'Til Death Read online

  "You forgot how to talk? Or did you just forget how to talk to me?" Culprit asked.

  "I don’t have anything to say to you." I retorted.

  Culprit took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. He looked at me, and I stared into his hazel eyes. "I don’t believe you."

  "That’s not my problem." I said to him. I got up and he got up too.

  "Stop running away from me!" he barked at me.

  I looked up at him and I felt my rage at the back of my throat. "How about you stop coming the hell around then."

  "You're not your mother, Lo." He said in a low voice while trying to reach for me. I slapped him as hard as I could. I felt tears in my eyes. I pushed him, and he grabbed me.

  "You don’t have a right to tell me that. I fucking hate you. I swear I do. You promised to love me forever, to never leave me. It was supposed to be me and you, remember? Then I got pregnant. You told me to abort and I did. You weren't even there when I got the abortion. You were probably fucking that bitch. I chose you over my own child. And for what, because it didn't get me anywhere. I abandoned my child just like how my mother did me when she thought a man was more important than her daughter, and how your parents just up and left you without looking back." I realized then what I had just screamed to Culprit, and immediately regretted it. He continued to stare at me. A single tear rolled down his face, and he turned away and walked out of the room. I put my head in my hands and started to take deep breaths. I wanted to scream. I felt arms wrap around me, and I knew it was my girls. They finally knew the truth, and it felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders.

  Culprit

  She said I was just like my parents. Those words, coming from Lo, crushed me. I was at home, sitting on the couch. I wanted to be alone. I hadn’t gone with her to get the abortion because I was terrified. When I asked Lo to get the abortion, she said ok. She didn’t put up a fight, or even bring it back up. I thought she wanted one. If I had gone with her, I would have tried to stop her. I loved Lo to death, and our unborn child even more. I didn’t know that’s how she really felt about me. I heard the back door open and close, and I knew it was Boan.

  "You good, bro?" Boan asked me.

  "Yea." I lied.

  "Nigga you lying like shit," was Boan’s rebuttal as he sat down across from me.

  "Why haven't you ever told anybody what really happened?" Boan questioned me.

  "I guess I thought y’all would look at us differently. I didn’t want to talk about it. That’s something that I have to live with for the rest of my life."

  "It is. But you know you not like your people, right?"

  "I know, but for her to think that about me fucks me up real talk."

  Boan shrugged his shoulders, "Well, prove to her that you not like that."

  "How I’m supposed to do that?" I look at him like he grew two heads.

  "Shit nigga, I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll figure it out."

  Ciara

  Lo told us everything. I couldn’t believe some of the shit. I had to walk away from her, because I was so fucking mad at the dude her mom was with. If I had known, I definitely would have killed him. Tosh and Lo both went home. I knew Lo really wanted to be alone and get her mind right. I was getting ready for my date with Boan. I just got my hair done, along with my nails and toes. I called the car service, because it should have been on its way. I had on a tight, form-fitting dress, and some high heels; they were red bottoms, of course. I looked outside and saw the car that I ordered for the night. A Maybach 57 S. I walked out of my house and towards the car. My driver introduced himself. His name was John, and he opened up my car door for me. I gave him directions to our next destination. I texted Boan and told him I was on my way. The car pulled up in front of Culprit’s house. Boan walked out, looking gorgeous. His suit was all back, and he had on a crisp gray shirt underneath, and his shoes matched his shirt. He looked at the Maybach, and shook his head and laughed. John opened up the car door for him, and he sat down.

  "Well this is nice. You showed out tonight huh?" Boan asked me. He looked me up and down and licked his lips.

  His seductive gaze had my body heating up and I had to take a quick breath. "Yea, I guess so."

  "You should take me out more often," Boan mumbled laughing. The driver was making his way downtown Detroit, the city lights illuminating the night scene.

  Boan was staring outside taking in what had changed "Where we going?" he asked.

  "Just sit back and wait." I couldn't help but notice his impatience and smiled.

