Sincere Deception Read online

  When we pulled up in front of The Grove—a romantic Italian restaurant located down town, I was a bit nervous to say the least. I mean, dining with Lee alone was already enough to send chills down my spine, but now I had to adjust to the thought of my best friend and a stranger added to the mix. I didn’t know what the hell to expect for the night, but both my hands were secretly crossed. We strolled inside the restaurant and took our seats. Lee and I of course sat next to one another, while Kelis and John sat side-by-side on the other end of the four-seat table. John didn’t waste any time flagging down the waiter and demanding her to send us our drinks. He also decided that he was ready to order his meal. After taking John’s order, the waiter politely asked the rest of us if we were ready to order, which we were not. She then walked back to the kitchen.

  By the sour expression on Kelis’s face, I could tell that she wasn’t having a good time; she was ready to go. By the look on Lee’s face, I could tell that all he wanted to do was eat and get the hell outta there. John’s face—well, the stale stare on his face simply told me that he didn’t have a care in the world as to what was goin’ on. John had a reserved persona about him, yet he still had a strong presence. His features were attractive—dark-skinned, handsome face, tight body, and good-looking hair. Like Lee, he spoke very intelligent as if he went to college and graduated from English class. His voice was deep; his dressing style was always slick—slacks and fancy sweaters.

  For several moments, we all just sat there in silence gazing around the room looking at other people enjoying their friends and food. Finally, the waiter returned first with our drinks, and shortly after, John’s Spaghetti, meat balls, and garlic bread. She then took the rest of our orders, then returned to the kitchen. As we waited, we were still awkwardly quiet as we watched John chow down his food like a homeless kid.

  Clearly attempting to take focus off John and his absurd eating habits, Lee turned to Kelis and me and asked if we were having a good time.

  “Yes, I’m having a good time,” I told him.

  He focused his attention towards Kelis, which still had not responded. Then finally, she said, “To be honest, I’d rather be doing something else right now other than sitting here watching your friend eat his food while the rest of us sit here stupidly waiting for ours.”

  The tone in her voice was so sharp, sour, and unpleasant, that even I found myself giving her an expression of surprise. I glanced over at Lee; he seemed to react the same way. John, however, he still didn’t seem to give a damn about anything that was going on. He continued to eat his food as if it would be the very last time he consumed any.

  I was relieved when I spotted the waiter holding a handful of plates. One-by-one, she placed our meals in front of us. She then told us to let her know if we needed anything additional before turning to walk away. As I prepared to twirl my fork around the shrimp pasta, I noticed that Kelis was sitting there pouting with her arms folded. I didn’t want to make a scene, but I did at least want to make sure she was not on the verge of embarrassing the hell out of me at that damn dinner table.

  I cleared my throat before speaking. Speaking softly, I said, “Kelis? Are you okay?”

  She slowly led her eyes upon me, then rolled them. With her arms still crossed, she replied, “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just ready to go.”

  “Why are you in such a hurry?” John asked her. “I was hoping that you and I could talk a little. You look very nice tonight, by the way.”

  “Thank you for the compliment. But it’s gonna take way more than a compliment for you to get into these warm panties of mine.”

  “I’m flattered that you’d assume I want to get into your pants. But if I really wanted those panties of yours, I would certainly get them,” John said in a cocky, yet calm manner. “I only told you, you look nice, because you do. If I wanted some pussy from you, I would’ve simply said that.”

  The entire table became soundless. I’m not sure if that was because we were all in shock and didn’t know what to say… or, if it was because we were all scared shitless as to what would happen next if we spoke. But whatever it was, I sure as hell didn’t want to get Kelis’s hotheaded ass started. Looking into her eyes, I could tell that the night was only gonna get worse. I had to do something. Fast. I excused myself from the table, stood up, grabbed my purse, and walked over towards Kelis. I kindly grabbed her arm and purse, and told her to step away from the table with me. We strolled about 25ft back to the restaurant’s entrance, then headed outside. As soon as I guided her far enough away from the restaurant’s doorway, I stood in front of her and spoke.

