The Games Continue (21)

As I sit with my jaw in my lap I can't help but think better Viv than Ari. This is an prime example why I do not let word get out that I am married. That could have been Ari in that hospital and who knows what could have happened to our son? All that aside I still feel horrible about what happened to Viv. I almost feel completely responsible for what happened to her.

Even with that horrible news in the air the bigger story is still that of the father. He was living a double life. I just wanted to get the money for winning this case and now I'm at the point where I don't want any parts of it at all. I didn't know any facts at the beginning and now I know way more than I need to. The job would have easily been done without these random outbursts of facts shoveled my way. The worst part of it all is that it's shit I can't say to anyone but people need to know. Just the other day the boys mother called begging me to tell her if Quick shot her son, which he did. How messed up would it be for her to find out that her husband may have caused the entire thing because of some weed?

I don't even want to think about it anymore. But now I'm stumped with a new question, do I visit Viv in the hospital? Of course I do, I mean we are still friends and I am kind of the reason why that incident happened last night. I grab some things from the office and head out of my door and who else do I run in to but Zach.

"Whoa buddy what's the rush?" He says as I bump into him causing him to drop some papers.

"Had an emergency man, I just need to run." I say helping him grab the papers left on the ground,

"Oh man, is Aria alright dude?" He lowered his voice and sound very worried asking me the question. As much as a dickhead Zach is he does a really good job helping me keep my secrets.

"Ohhhh okay." He gave me sort of a smirk and didn't say anything else, he probably knows exactly where I'm going.

Already caught leaving the office, I figured that I would slow myself down so that I don't run into anyone else. As I exit the elevator on the main level of the building my phone begins to ring, it's Ari.

"Hey babe." I say answering the phone.

"Hey, I was just wondering if you would like for me to meet you for lunch?" As sweet as she asked I know that she wants me to say yes.

"Damn baby, I wish you would have told me earlier. I am up to my head in things to do here today, I wasn't even going to take lunch." I sound pretty convincing.

"Oh alright, it's cool. I was just asking to make sure anyway." She wants to come so bad and I do need to spend more time with her or she'll be calling that other nigga again.

"You know what, I'll take an hour lunch whenever you get here baby. You're more important than anything I got going on over here anyway." I say walking away from the crowd.

"No babe. I don't want to take away from your work." She says clearly lying.

"I'm not taking no for an answer. Matter of fact, I'm going down to the lobby now to wait for you so get your fine ass down here quick so I can get back to work." Good thing I was leaving work early anyway because now I look like the hero husband.

"Okay, I'll be there in thirty minutes!" Haven't heard her that excited in a long time now and we were only having lunch.

I go sit down in the waiting area to wait for Ari. I do feel bad for lying, again, but it had to be done. I couldn't just tell her I was going to the hospital because one hundred and one questions would have been asked and I would have been set back an entire month of hard work and good behavior. It's just a small lie anyway, just a hospital visit to a friend.

My phone vibrates as soon as I begin to doze off in the chair. I look and it's a text from Ari telling me that she is outside. I go out to meet her and she is there standing outside the building looking fine as can be. I go up to her and kiss her without even speaking.

"You are a new man Ely." She says in shock.

"I have to make sure I don't lose you to anyone else." I say looking down deep into her eyes.

"So where do you want to eat?" She asks me smiling ear to ear.

"You ate already didn't you?" I say with a smirk.

She puts her head down trying not to look at me because she is a horrible liar.

"Aria!" I laugh.

"Yes, oh my God, I was so hungry though baby. It was the baby." Now she was laughing too.

"It's cool babe let's grab a hotdog and then some ice cream and just go for a little walk." I say smacking her butt as we walk away from the building.

"That thing getting a little thicker ain't it?" She did a little dance to go along with it.

"Uh huh." I say stopping in my tracks as she continues to walk so I can admire.

This is what we got away from. We just always had fun no matter what we were doing and it feels good to get that back. I just want it to stay so that we always feel fresh. I catch back up with her and grab her hand.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from your work too much babe." She set her head on my arm and pulled me closer to keep herself warm.