  We pulled up in front of the restaurant, and all heads turned. John put the Maybach in park, and came to open up our doors. I walked around, and Boan looked me up and down. "That dress is doing wonders for my imagination tonight," Bone whispered in my ear.

  "I don’t give it up on the first date." I whispered back.

  "We’ll see." Boan said. He leaned down and gave me a kiss, so soft and gentle I yearned for more, but I kept my composure.

  We walked into the place and I gave the waiter our names for our reservations. We walked all the way to the back in a more secluded area. There were only a couple of people back there, and in order to be back there, you had to have big money. We were seated, and ordered our drinks.

  "You trying to get some tonight huh?" Boan said, smiling at me.

  "Why you say that?" I asked, laughing at him.

  Boan leaned in. "’Cause you trying to pay for the dick. You not fooling anybody."

  The waiter came back and took our orders. No matter where we went, Boan ordered the same thing. A fucking steak.

  "Let me pay for the meal." Boan requested, his deep baritone voice causing me to clench my legs. I had to pull it together.

  "No, I took you out. I should pay." I demanded.

  "We’ll discuss it later."

  It didn't take long for the waiter to bring our food out. We ended up ordering more drinks to go with our meal since neither of us was driving tonight. We ate, laughed, and reminisced on good times. We didn’t fight or get mad like we've been doing. The night went better than I thought it would. The world on the outside was dead to us. We ordered desert, and it came.

  "Come sit over here with me." Boan’s voice was low and he had a small smile on his.

  I moved my chair to his side of the table. We fed each other. Boan put his hand on my bare thigh. I looked at him and he kissed me. I opened my mouth wider for him so his tongue could slip in. I sucked on his bottom lip and his hand moved higher. I pulled away and looked at him.

  "What happened to us being just friends?" I whispered against his soft lips.

  "Let’s get out of here." Boan demanded, his hand creeping higher.

  He called the waiter over and gave him his credit card before I could reach for mine, but I was distracted by Boan and wondering was he going to play with my pearl or not. I was turned on big time, and he knew it, and by the way he kept adjusted himself, I knew he was turned on too.

  "Awww, look at the happy couple." I heard the voice, and knew our night was over.

  "Tez," Boan said, with a frown on his face. Boan removed his hand from my thigh, turning ice cold in a matter of seconds. I was extra pissed because one, Tez irritated my life, and two, all that sexual tension between Boan and I dissipated in 2.5 seconds.

  "Long time no see," Tez greeted.

  "What do you want?" I asked him with my face twisted up.

  "Did you tell Boan that I was at your new place not too long ago?" Tez queried.

  Boan looked from me and back at Tez.

  "Guess not, but I had a message to give." Tez put his hands in his pockets, looking calm and collected.

  "What was that message?" Boan asked.

  "I’m going to kill you," Tez said to Boan.

  Boan smiled at him.

  "Sounds promising." Boan smiled at Tez and then winked at him.

  The waiter came back with Boan’s credit card. Boan got up and walked out of the restaurant.
/>   "See you around Ciara," Tez blew me a kiss.

  "Fuck you." I couldn't stand his ass.

  "Been there, done that, sweetheart."

  I stood up from the table and walked out of the restaurant heated. Boan was right behind me and the driver was already waiting. John opened up my car door and I got in.

  "Boan, I . . ."

  "I don’t want to hear it Ciara. Damn, I got to be a dumbass to think you could actually change," Boan said, while looking at me in disgust.

  "I did change; I don’t fuck with Tez anymore." I tried explain to him.

  "Then why was he at your fucking house?" His question was more like a roar and I felt my anger rising but I was trying my best to remain calm.

  "To tell me he plans on killing you," I stated slowly pronouncing every word for him like he was slow.

  "And what did you say?"

  "That I was going to kill him."

  "You told me that you were going to kill me when I said I was going to kill Tez, but you turned around and shot him. So when he plans on killing me, are you going to turn around and shoot me?"

  Before I could answer, both of our phones rang. I reached for my phone and realized that I had fifteen missed calls. I became uneasy.

