Beautiful Lies

                                    

                                          

Our food is served. I savor my succulent crab cake when Aden asks, "So how long have you been married?" 
I sip some wine, wipe my mouth, and answer, "Two years now. This is my second marriage. My first marriage lasted 15  years. And you?" 
                "Twenty-six years." 
Unwilling to face him, I fill my fork. Nonchalant, I reply, "I'm not surprised. How long have your parents been married?" 
                "It would be 56 years. My father passed in 2003 and my mother in 2019." 
Looking into his eyes I gasped, "I'm so sorry to hear that Aden. My mom's still alive but my dad passed in 2021." 
                "Covid took my mother." 
Smacking my lips I sigh, "Please don't tell me that." 
Nodding he answers, "Well enough of that. How many children do you have?" 
                "One perfect daughter and granddaughter. ...You?" 
                "Three sons and five grandchildren." 
My eyes bucked while I chewed and smiled. Smirking he adds, "One son hasn't any kids. My other two are just horny bastards." 
Hand over my mouth, I laugh heartily. 
Soon, my mind returns to the week after Valentine's Day. Aden takes me to the beach. We have a small picnic, stroll the shore, then head to his car. Once inside, looking straight ahead, he says, "Kelly, I really love you." 
                "I love you too." 
                "I plan on spending my life with you."
He refuses to look at me, but I stare at his side view. Dropping his head, he faces me and says, "We're going to be together, but right now we need to take a break." 
Instantly I start weeping. Pulling me close he hugs me whispering, "Don't cry. Listen to me." 
Looking into his eyes, he continues, "I love you and want to be with you, but we're still so young. We're too young for marriage, but I want to marry you. Please let's just take a break and I promise we'll be back together." 
                "A break to do what? Sleep with other girls?":
                "It's not like that, Kelly. I just need to get this feeling like I spent my entire high school years with the same girl out of my system."
My hard crying makes him plead, "Please Kelly don't cry! I'm telling you this because I don't want to hurt you, not to hurt you. I'm not trying to cheat on you. I'm not even trying to break up. I'm just asking for a little break then I'll be back strong." 
Sniffling, I stammer out, "T-Take me home." 
We drove to my home in silence. The second he parked his car, I jumped out and never looked back. The next day I moved back into my old locker and hid from him during class changes. Aden called me that evening asking, "Why'd you change lockers, Kelly? Why are you making everyone think we broke up?" 
                "I'm not about to remain your girlfriend while you buy roses and date other girls. You can have your break, just leave me alone." 
I felt empowered for two days and then I was completely miserable. I had no clue what he was doing or who he was with because I refused to go anywhere near his locker or car. My mom felt sorry for me so she let me drive her car to school since Aden was no longer my ride. 
Any time he'd see me, he'd offer to keep picking me up for school, but I declined. Then one day I thought I saw a girl getting into his car. Instantly, desperation took over me. I called him after school telling him it's urgent that I see him. Aden comes over right away. I enter his car, and he asks, "What's going on?" 
Snappy, I say, "I'm pregnant." 
Massaging his forehead with his thumb and index finger he replies, "Kelly you're not pregnant?" 
                "I am! I missed my period." 
                "Well, I'll pay for the abortion because we're too young for a baby." 
                "I'm not killing my baby!"  
He huffs, "Kelly I have to go." 
Unable to prolong this lie I get out and let him leave. A few days later I go to Aden's job and wait for him. Once he enters his job's parking lot he sees me. Straight away he comes to my mom's car asking, "Kelly what are you doing here?" 
I cry, "I miss you." 
                "Okay, go home. Why would you come to my job with this? Please leave." 
Seeing his coldness toward my missing him, I decided to move forward. After crying every night for a month my cousin introduces me to her neighbor, Alford. Alford was cute enough, drove a Camaro, and went to a private school. This was my first real date since my breakup. I bought a new outfit and shoes. My mom had my hair done the previous Saturday, making it nice and bouncy. 
Alford is grinning my way when I open my front door. Once inside his car, he said, "You look really nice." 
                "Thanks. Nice car." 
                "It's my early graduation gift." 
                "Cool." 
Alford was a big supporter of his school's basketball team so he invited me to go with him. To my surprise, Whittier's basketball team was the opponent. We entered the gymnasium to Alford's classmates and friends giving me nods of approval. It's a good night and I do feel pretty. Once seated Alford says, "Wait here. I'll be right back." 
I watch as he crosses over to Whittier's side to meet someone. I see familiar faces, but none of those people ever befriended me. While waiting, I feel a burning stare. Glancing around my area I spot Aden one bleacher up and 50 feet away glaring at me. Face twisted, I roll my eyes away and continue watching Alford. As soon as Alford returns, I hear, "Hey Kelly." 
Alford opens his mouth to say something but quickly shuts it and looks at Aden. With his hand extended he greets, "I'm Aden."
                "Al." 
                "You're not speaking today, Kelly?" Aden asks.
Frowning his way I scoff, "Hello." 
Giving a snide chuckle he leaves. Instantly, Alford asks, "Who is that?" 
                "My ex-boyfriend." 
                "Are you sure?"
                "Positive." 
Aden is very intimidating to most guys. It was obvious Alford felt some type of way after seeing him. Periodically, he'd glance towards Aden until Aden ran across the gym to sit with his classmates. Still, he watched our interaction. The game ends, and Aden and his friends leave. Alford and I hobnob with his peeps eating hot dogs and popcorn then we leave.
 Now driving down a main street we realize there's a car purposely keeping up with us. We both look and then do a double-take. Aden motions for him to roll down his window. Mouth dropped Alford asks, "Is that your ex?" 
I answer, "Mhmm." 
Letting his window down we hear Aden yell, "So you're dating other people, Kelly? Oh, is it like that? Well, dude just know she's crazy!" 
Laughing Alford taunts, "She's crazy? Oh okay." 
Dallas is slumped down on the passenger side looking straight ahead. Suddenly Aden speeds off and Alford rolls up his window. 
The next night at work I told Shanice what happened, but her response was, "Girl all those times you were just gushing over your perfect Aden, I saw him on the island strip kissing another girl. One of my dudes and I were parked there doing our thing but seeing him I literally made my guy pause and just glared, until he looked up. After Aden saw me, he stopped what he was doing and drove off." 
I only shared that story because I felt vindicated. As my frown forms she says, "Just be glad he's miserable without you but please don't take him back." 
After she annihilated my small moment of hope I vowed never to discuss him again.