"No, I can just stay a little longer and get things done. It's fine, this is better." I tell her.

We walk for a few blocks before stopping to get a foot long dog and big ice cream to share. Just her being here made me feel a lot better about the entire day. Like none of the stuff was actually happening. We walk around the city a little and goof around a lot before heading back to my building.

"Well I hope I didn't get you home too late Ely." She says trying to sound like we were still kids.

"I think my mom may be sleep so I can just sneak up." I play along.

"How about you sneak back out later and come to my place." She says walking away.

"I'll be there." I say trying to whisper but loud enough for her to hear me as I walk back into my building.

Shakedown (20)

Even though I know Ari and I have a lot to work out I'm glad she came back last night. Plus it's been a month since I got any so the sex we had last night was magnificent. It's something about when you miss someone and you're both angry with each other that creates fireworks in the bedroom. Unfortunately, that was last night. Today it's back to work. 

I've stopped hanging with Zach as much around the office, not only was I becoming the terrible husband he is but I was also getting his horrible work ethic around the office. I've also stopped lunch with Viv, I still consider us friends but clearly I need to keep my distance. I'm definitely making changes to help keep this marriage afloat. However, there is one thing I still haven't done. It's still a secret at work that I'm a married man, soley for safety reasons. Just this week Quick threatened me. If he knew I had a family at home there's no telling what he would do. 

That being said I go through my normal routine. Shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, put my ring in the shoebox and get up to kiss Ari before I leave. 

On my way to work Quick's words at the courthouse still lingered in my ear. I still have no clue who he was referring to when I spoke to me so I wasn't too worried. 

I get to our floor and everyone seems to be low-spirited. Even Zach and he was always seemingly in a good mood. 

"Yo man what's up with everybody?" I ask him.

"You didn't hear dude?" He says as if  I'm the only person in the office who hasn't heard the news.

"Nah man what happened?" I say puzzled.

"Viv, she was attacked last night dude, she's in the hospital." 

"Attacked!? What? Why? By who?" So many questions 

"Man nobody knows the entire story, they're trying to figure things out today." He says hanging his head down.

"Wow, that's crazy and so random. I mean you hear about attacks on women but you never think it would be some you know." I say to him still in shock.

"Yeah dude, only this may have not been random we don't know yet." He said walking away. 

That's when it hit me. I hurry to my office and sit down. This had to be just a coincidence but it could also be what Quick was talking about. I make the call and nervously wait for him to answer.

"Mr. Ely." He answered calmy as if nothing were going on. 

"You're a coward." I say.

"Whoa why the hostility?" He said as he laughed.

"Nigga you know what the fuck I'm talking about." I reply in almost a whisper to be certain the rest of the office doesn't hear me. 

"You know Mr. Ely you should really watch your language or they'll know there's a nigga in their firm." He's no longer laughing at this point.

"You attack a woman!? Shit I shouldn't be surprised, you shot a kid." I say enraged. 

"Look for the last time, that was an accident. Haunts me every night. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His father should have been smarter."

"What?" I'm instantly confused again. 

"You thought I was just riding around looking for niggas to shoot? There's a method to my madness."

"Please, explain." I say trying to learn something new about this entire situation. 

"I was shooting at the kids father. See he robbed one of my boys for thirty pounds of weed! Thirty fucking pounds. That's sixty thousand dollars. I'm not a savage, I do good for the community you know that. I went to him and asked for the weed back with no problems. You know what this nigga said to me?" He asks.

"What?" I say reluctantly. 

"This nigga says fuck you. I'm like, oh shit ok. The next day we ride out to the niggas crib to find him. I called one more time to ask again and guess what this nigga does!?" He says clearly animated.

"Fuck you." I say coldly.

"Nigga that didn't sound like a question like I should've been but I'll let it slide because this may be a lot to take in. But yes this nigga says fuck you, again! So shit I get out the car and there he is walking from the side of the house. I start firing. I can't hit this nigga because he was hiding behind the car. That's when a kid came riding on a little bike down the street and he yelled out son stop! I turned towards the kid and fired three times. Never looked to see if I hit him, I really wasn't trying to hit him. I just wanted to scare him so I could get my shit back." He said. 