  “Why are you acting like this? I thought we were gonna come out and have a decent time? You haven’t done anything but grouch, Kelis!”

  Her arms were still folded, and her facial expression was still as sour as green apples. “I just want to get the hell outta here. I don’t want to be here with those fools.”

  I sighed, and then waved my hand into the air. “I don’t want you to leave… but if you feel you gots to go, do that. I am not gonna stand here and beg you to be a friend and act like you got some damn sense.”

  In response, she tapped her foot swiftly against the ground as she stared coldly into my eyes with her arms still locked. “I dare you talk to me that way after I got my ass dressed and came out with you. If I would’ve known you would treat me this way I would’ve stayed my black ass home.”

  “Are you serious right now? You’re blaming me for your shitty behavior?” I took a moment to breathe before continuing. “I can’t believe you are doing this… I mean, if you really didn’t want to come with me, you could’ve said so. Either way, I would’ve still came without you.”

  “I only came because you asked.”

  “Yes, that’s true. But the only reason I asked you to come in the first place was because you were acting like you were gonna have a heart attack if I went alone.”

  Again, she let off another cold stare as she tapped her foot against the ground. She then, without even speaking, turned away, and walked towards the opposite way of the restaurant’s parking lot. I started to stop her from departing, but then, I decided, if she was woman enough to act like a bitch—she was woman enough to walk her ass back home. I eventually returned inside the restaurant and took my seat. Confused, John and Lee just sat there dumbfounded.

  “Where’s your friend?” Lee asked.

  I sighed before replying. “I have no idea; I don’t care either. She just took off walking.” Not saying another thing, I grabbed my fork, twirled the cold pasta around it, and threw it inside my mouth.

  CHAPTER 9

  UNEXPECTED EVENTS

  By the fourth shot of Patron, I was already wasted. Lee, John, and I were chillin’ inside the basement of Lee’s home. We started the night off playing a fun game of spades as we listened to music, but eventually we got so drunk that spades was simply no longer an option. We could barely even hold the cards in a steady position, let alone keep score on who was winning. So instead, we retired the card game, removed ourselves from the table, and maneuvered to the couch to get comfortable for some interesting conversation.

  “Next time we decide to go out, I want to meet ya friend before she even gets in the car,” John said to me.

  “I bet you do,” I said, then laughed aloud. “Especially the way she behaved today. I’m sorry about that, by the way. She had a rough night.”

  “What happened to her?” Lee asked.

  “She had an argument with her baby’s father right before we left the house.”

  John said, “Well, I guess I get why she was being such a bitch… that doesn’t give her a right to act the way she did, though. She was being completely irrational if you ask me.”

  “Yes. Maybe she was. But I can’t lie and say I don’t understand her frustrations or reasons for feeling pissed at the world right now. Men can be downright insensitive and selfish sometimes.”

  John went from slouching, to sitting up straight the instant I ended my se
ntence. “And what does that supposed to mean? Why do you feel the need to agree with Kelis so strongly about that? Why is it that the two of you feel men are downright insensitive and selfish? Why is it that she can get away with accusing me of wanting some pussy, but I can’t label her as an irrational bitch without you having an opinion about it?”

  I glanced at Lee before answering; even he was stalking my mouth as if he were waiting for something to come out of it. So instead of biting my tongue, I simply told them how I felt. “To me, most men are cheaters,” I started. “They’re cheaters, liars, opportunist, manipulators—the list goes on. I do not think it is humanly possible for a man under the age of fifty to be faithful to just one woman for a few weeks—let alone, for the rest of his life. I also do not think it is possible for a man to appreciate a woman for who she is, no matter who, or what she may be. A man could be married to the president of the fucking United States, yet still go out and cheat on her. A man could be dating the finest, richest, smartest, woman of all time, yet still find some way to break her heart by hunting for other women—”

  “Wait a minute… wait a minute,” Lee intruded. “First off, why do you feel this way about men under the age of fifty? I know plenty men over the age of fifty who has cheated or damaged a perfectly good relationship. And secondly, if that’s how you feel about men in general… what the hell do you think of me? Why are we even kickin’ it if you don’t trust me?”