  "Tosh, what’s up?" I asked.

  "It’s Lo." Tosh voice sounded sad and like she was trying to be quiet.

  My heart begin to pound in my ribcage. "What happened?"

  "Her mother is in the hospital and we are here. Can you come please?"

  "Of course."

  Tosh gave me the information and I hung up the phone. I told the driver where to go next.

  "That was my mom; she is at the hospital with them. I’m about to call Culprit and tell him to meet us there." Boan said.

  "Ok." We rode in silence for a while. Neither one of us forgot about the altercation, we just wasn't in the mood to talk about it until we knew what was going on with Lo. I loved the fact that Boan cared about my friends like I did. He has known them for as long as he has known me. Boan's mother was a mother to all of us and we appreciated that. No matter what happens between Boan and I, certain things just would never change. We pulled up to the hospital and I took a deep breath trying to get my nerves in order.

  "I really had a good time tonight and I will show you that I have changed." I said to Boan before I got out of the car.

  Boan

  I had a good time with Ciara. I loved her; I was still in love with her, but my trust in her wasn’t there anymore. I didn’t take too kindly to that bitch-ass nigga, Tez threatening me, either. Best believe if I had my gun on me, I would have deaded that nigga flat-out. I walked behind Ciara into the hospital. The dress she had on clung to her like a second skin. I wanted to rip it off and fuck the shit out of her, but I had to get my libido in check. I followed her, and I saw my mom. My mom stood up and I hugged her.

  "No matter what happens tonight, I did what I thought was right," my mom said. Her words gave me an uneasy feeling about being there. I walked over to Lo and hugged her and Tosh. Culprit came running through the halls. He looked at Lo, and she looked at him. He walked right over to her and hugged her.

  "I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere," Culprit said to her. Lo buried her face in his chest and cried.

  "Her mom has cancer; she don’t have long to live," Tosh said.

  "I need you two to come in the room with me," my mom said, while pointing to me and Lo. I didn’t ask any questions.

  "I’m coming too," Culprit said, while still holding Lo.

  "Well, all of you might as well come," my mom said. We all followed her, and Ciara grabbed my hand. I didn’t let her go. We walked into Lo’s mom’s room; the woman was so petite and frail that I wanted to cry for Lo. There was a man in the corner that I had never seen before. He was around the same age as my mom, and tall and muscular. He looked at me and at Lo, and put his head down. He had this confidence about him, and I felt like I knew him. Lo sat down next to her mom, and my mom went and stood by the bed.

  "The truth needs to come out," my mom said. Lo’s mom nodded her head. What the fuck was going on?

  "Lo, I’m so sorry about everything. You deserve a better mother than me, and I’m so happy that Sheila took you in and treated you as her own," Lo’s mom said. I didn’t even know she knew my mom.

  "I forgive you; just rest, okay?"

  "No, because you need to know this before I go."

  "Know what?" Lo’s mom looked at mine, then at the random man.

  "Lo, your mother, Lynnda and I used to be best friends a while back," my mom said.

  "Ok."

  "I’m not finish. We did everything together, practically inseparable. We had the same taste in men, and that was our downfall. We both fell in love with the same man," my mom said, while looking at the man.

  "Hold the fuck up," I said, getting angry.

  "No, Barren, let me finish. We fell in love with the same man. He dated the both of us behind our backs. He married me, but still messed with Lynnda. I found out, and didn’t want to have anything to with Lynnda, especially when I found out she was pregnant around the same time I was, by the same man."

  "What are you trying to tell me?" Lo said.

  "This man standing here…his name is Brandon. Brandon Jones. Mrs. Jones’ husband and Boan’s father," Lo’s mom said. Ciara grabbed my hand tighter and began to rub my arm.

  "So you mean to tell me that Lo’s my . . . and he is . . . " I couldn’t even say the words.

  "Yes," my mom whispered.

  "I thought you told me my father died."