"But you didn't so what are you going to do now, shoot as his wife?" I say sarcastically. 

"Since I didn't mean to hit the lil nigga I figured he can keep the shit. I mean what's sixty thousand anyway? Maybe I taught his dumb ass a lesson." He says effortlessly. 

I'm in such a shock that I can't speak.

"But anyway I didn't attack that woman. Like I said, I'm not a savage. That was a fucking dyke that I sent to scare her little ass. If she could fight she would've been cool but instead she got her ass beat. But hey, if you do your job right shit like this wouldn't even happen." He said before he abruptly hung up the phone.

 

Welcome Back (19)

Driving home I can't help but think about what Quick said. Why'd her mention a female? Who is he talking about? My mind wandered until my phone rang, I answer through the cars Bluetooth. 

"Lance Ely." I say assuming that it's the office calling. 

"Baby?" It's Ari.

Surprised I lean up in my drivers seat to talk as if she were right there in front of me. "Yeah babe, hi!" Usually I hold back my excitement but at this point I want her to know in excited to hear from her. 

"I miss you, I want to come home." She says lightly. 

"Yes baby please come back, we will work everything out I promise! I'm in the city I can come pick you up right now. Where are you?" I haven't been this excited for anything outside of my son for a very long time. 

"I'm at Bobbi's, I'll get my stuff ready."

Before I go off to Bobbi's I stop at 7-Eleven to get us some slurpees. Both Ari and I love slurpees with a passion but who doesn't? I buy some gum as well anticipating a kiss that I've been longing. 

As I pull up to Bobbi's place I get nervous like I'm on a first date. I park my car, take three deep breaths and get out. As I make my way up to the door I can feel my heart pounding and I begin to feel sweat develop. I take out a napkin and wipe my head as I ring the doorbell expecting Ari to open the door and fall into my arms. 

"Heyyyyy Lance!" It's Bobbi.

"Hey Bobbi where's Ari?" I ask unbothered by her presence.

"Oh she in there. You want to come in?" She asks loudly.

"No not really I just want Ari to come out." I say.

"Well she wants you to come get her stuff anyway so you might as well come in." She says turning and walking back into her townhouse and up the stairs. 

I take another deep breathe and follow, closing the door behind me. As I get upstairs I see Ari sitting on the couch consoling Luke, Bobbi's little brother. 

"Everything alright guys?" I say concerned. 

"Hell nah man!" Like raised his head up to speak. 

"What's the problem?" I say moving closer to him. 

"My pop wants me back in North Carolina. I'm just getting used to it here. I ain't trying to leave now. I was even thinking about going to college up here next year!" He tells me.

"I see. When does he want you to come back?" I ask.

"Man as soon as the school year is over and that's in a few months." He says dropping his head back down. 

"Well you can always finish your last year of school there and just come back for college." I try to reassure him. 

 

"Nigga you don't know shit!" He said standing up and quickly going down the stairs leaving out the house.

"Whoa, what was that?" I turn to ask Bobbi.

"Lance he really doesn't want to go back." Bobbi tells me.

"But why not. It's a year with his pop. Wouldn't you let him come back and stay with you so he can go to school?" I'm puzzled, not seeing the problem. 

"Of course I would. He's just scared to go back. I told you before the reason he's up here is because that he got in some trouble." She says also turning her back to walk away. 

"What the hell kind of trouble?" I ask her. 

"Don't worry about it Lance." She says. 

"Bobbi just tell him, I'm going to tell him anyway if you don't." Ari chimes in. 

"Ugh. A couple of years ago Luke and a few of his friends went to a party and they got in a fight. It was late at night. Him and his friends went to their car, it was three of them, one came back out with a gun and shot back towards the group they fought and hit one kid. He didn't die fortunately but you know how the streets are, eye for an eye. One of his friends are in prison for the incident and didn't give any names but says he wasn't the shooter. The other guys spent a long time looking for Luke and his other friend but they can't find them because they both left after their friend was locked up."

