is not a life and death situation, I still feel like someone has died – me.
Neesa laces her fingers through mine as the elevator opens on our floor. “You know… I could just call him back and I’m sure he’d turn right around and take you away from all this. He really likes you and he is worried about you. You got out of his truck and left you r purse, you were so out of it,” she says handing me my purse.
I give her a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. Neesa knows that I could never run away like that but I am silently thanking her for the thought. I’m sure she would do just as
I’m sure Daryn and his mother were livid when they couldn’t get in touch with me after my doctor’s appointment. I’m sure she was waiting at his office with the perfect dress in hand and a team to get me television ready for the appearance that I had no idea was supposed to happen.
“I need you to take me home through my building’s private entrance, not the front. I can’t take a chance of anyone seeing me exit your truck.” My voice is shaky as I direct him where to go. I’m not even remotely ready for what is possibly waiting for me back in my apartment. I am sure that Daryn is there seething about the fact that he couldn’t get in touch with me earlier. I have no idea how I’ll explain my disappearing act.
“Do you wanna tell me what’s up? You are shakin’ and you look like you are about to pass out. It wasn’t long ago that you were smiling and happy, now this. I don’t like it. I know it’s got something to do with Ol’ Boy. It’s pissing me off that one phone call makes you react like this. If you need me to come up to your place with you, I will. I am not going to let this asshole keep –”
“No!” I snap. “I’m sorry, Quinton. I didn’t mean to snap at you. You don’t deserve that. But, no. I think it would be best if you just drop me off. I need to handle this on my own. It’s going to be a mess and I don’t want to make it worse with a confrontation. I appreciate your concern, but everything I said before may not matter. Go home and turn on the news and you’ll finally see why this way of life and these social circles I am a part of will forever dictate what I do, what I say, and how I’m forced to behave. I’m sorry if I led you on.”
Once we pull up to the private entrance in my building, I am thankful to see Neesa standing there waiting. She knew as well as I did that Daryn was probably waiting for me upstairs. I’m sure she realized that there would be too many questions if she showed up without me.
Before I get out, I give Quinton a kiss on the cheek, knowing that this one day of happiness will be my last one for a while. Over the next year, my life will not be my own. My every action will be judged and dissected by reporters waiting for me to do something that will be fodder for gossip. I will have to be on my best behavior and that means staying away from Quinton Ramsey. My only wish is that I would have been brave enough to make the decision I made earlier today, much sooner. Now I know I can’t say anything. I can’t.
Neesa comes over and helps me out of his truck. I then walk past her and with each step I take; I feel my body returning to and transforming back into the person I don’t like. I faintly hear Quinton asking Neesa what’s going on, but I don’t wait around to find out what she says back to him. It doesn’t matter if she says nothing or tells him everything. He’ll find out soon enough what kind of people I have to deal with and what lengths they’ll go to in order to get what they want.
Eight - Lies
When Neesa meets me at the elevator, I don’t bother to ask what she told Quinton. She doesn’t volunteer the information either. She is my friend, my best friend, and she is there for me no matter what. I feel like this will be a time where I’ll need her more than ever. And though this is not a life and death situation, I still feel like someone has died – me.
Neesa laces her fingers through mine as the elevator opens on our floor. “You know… I could just call him back and I’m sure he’d turn right around and take you away from all this. He really likes you and he is worried about you. You got out of his truck and left you r purse, you were so out of it,” she says handing me my purse.
I give her a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. Neesa knows that I could never run away like that but I am silently thanking her for the thought. I’m sure she would do just as
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