Sincere Deception Read online

  “What is it that you need at this time of day,” I asked, entering the living room behind her. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

  “You know I don’t work on no damn Sunday. But since you’ve asked… I came here to ask you to enlighten me about what happened yesterday.”

  “What do you mean, what happened yesterday? Nothing happened yesterday.”

  “Well, that’s not what I heard.”

  “What did you hear, Autumn? What the heck are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about how you ditched your best friend of fifteen years for a man you barely even know.”

  I rolled my eyes at the very thought of Kelis running home to call my sister in regards to some shit she was pissed about. Not only that, but just knowing she more than likely did not tell the story the way it happened, made me roll my eyes even harder.

  “First of all, you were not there. You do not know what took place last night, so please do not come barging into my house interrogating the hell out of me.”

  Autumn was shocked by my response. That was evident based off the look she gave. “Are you serious right now? Did you really just say that to me?”

  “Yes, I’m serious. You do not know what happened between Kelis and I. You should not be coming into my house unannounced with a thousand questions.”

  She smacked her lips, crossed her legs, and then shook her head disgustedly. “What has gotten into you?” She asked, wearing a confused expression. “Why are you so hostile, cold, and nasty? Is there something I’m missing here?”

  “I am not being cold and nasty. I was just on my way to sleep prior to you banging on my door like you’re the damn police. So if I appear to be a bit cold and nasty, that is probably why.”

  “Look… I can sense that you have an attitude and don’t want to be bothered, so I’ll keep this visit short and sweet. I only wanted to stop by to see if it were possible for me to get to the root of what was going on between you and Kelis. She called me incredibly upset last night.”

  “Well, I’m sure she was just as dramatic as always.”

  “And what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means exactly what it sounds like. Every time Kelis has a problem, or feels as though she doesn’t like something or someone, she has to make a damn scene. That girl embarrassed the hell out of me last night.”

  “Well, she may have embarrassed you, Ava, but at the end of the day, she’s your friend. I don’t know exactly what happened at dinner last night, but what I do know is that you two should squash this mess and move on.”

  Ignoring my sister, I began playing with my fingers and picking my nails to kill the time. “Are we done with this conversation?” I finally decided to ask.

  You know, you are very selfish these days,” she said to me with a snort. “I mean, you’re so caught up being Ms. Diva, you haven’t even taken the time out to ask me how I’ve been! I’m sure you’ve heard about Rob and I. Apparently, I can’t have children. I can’t even produce with my own husband! Don’t you know you’re not the only one having problems around here? Don’t you realize you’re not the only one stressed and feeling pain?” She paused for a second, then took a breath. Speaking in a calm, dry tone, she said, “By the way… I hope you’re okay. Kelis told me about Eugene. I knew he would hurt you again, but I hope you stay strong and learn from this all. Since you’re refusing to speak to me, though, I guess I’ll see you later.” After grabbing her purse and slinging it against her shoulder, she removed herself from the couch, then headed towards the door. She blew me a kiss and made her exit.

  Immediately, I ran back into my room and flew underneath the covers. Just when I managed to get my eyes closed again, my cellphone rang. Frustrated, I snatched my phone and placed it against my ear.

  “Hello?” I asked, confused, staring at the unfamiliar number.

  “Hello, Ava?” A strange man said.

  “Who is this?”

  “This is John.”

  “John? Hey… umm… what’s goin’ on?”

  “Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to see if you had plans for the night.”

  “Plans? Umm… well, I have to finish up a little homework… but other than that, I have no plans. Why do you ask?”

  “I was wondering if you wanted to join a celebration with me tonight. Tomorrow is my little sister’s birthday. She’s turning twenty-three and I’m throwing her a surprise party. Would you like to join?”

  “Sure,” I said. “I would love to come. What time should I be there?”

  “Well, the party starts at 9:00, but I’ll pick you up around 8:45.”

  “OK… that’s fine. 8:45 sounds good. I’ll be ready.”

  “OK, cool. I will contact you a bit later. Talk to you soon.”

  After ending the call, I could not help but wonder how the hell John got my number to begin with. I figured Lee must’ve given it to him. I wanted to call Lee and question him, but was too exhausted to do so. I simply turned over and went to sleep. About five hours passed. The clock read 6:27 P.M. Exhausted, I climbed out of bed, strolled into the living room closet, and grabbed my schoolbooks out of it. I then walked into the living room and sat on the couch. My head throbbed as I proceeded to read two intense chapters of Communication and Analytical Thinking, but I manage to get through it.

  Nearly two hours later, I didn’t even realize how late it was. I hopped up and jumped into the shower. By that time, it was 8:17. Quickly, I dressed myself, completed my exotic curls hairstyle, slid on my heels, and then John called. He informed me that he was approximately ten minutes away from my home. In a hurry, I rushed to the bathroom to make sure my appearance and make up was in excellent standards. I then sprinkled myself with a sophisticated scent, and winked at my seductive reflection before exiting the bathroom mirror. By the time he arrived, I was already walking down the stairs in red bottom heels and my spicy fitted dress.