She says before turning to go in the kitchen once again.

"Wow. So why would his dad even want him to come back?" I ask still very much confused. 

"His dumbass thinks it's blown over now. I try to tell him that nobody is going to forget someone who shot them in two years. They're still kids, I'm sure they still want revenge. Especially since the guy in prison says he wasn't the shooter. They want the shooter and if Luke goes back what do you think they'll think?" She says apparently wiping a tear from her face. 

"You're right. What are you going to do?" I dont really know what to do so I keep asking questions. 

"I can't do anything, I'm not his legal guardian." She says. 

"Where'd he go?" I ask another question. 

"I don't know, sometimes when he gets upset he likes to go for walks." She tells me clearly uneasy about the entire sutuation. 

"Well look, if you want I'll try to talk to the father if you think it'll help." I say reluctantly but I do want to help.

"I mean I'll ask but he's such a stubborn guy. I think it would help though so it's worth a try." She says looking a bit relieved to be offered some help.

"Well good, everything should be fine I'm sure. But I have to do what I came here to." I say grabbing Ari by the hand to lead her downstairs out the house. 

"See you girl." Ari says to Bobbi before leaving. 

As we get in the car I see that the slurpee have melted. "Well I tried to get us a little something but I didn't see that issue coming so yeah." 

"It's okay baby. I just wanted you." Ari said gesturing her finger to come here which I gladly did as I finally was able to kiss her after a long month. 

Watch your back (18)

"Yo Lance, what's up bro!" Eric hasn't heard from me in a while and usually only hears from me if I need advice. He's very excited to hear from me.

"Hey bro." I say gloomily.

"Is everything alright?" He asks concerned.

"No man, I dropping the ball on everything. My marriage, work isn't great and I'm drinking again." I tell him.

"Well have you prayed? He asked as he always does.

"Man you know I don't pray much? I say annoyed.

"You think that may be the problem? Ever since you went to school it seems your faith has been lacking." He sounded puzzled.

"Okay first off please stop talking to me like a pastor. Secondly I wouldn't say I have gotten away from my faith, I would say that it wasn't forced down my throat anymore. You know how it was growing up. Ma always waking us up early Sunday mornings to go to church, forcing religion on us." I say.

"I am a pastor so deal with it and she never forced religion on us. She did force us to go but she is supposed to make us go. She's a Christian woman who follows the word, Joshua 24:15 says but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

"I understand all of that but it's like when you get the freedom to do with you want you just get away from it. You can finally go out late Saturday night and early into Sunday morning without having to worry about waking up. Finally I was able to do what I wanted, you know drink have girls stay the night with me" I say trying explain my position.

"And look where you that's taken you. You were an alcoholic and sounds like you're falling right back into that and you almost lost Aria on multiple occasions and by the direction of this conversation it sounds like you're on the verge once again. Sounds like to me you could start going back to your roots to me my brother. But listen I need to finish studying my word so can we resume later?" He says to me.

"Yeah of course, thanks for listening as always big bro." We aren't able to talk too often but he's always there when I call.

"No problem."' He says before hanging up the phone.

Is he right? Maybe. It's been a long time since I've prayed, I'm not even sure God will hear me. It's worth a try though so I go for it:

"Hey God, it's me. I'm not sure if you have been watching lately but things are a little hectic around here. You know, I'm messing up with Aria, Viv is throwing me the drawls and I have to handle this guy Quick. I just need help. I mean I know it's been a minute since we've talked so it may look a little messed up I come back from years of shying away and asking for something but help me out. I'll make sure we talk a bit more too. Well that's it for now I guess, I mean amen"

After finishing my prayer I see that I need to finish my whiskey too. Lights out after that.

The month is almost over and Ari still hasn't come back. I didn't think she would actually take the entire month to come home. I have been able to stay very busy though and today was court day for Quick. I have no worries going in.

"I hope this thing is almost over, I'm losing a lot of money paying you." Quick says to me as we sit down at the table on the right of the lectern.