  "He got locked up, and when he got out he tried to see me, but I told him I didn’t want anything to do with him, and I didn't want him to have anything to do with you. I was hurt and bitter. I’m so sorry."

  "Don’t blame your mother,” Brandon interrupted. "Son, it was my fault."

  "Naw, don’t talk to me, nigga. All of this is straight bullshit."

  "Calm down," Ciara whispered to me.

  "I know you feel betrayed right now," my mom said.

  "You don’t know how I feel. What about Lo? Y’all tell us this shit on her mother’s death-bed? That’s fucked-up. All y’all are fucked-up."

  "Boan, please," Lo said.

  I just walked out. What the fuck just happened?

  Lo

  Culprit drove me home. I didn’t want to watch my mother die. I knew as soon as I left the hospital that she had. I couldn’t believe the news that I was just given. Nobody knew where Boan was, and Ciara went home. She probably was hoping he would come to her. I didn’t know how to feel. I took a shower and got into my bed. Culprit was there waiting for me. He had on basketball shorts, and his shirt was off. I had on a big t-shirt, and crawled into his waiting arms. I needed him more than anything right then.

  "I know you’re not ok, but I’m here and I mean that. I’m not going anywhere," Culprit whispered to me.

  "I’m sorry for what I said to you. You’re not like your parents," I said.

  "We’ll talk about that later. Let’s just sleep, all right?" Culprit said. I moved my face from the crook of his neck and kissed him. His lips were so soft, and I missed kissing him. He sucked on my lips. My hand moved over his muscles down to his six-pack. I felt his erection against my leg, and instantly got wet. I crawled on top of him and kissed him deeper. I wanted him inside me. I wanted him to take my pain away just for the moment. Culprit gently pushed me off of him.

  "What’s wrong?" I asked breathlessly.

  "You’re vulnerable. I don’t want to make love to you while you’re in a vulnerable state. I want you to be well aware of your actions. When I penetrate you and claim you, I don’t want you to regret it the next day. When I make you cum over and over again, I want you to be aware of only me, and not disturbing news in the back of your mind. I love you, and I don’t plan to go anywhere anytime soon. So let’s just rest."

  To say I was speechless would have been an understatement. While in Culprit's arms, I heard his soft
breathing, and I knew he was drifting off to sleep. On the other hand, I felt restless. My mother had just passed, I just met my father, who happened to also to be Boan’s father, and on top of all that, Culprit was in my bed. I felt like things were moving too fast. I couldn’t deal. If life had a pause button, this would have been the perfect moment to use it. Right there, right then. Everything I thought I was sure about had changed that night. My reality had altered in more ways than one. I knew that when I woke up the next day, things would be different. Nothing would be the same after that night.

  Ciara

  It was three in the morning. I’d been blowing up Boan’s phone. I was sitting in my living room worrying my ass off. Lo was with Culprit, which was a shocker, but not compared to the news we had all been hit with that night. I knew Boan’s head was messed up. His mother had lied to him all his life about his father. Not only had his father popped up out of nowhere, but Lo was his sister. This was something that neither of us would have ever expected. I just hoped that it wouldn’t change everybody’s friendship. There was a knock on my front door, and I ran to it. I opened it, and it was Boan, still dressed in his suit from our earlier date. I had changed into some boy shorts and a tank-top. I opened up the door wider, and Boan walked in. Boan didn’t say anything. He walked straight upstairs. I followed him. He went into my bedroom and I stood in my doorframe. Boan began to undress in front of me. I just watched him. I didn’t expect him to get completely naked, but he did. Boan never slept with any clothes on. Boan crawled under the covers and sat up and stared right back at me.

  "I can’t believe she lied to me," Boan stated in awe.

  "Your mother was hurt. She couldn’t see past that."

  "That’s not a good enough excuse."

  I walked over to the bed and sat facing him. "I’m not making excuses for her. I’m just trying to explain it from her point of view," I said. Boan rubbed his waves and shook his head.

  "Lo is my sister though. How long was she planning on keeping all of this a secret from me?"