  “I think you’re an awesome man,” I said, mockingly. “But do I think you’d seriously commit to me? No. Do I think you’d have the ability to love me, and only me? No. Nor do I think you’d be able to control that monster inside your pants if you were around other exquisite women. To answer your first question, I do not think most men are capable of taking relationships seriously until they’ve lived at least half their lives.”

  The room became still. The expression on both their faces were comical. I wanted to laugh, but didn’t want to wound them more than I apparently already had. So I just sat there hoping one of them would have the courage to respond.

  Finally, John said…“Forgive me, Ava if I sound a bit rude… but that is a shit load of bull. I personally feel if a man finds a woman who is worth being with long-term, he would have no problem committing to her.”

  Holding a confused look upon my face, I said, “So in other words you’re saying you will cheat on someone you don’t love, but be faithful to someone you do?”

  “Yes. That is exactly what I am saying.”

  “Well, if that’s the case, why do so many men claim to love a woman, and then turn around and cheat on her? If you love her, why cheat? And if you don’t love her to begin with, why say you do?”

  “Well, I can’t speak for all men, because not every man is precisely the same. But for me, I would never express feelings of being in love, if the feelings I have are simply based off lust or a desire to want to fuck a woman. If I do find myself in love though, I would let that be known as that, and that only.”

  I laughed, then shook my head shamefully. “So you’ve never lied to a woman, cheated on a woman, or simply told a woman what you think she wanted to hear just to get your way? You’ve never been a womanizer?” I laughed again. “You have got to be kidding me!”

  “No, I have not. I don’t have a reason to lie or pretend to be something I’m not. When I step to a woman, I will certainly make sure she is aware of my intentions with her. If I see her as someone I could possibly pursue a relationship with, I will treat her completely different from the chick I clearly just want to sleep with.”

  “And how can you be so sure if a woman is relationship material if you don’t even know her? How can you judge whether she’s only someone you’d fuck?”

  John looked at Lee, Lee smirked at John, and then they both started laughing. Not only was I confused as to why they suddenly felt the need to laugh, but I was also wondering why the hell Lee sat there with absolutely nothing to say about the subject.

  John said, “Let me explain something to you, my dear… a man can always tell whether a woman is a hoe or not. It’s just that sometimes we’d prefer to smash the hoe, because we know a hoe doesn’t take much effort to slide in. A woman with morals, however, would take much effort to pursue. We have to first off, get her attention. We have to give her a reason to look our way. Once we’ve gotten her attention, we must impress her, excite her, and woo her.”

  “OK… so if you know what it takes to have a woman with morals, why do so many men act like it’s such a hard thing to find?”

  “Sometimes a man is just too lazy to keep up with the requirements which are necessary to hold down a good woman. I know that sounds ridiculous… but it’s the truth. Women with morals tend to have a strong desire for consistency. Women without them, well… they tend to not give any fucks.”

  I shook my head repeatedly as I sat there watching them giggle. I could not believe he had the audacity to admit those things to me. Still, however, I could not deny how true his statements were. It made perfect sense. I mean, why else would a man cheat on a good woman, right?

  “That’s absurd, but it is the truth,” I finally acknowledged. “You men are lazy. You only act as though you’re interested in what’s inside a woman’s mind, but in reality, you can care less. You pretend to listen to what she has to say, you pretend to give a damn about her problems, fears, and wishes—but at the end of the day, all that’s really on your mind is how soon she’ll give up the pussy. Once you’ve got it, you’re gone.”

  “That may be accurate in some cases,” John agreed. “But a woman who knows her worth is not going to give up the pussy just because a man says a few nice things about her. A woman who truly values herself would never let a man fuck unless he has proven himself time-and-time again with persistence and loyalty. Hell, some women actually wouldn’t even give up the pussy unless her man puts a ring on that finger.”

  I could not believe this man reasoned in such a way. Evidently, he was a playa. He studied women inside, and out. He knew what made women pissed, and he knew what made women smile. He knew how to get women to open up, and if he wanted, he probably knew exactly how to shut them down. John was clearly an expert on how to get the ladies right where he wanted them—whether that’d be sex and flings, or serious relationships.