"Look I told you, there is lack of evidence and there is no reasonable doubt. We'll be fine." I say fixing my suit jacket.

Everything was going smoothly until a witness is called to the stand.

"I thought you said this witness wouldn't be an issue." Quick said angirly.

"I never said he wouldn't testify, besides this isn't even the guy. This is his son, he's going by something off a piece of paper written by his loony father. Just a hearsay, not that bad. Relax." I whisper back to him.

"You better be right Ely." He says leaning back in his chair.

"Now Mr. Watkins, could you please tell us what your father has written." The family's lawyer asks.

"Of course." He begins to read:

"On the night of August 11, 2013 I saw a man later known to me as Quick step out the passenger side of an all black tinted window Acura. He then proceeded to shoot eleven shots in two different general directions. One direction being a home and the other the sidewalk. After firing all shots he then went back to the car and was gone."

"This shit doesn't sound like nothing, I'll take it from here." He says calmly.

"List.." I try to interject.

"Nah. I got this." Ignoring me.

The rest of the day was the hearsay giving accounts on his fathers behalf. I wasn't worried becasue when it was time to come back to the case I will simply state how the account we heard was giving from a man who suffers from dementia. Quick and I walk outside and to his car and before I could even say anything he snapped.

"That's what you call control!? Sounds like they have all the fucking control my nigga. I asked you did you have things under control and you say yeah. A nigga just called me by name in front of the fucking Jury! Ain't shit under control, now I got to control shit myself." He said pulling out his phone about to make a call.

"I got this don't worry." I try to calm him down.

"No I'm worried my nigga and if I have to worry then so do you. Yeah we been watching you and the little white bitch just make sure you're watching her!" He says before getting into his car and leaving.

I stand confused. Who the hell is he talking about?

Say my Name (17)

I stumble my way to car after I pay my bill. I feel like I need to throw up but I do my best to hold it.

"Oh yeah get ya ass in this car!" Ari screams out to me.

"Look baby I did this for us." All my words are bit slurred now as I grab her chin and she smacks my hand down. 

"Nah nigga, who the fuck is Viv? That's the slut you was waking up next to?" She very animated at this point.

"You know Viv? She's just a coworker." I have to slow down now with my mouth because I'm getting a bit beside myself, I ain't that drunk. 

"Oh so these hoes can't respect your marriage? She looks at me way too long to be driving. Women don't care about lives when they're angry I swear. 

"Just a coworker baby we've worked together on a few cases her name must've been on the tip of my tongue." I say putting my head back preparing to go to sleep. 

"Yeah right nigga, ya ass probably being smart. She was probably really on the tip of your tpngue. Yeah just wait". She stops talking.

I'll happily wait. I got what I want. She's coming back to the house. That's a start. 

We get home and sit in the car in the driveway. Ari isn't speaking anymore. She seems calm. My stomach hurts too damn much to speak at this point so I'm quiet too but I try anyway. 

"Baby, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to be home with me." I say with my face in my hands.

"Lance I don't care. I'm just making sure you don't mess your career up. You already did your best messing this marriage up." She calmly says. 

"Whoa Ari, we've both hand a hand in this." I suddenly look up. 

"Lance I reacted off your actions. Had you never ignored and neglected me I would have never look elsewhere for comfort."  She said giving me a look as to say "nigga this is your fault."

Women blame everything on revenge. If a woman does slip up it's always, always, in reaction to the man doing something. They never take full responsibility for their actions. I can't make anyone do anything. However, I do know I can't win this argument and I don't want to. I just want her to stay so I just give in. 

"Ok Ari, let's just go inside. 

We both get out and I throw up as soon as I get out into the white snow. I go inside and instantly lie down. It's very early in the day about two in the afternoon so I take a little nap. 

A few hours later I wake up and go into the kitchen. 

"Ari!" I call out looking for her. 

I go to the kitchen to get a pop and there's a note on the refrigerator door:

"Lance I left while you were sleep. I really think you need to get yourself together and see if this is what you really want. I know you have a lot of stress so I'm giving you some space. With this space you need to stop drinking and distance yourself from Viv. Do that then a month from now we can talk. I still expect you at doctor appointments. Bobbi picked me up. Get it together."