  As I was approaching the vehicle, John unlocked the passenger door from the driver seat, and then pushed it open for me. Clearly, he wasn’t the romantic type. Once inside the car, I greeted him with a simple “hello”, and then threw my seatbelt on. He turned on the radio and pulled off. We drove without speaking to one another during the five-minute drive to his home. Once there, we got out of the car, and then headed towards the building. There were already several people there. Approximately 12 men, 15 women. The party was live. Folks on one side of the place were drinking and dancing. Some folks were sitting down eating, while others were simply standing by the wall staring at everyone else. As I observed more, I realized just how upscale and fancy these people were. I could tell that some were possibly very rich, while others, very wealthy. They carried themselves in a highly refined manner. From the way they looked, to the way they laughed, even by the way they held their fancy drinks in their hands. I mean, I felt like I was trapped inside an episode of Basketball Wives.

  “Would you like to start the night off with a few drinks?” John asked me.

  “Sure,” I said, following him towards the kitchen.

  I grabbed myself an Apple Martini, and so did he. I then grabbed my drink and proceeded to the couch. John followed. We took a seat and sipped our sour cocktails. During that time, I couldn’t help but wonder where the hell Lee was and how John got my number. I figured John would know. But before I could even ask, his sister was unlocking the door. Frantic, he jumped up and ran toward the entrance of the home. He turned off the lights and advised everyone to keep their voices quiet. About five seconds later, she strolled inside the door only to find a bunch of people pop up and scare the hell outta her. She was startled. So startled, she screamed herself. It was hilarious. By the look on his face, I could tell that John was pleased with the results of planning such a surprise gathering.

  Right away, he walked towards his sister and greeted her with smiles, kisses, and hugs. Afterwards, he grabbed her hand and led her towards me. “Ava, this is my sister, Jalisa. Jalisa, this is my friend, Ava.”r />
  With a genuine smile, she reached out her hand for a handshake. After the handshake, she leaned in for a hug and squeezed me tight. I could tell right off the back that Jalisa was a down to earth individual with a warm heart. I was pleased to be included in such a vibrant setting. While Jalisa moved on to accompany her other guests, John and I walked back to the kitchen to grab more drinks. When we returned to the couch, we proceeded to toss them back.

  “So… where’s Lee?” I asked, finally. “I tried to call him, but he didn’t pick up.”

  “Oh, he couldn’t make it. He had some kinda huge promotion party to attend. He didn’t want to miss it, because he didn’t want to turn down the money.”

  “Oh, I see,” I replied, nodding my head. I took another sip of my drink, followed by an immediate moment of silence.

  “Were you expecting him to be here?”

  “No, not necessarily. I just assumed he’d be here since you invited me. But it’s cool. No worries. I was just curious as to where he might be.” I took another swig of my drink, then cleared my throat. “How did you get my number?’’

  While holding a crazy look upon his face, he laughed. “I invited you to this party, because I wanted to. And I got your number from Lee, because I wanted to invite you here. Not because I secretly want to hit on you, or steal you from Lee.”

  “Is that really what you think, I think?” I asked, surprised.

  “Is that what you think?”

  “No, I don’t,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I only asked where Lee was, because as far as I’m concerned, you two are best friends… therefore it would only make sense to me that he’s here for your sister’s party. As far as you having my number, it’s cool, I was just asking.”

  “You have a point. But I’m a grown man. I don’t have to report to Lee every time I do something. I’m just being kind to you, trust me. Inviting you here was not my secret motive to get into your pants. Please do not confuse my kindness. Like I told Kelis… if I wanted your panties, I would get ‘em.”

  I threw my straw into my mouth and consumed as much of the drink as I could. I then looked back up at John and cleared my throat before speaking. “I could say I’m completely shocked by your comment… but honestly, I’m not. You made it very clear to me last night that you have absolutely no filter when it comes to the way you express yourself.”

  “Why do you say that as if it’s a bad thing? You didn’t seem to have much of a filter last night, either.”

  “It’s not a bad thing necessarily. I mean, I can’t fault you for being who you are. If you’re your best at being blunt, I guess I have no other choice than to let you be that. I would want you to allow me to speak honestly, too.” I took another second to sip my drink. “But you are not getting inside these panties.”

  Laughing again, he shook his head in agreement. “I am so glad that you feel that way, because I don’t believe in changing my ways for anyone. This is me. What you see, is what you get.” He paused. “But again… as I said before… if I wanted to get inside you, I could.”

  During the middle of our interesting conversation, Jalisa walked into the room wearing an enormous smile across her face. I was relieved. She ran towards her brother and delivered him a snug embrace. Afterwards, she stood up and said… “Thank you for preparing this amazing party for me. I gotta tell ya… I was not expecting this at all.” She directed her attention towards me, and then took a seat on my lap.