  “I can’t say I completely disagree with you, because to an extent, you’re right. Sometimes women can make themselves look bad. But I think you’re the type of man who would exploit the women you know are weak and unsure of themselves, and that makes you just as wrong. But hey, I’m not fucking you,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “As I said before… men are selfish and insensitive, which is why I understood Kelis’s behavior today. Did I agree with the way she took it out on us during the course of dinner? No, not at all. But I can say I understood.”

  Not saying another word, John stood up, and brushed the wrinkles out of his shirt. He then stretched his arms into the air while yarning. He walked towards the table and removed his coat from the back of the chair. “I’m going to head home now, but I had a good time tonight,” He told Lee. He then looked at me and smiled gently. “It was very nice to meet you.”

  He departed the house leaving Lee and I sitting on the couch looking dumbfounded. What was I to say to Lee at that point? Apart of me wanted to question him. What did he think of me as a woman? What were his intentions with me? Did he consider me a woman he could dedicate himself to long-term? Or was I just a chick he wanted to keep around to fuck whenever he wanted to? I decided not to question him, though. I forced my conscious not to care. As long as I got what I wanted—good sex, a person to talk to, and maybe even some material goodies occasionally, I was OK.

  “What an interesting night,” he stated, looking at me with a smirk.

  “Yes, interesting would be the correct choice of word,” I agreed, looking back.

  “You will come to find that John is very straightforward and has never been able to express himself by using a filter. He’s i
ncredibly blunt. So if he offended you at all tonight, I apologize for that.”

  “No apologizes necessary. I mean, I can admit that he revealed some very unbelievable opinions of his, but I can’t fault a man for having a mind of his own. Besides, I think I wounded his pride a bit anyway.” Yearning to change the subject, I placed my hand amongst his upper thigh, then smiled. “So, what are we gonna get ourselves into for the rest of the night?”

  “Whatever you want to get into,” he replied, smiling back. He placed his hand against my hand, and then leaned in to kiss my cheek. Whispering seductively into my ear, he said, “Would you like me to take you home, or would you rather just spend the night here with me?”

  “I’d be lying if I said I wanted to go home. I’d certainly much rather stay here and keep you company.” We were flirting like high school students on a summer day. Touching one another and smiling hard, my jaw was hurting. The only thing I wanted to do at that point was jump his bones and feel him deep inside me. I grabbed his hand, stood up, and steered him from the basement, all the way to the center of his cozy bed. Followed by guiding him onto the bed, I got on top of him and rubbed my hands gently up and down his chest. The hardness of his muscles and smoothness of his skin, had me dripping like water. The scent of his cologne and stiffness of his manhood rising through his jeans, had me throbbing with joy. As I kissed his lips, I unzipped his pants and fondled his dick. Within just a few seconds, my legs were wrapped around his waist as he stroked my canal consistently.

  I have to be honest. I didn’t even want Lee to drive me back home the next day. We had a wonderful night. Not only was the sex off the chain, our conversations were too. I finally mentioned the death of my mother and sister, which seemed to bring us closer. I was finding myself having a lot of fun with him; the last thing I wanted to do was return to a lifeless apartment with an empty bed. Still, however, I thanked him for a nice night out, positioned a kiss upon his cheek, turned around, and strolled my ass inside my building. I was exhausted. With all of the alcohol and sex I consumed, all I wanted to do was hop in the shower and crawl into my bed for the rest of the day. After I took my shower, ate a bowl of cereal, and put on a comfy pair of pajamas, I climbed into my sanctuary and sunk myself beneath the covers. As soon as I closed my eyes in attempts to sleep, I was startled by an intense bang coming from the front door. I hopped out of bed and ran towards the door to see who it was. Looking through the peephole and seeing that it was my sister, I sighed. I was sure that I would not be sleeping any time soon. Reluctantly, I opened the door and invited her in. She didn’t even take the time to greet me. She simply walked directly passed me, then proceeded towards the living room couch.