"What?!" I scream out.

Everything I did just meant nothing. I begin to cry. I feel so empty at this point. 

Not knowing what else to do, I find my whiskey bottle and pour a couple of drinks. 

I sit back on the couch and become angry at everything. I want to do better I swear but I don't know how. I'm doing what I know. My dad didn't teach me anything about loving a woman why can't she just be more patient. 

I need to call my brother. My brother is a pastor now after a pretty wild life as a young man. I hate calling him because he always preaches to me but he's usually right and I need some guidance. 

 

I pick up my phone. 

Just a Blur (16)

If Ari doesn't want to come back I'll make her come back. We need to be together right now. I don't really have much work in the office that needs to be done so I leave around noon. I meet up with Quick for a bit to talk over some stuff. Honesty it was just some bs because if I listen to him his dumb ass will end up and jail. After seeing Quick I go to a bar for some food and a few more drinks. Of course I take a couple of more sips from my personal flask beforehand. 

I enter the bar and quickly find a seat. Before I do anything I text Ari:

"Baby please come home. We can work this out." 

Of course I do not get a reply. The bartender, pretty young woman, comes to see how I'm doing. 

"You ready to order sir?" She says politely. 

I look around. "Sir? You talking to me?" I asked giving my best act of a state of confusion. 

"Yes sir." She giggles back at me. 

"Baby I can't be more than seven years older than you." I say hoping she can't already smell the liquor on my breathe. 

"Well I'm twenty two." She continues to smile as she leans down on the bar making her breasts the vocal point of my eye.

"Seven years right on the dot." I say smiling back.

"So are you going to order or flirt with me all day because I have money to make, sir." She says.

"Brat with fries and give me two shots of Honey Jack...oh and a water." I say pulling out my phone as if suddenly uninterested. Sometimes I have to see if I still have that pull. 

"Ok, our bratwurst is the best and here." She pours three shots. "Have one on me." She winks. 

I take all three shots within five minutes. I have to sit up as that third one hits me. I'm pretty good with shots, my limit is about ten and I'm only at six so even though I feel it I'm still doing pretty good. 

As I wait for myfood to come I get back on my phone, this time calling Ari. Again she doesn't answer so I leave a voicemail: 

"Baby call me back. I need you to come pick me up. Had a few drinks love you."

I'm working on my water now as my food comes. 

"Here you are sir." She doesn't say anything else as she hands me my plate with a little note under it. "I get off at seven." It reads.

I may be a natural flirt but I can't help it. I'm a attractive guy. The hardest part about being attractive and married for me is having to tell all the women no. I mean damn, you should see some of them. Some are bound to get through the cracks, right? That's just the drinks talking. 

I'm not even able to finish all of my food but it's alright because I'm here to drink. 

"Aye baby, I need three more before I leave." I wave over to the young bartender.

"Coming to you in a second." She says excitedly. 

My phone rings.

"Yooooo." I say answering the phone. 

"Where are you Lance?" It's Ari.

"I told you babe, the bar!" I'm pretty drunk at this point.

"Meet me at the house." She says seriously. 

"Nooooo, no can do. I'm fucked up baby." I burst into laughter. "But look, it's this nice waitress here. I think she would take me home. I'll ask her!" 

"Lance I'll be there in thirty minutes and i whoop both y'all ass if you keep playing with me." She hangs up. 

I take my two of my three shots and lie my head down. 

I hate being drunk. Headache, stomachache, blurred vision, stumbling, I hate it. It takes away from everything else though. You're just happy when you're drunk. But thats not the only reason I'm here. This was the only I could get Ari back at the house today. She would never let me be out here alone drunk like this. 

 

I bring my head up and hold my last shot up. "Aye bartender, to love!" I holler out in laughter before putting my head back down. About five minutes later I feel a tap on my shoulder. 

"Come on Lance." I hear. 

I look back. "That you Ari? Viv?"

"Yeah bring your ass on Lance." Ari storms out.