  “So, how do you know my brother?”

  Awkward, I replied, “I met John through a friend of mines—Lee.”

  “Oh, you’re Lee’s girlfriend?” She asked, seeming oddly interested.

  “Well, I wouldn’t call him my boyfriend exactly… but we are talking.”

  “Yeah, Lee is not the boyfriend kinda guy. But if you are looking for great entertainment and a good fuck buddy, he’s definitely the one for you.”

  The siblings both shared a laugh. But me, not so much. All I could do was sit there wondering how she knew so much about Lee. Maybe she was very close to him—like a little sister. Or maybe she was close to him—like a previous fuck buddy. Whatever it was, it was evident that she knew him like the back of her brown-skinned hand.

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking… but how do you know Lee so well?” I asked.

  “Oh, he’s my brother’s best friend. He’s been around for many years. Don’t worry… I’ve never fucked him if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “No, that’s not what I was thinking at all,” I lied. “I just thought I’d ask.”

  “Yeah, Lee is too much of a playa for me to consider dating him. But perhaps you may be just the girl to calm him down and turn him into a one woman’s man.” After her statement, she reached over and hugged her brother once more, and then stood up. “It was very nice to meet you, Ava, and I hope to see you again. I gotta get back to this party, so I’ll leave you two alone.” She bent over, hugged me, and then walked away.

  As I sat there in complete silence, John would not stop laughing. “You should see the look on your face right now,” he said.

  “If the look on my face matches well with the thoughts rambling through my head, I know my face looks humorous.” I giggled with him, and as I did so, I finished the rest of my cocktail.

  “I know you’re probably thinking my hommie is a hoe… and maybe he is… but if I had to give you one piece of advice, it would be to never fall in love. Leave your heart out of it. Period.”

  “I appreciate the advice, John. But you don’t have to worry about me when it comes to matters of the heart. I have no intentions on finding a man to fall in love with. I’m just out here having some fun and living young. Love and romance is the last thing on my mind. We discussed this last night, remember?”

  We finished about three more Martini’s, mingled with about ten people, and about two hours later, the party was over. The plan was for John to drive me back home, but because he was drunker than expected, I agreed to stay at his condo until he sobered up. Still seated on the couch, I released my sore feet from my shoes and kicked my feet up on the comfy couch. I grabbed a pillow and lied my throbbing head against it. Just as I was about to close my sleepy eyes, John walked from the bathroom, to the living room, wearing only his tatted chest and fresh white boxers.

  Is this a trap? I thought to myself. Why the hell would he flex his sexy ass body around the house if he were not trying to entice me? Although tempted to react, I decided to close my eyes and attempt to fall asleep. Distracted by the image of his body flowing through my plastered mind, however, caused me to do otherwise. Aggravated, I sat up and maneuvered my body into a more comfortable position. I even tried to stuff a pillow behind my back in hopes that would help. It didn’t. Instead, it made me more uncomfortable. Finally, I just sat up straight and focused my eyes on the blank television.

  Glancing toward John’s direction, I noticed that his eyes were not even open. He was sitting on the couch with his head leaned all the way back. His mouth was slightly open, and his hands were folded into a lock. How was it that this man was paying not a bit of attention to me, yet I was sitting there nearly coming out of my panties? I tried my hardest not to let my compulsions get the best of me. But before I knew it, I was walking towards him with my pussy drenched in fluid.

  CHAPTER 10

  TAINTED

  As I sat on top of him kissing his lips, my hands were planted aggressively beside his face. With his hands attached to my ass, we messed around and teased one another for several minutes before deciding enough was enough. He ripped my panties off me; I snatched his pants off him. He then picked me up, threw me against my back, and immediately shoved himself inside me. My body began to tremble and my toes started to curl. The powerful thrust of his love had me shaking, creaming, and completely out of breath. About six minutes later, we both climaxed, leaving us sleepy, and ready to call it a night. We removed ourselves from the living room, walked inside his bedroom, and tucked ourselves underneath the sheets.


  Nearly six hours later on Monday morning, my rest came to an end. With eye liner smeared beneath my eyes and hair all over my head, I got out of the bed, and roamed into the kitchen to see if there was something quick I could fix up to eat. However, instead of finding food, I found Jalisa standing by the counter stuffing her mouth with a spoonful of cereal.

  “Good morning and Happy Birthday,” I told her, attempting to fix my messy hair at the same time.

  She slapped her hand against the counter, swallowed the remainder of her food, and then wiped her mouth. She stared at me, and as she did so, she wore a suspicious grin.

  “Oh my God,” she said, still grinning.

  “What?” I asked, grinning back.

  “You didn’t, did you?”

  “Did what?”

  “You fucked my brother?”

  “Well, if I were to tell you no, I’d be lying.” I opened the fridge, spotted a loaf of wheat bread, jelly, and butter, so I figured I’d make some toast. I then fixed my attention towards Jalisa and giggled as I watched her stare at me with her mouth hung open.