Xavier FINAL(38)
“You sleep well?” He asked as I finally took a bite.
“Like I was on a cloud.” I nodded. “Has to be the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in.”
“How long have you lived in that apartment of yours?”
“Almost four years.”
“You slept on an air mattress for four--.”
“No I have a bed. Well had a bed, a couch, a dresser, a flat screen, and stereo system.” I huffed. “The only thing I want back is my grandmothers little bed side table.”
“You get robbed?”
“Not exactly.”
He dropped his fork and his brows burrowed. “He got all your stuff?”
“I was supposed to be moving in with him. It’s not all my stuff. Some was acquired together in the past year that we lived together.”
“But your grandma’s table and the bed. You want them back?”
“The table yes. The bed, no. I don’t want that bed.”
His hands fisted on the table. “Too many good memories.”
“I thought they were but apparently not.”
“Did he make you come on that bed?” The vein in his forehead bulged as his facial features hardened.
“We were together for a while.” I didn’t want to tell him, no, not once.
“Right.” He nodded and stood up.
I helped him clear the table and clean the dishes. I also looked to see if he was still hard. I mean that thing was seriously impressive.
“You love him still? I mean if you loved him do you still?”
“I thought I loved him.” I reached for a washcloth. “But that makes me sick to my stomach now. I can’t believe how naive I was. I mean I am not a stupid girl. I just wanted someone not like my brothers you know? Not someone who thought they owned me.”
“Men like your brothers probably take better care of what they own.”
“They have a commitment phobia just like you.” I laughed.
“Men like us?”
“Please don’t get your boxers in a bunch, you know what I mean.”
“Men like us don’t lie to get laid. We don’t suck off a woman. We take care of our shit, not rely on some naive girl to do it for us. We don’t prey on week minded people. Men like us are out there fucking girls who have been cheated on. Men like us are making them feel good about themselves. Men like us are honest with women like you.”
He looked angry but I am sure I looked angrier.
I set down the washcloth and walked out of the room.
“Taelyn. Don’t walk away from me!”
I didn’t respond. I ran up the stairs and slammed the door and dove under the covers. I wanted to leave but had no car. I even thought about calling home but I had no phone. So I laid back and covered up my head hoping he didn’t come back in the room.
He didn’t come in. I was glad, I didn’t want him to.
~
When I woke I was in his arms, crying.
“Shhh. I got you,” He whispered and held me tighter.
“I am so stupid. I am so--.”
“No you’re not. You expected his promises to be real. You believed he wouldn’t hurt you. You say your brothers are like me. But you say it with such contempt. The reality is it’s just what a girl like you needs--” I tried to pull away and he held tighter. “You’ll hear me out Taelyn. You were raised with, what I assume, is men of honor and pride by the boat load. It’s not something that can be taught, it’s something you not only heard but saw. Your heart didn’t have to be guarded because you knew you were raised by people of their word. It sucks that you were hurt, but I’ve seen people I love rebound from it. You’ll do the same. You’re so kind, so sweet, and--.”
“No I’m not. You don’t know what happened this morning! I am not sweet. I went home and showered. I laid in bed in that robe and waited for him to come home, when he didn’t I sent him a text telling him I needed him. He came. I knew he must not have been far away.”