The Improbable Read online

  Ray shook my hand while he stared at me with squinted eyes. I didn’t like him already with the way he was staring. “Do you know her, Mr. Finley?”

  “I do, actually. We met–” I began but Eva cut me off.

  “Ray, honey, this is the man that saved me from drowning the night of the party.” She stood. “Now I never got to thank you Mr. Finley,” Eva-Marie took a step closer to me with her arms crossed across her chest, staring at the ground. “As we’ve discussed before.” Her eyes bore into mine and by that I knew she was referring to the elevator incident. “And judging by your attitude in the previous times we’ve ran into each other, I don’t see why I should.” She looked at me expectantly with Ray behind her appearing as if he was ready to jump between us at any moment.

  I was in a tough place because I had come to apologize and Eva-Marie didn’t seem like she was willing to accept anything I had to say. Well if she didn’t want it she was going to get it and that was going to be the end of it. I didn’t need her annoying attitude. “Well if you must know that’s why I came out here. Not for a ‘thank you’ but I, myself, wanted to apologize to you. In the incidents that occurred between us, I was out of line. I had no right to yell at you in such a way and for that, I’m sorry. But it seems like you’re not willing to let it go so I’ll just leave it at that then.” I heard her gasp as I turned to walk away. I tried to do something nice and she didn’t want to accept it, I knew I never should’ve walked out there in the first place!

  “Hey!” Ray called. He caught up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

  I turned around immediately and swiped it away forcefully. “You get your goddamn hands off of me.” My anger began to boil.

  “What in God’s name possessed you to come out here and speak to my woman like that?” He demanded.

  “Maybe if you could control your bitch and her attitude I wouldn’t be talking crazy to her!” I hissed, getting in his face. Eva-Marie’s attitude had lit the fuse and he was going to make me explode. At that point, I was ready to take him out.

  “Okay fellas, okay, c’mon break it up!” Timmy’s voice came from behind me and Chris appeared in front of me, pushing me back away from Ray.

  Ray chuckled haughtily. “You keep that dog on a leash.”

  “Whatever he says doesn’t matter, man.” Chris said trying to get me to make eye contact with him.

  “As long as you keep yours on one,” I spat and reluctantly followed Chris and Timmy back inside.

  “What’re you doin’ man? And disrespecting Eva-Marie like that? She’s like family to us!” Chris exclaimed with his hands up.

  “Yeah, you should’ve seen her face. It looked like you really hurt her.” Timmy shook his head.

  Oh now I was the bad guy! “Oh please I went out there to apologize and she didn’t want to accept it.” I defended myself.

  “So she didn’t accept your apology, so what? That gives you the excuse to act out and hurt her feelings? She’s a female!” Chris explained.

  There was silence between the three of us for a few moments before Timmy spoke up. “I get you’ve always had a hot temper, buddy. But you’ve gotta take control over that thing. Especially here, I don’t need to be kicked out of this place. We all know my father wouldn’t approve.”

  I didn’t answer. As I began to calm down, I went over the situation in my head and felt like an atrocious monster. I hated losing my temper, but ever since my mom passed it was as if anger was the only emotion that let me know I was still alive.

  “You’ve just gotta calm down, man.” Chris agreed in a small voice.

  I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and looked out on the porch. Ray paid no attention to her as he counted his money for their bill. Eva-Marie was gathering her bags and hurriedly wiping her eyes before the tears ran down. I sighed as a pang of shame poked at my heart. I wanted to kick myself! Oh what had I done? What had I become?

  7. Get Over It

  Birds chirped, the wind was blowing lightly, and the sun was illuminating the city from high up in the sky with not a cloud in sight. I was gazing up at the clear skies with my head resting in my hand, secretly wishing it would rain or there would be a thunderstorm. Sunny day after sunny day was growing monotonous to me – somewhat like my life, constantly longing for a change. Most would assume I was depressed what with desiring rainy days during the short one hundred days of heat and sunshine; I would say they were depressed for wanting the same scenery with no variety. The warehouse janitor, Gretchen, had been yapping the whole time I was spaced out.

  “You know what I mean, he just never notices when I’m dressed up. You should teach me, you’re always dressed real nice and I reckon that’s what got you such a nice man.” Gretchen’s voice broke into my daze.

  Oh how I wanted to laugh because I had no clue what she was talking about. “Excuse me, what?” I reached for my cola bottle and took a refreshing sip. We were outside for our 30-minute lunch break in which Gretchen had spent most of the time gabbing about…something, I’m not sure what. I definitely wasn’t sure why she was asking me to help her with clothing – I was nineteen and she was fifty.

  She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Do you not listen, girlie?” She laughed and tapped me on the head with a newspaper. “Everyone knows about you two.” Gretchen laid the newspaper out in front of me and pointed.

  There in plain view was a photograph of Ray and I shopping downtown, the day my parents had forced me to spend the day with him. I picked up the paper and read aloud: “The number one African-American attorney in Chicago, Ray Jackson, whom is pictured above, takes Eva-Marie Hutchinson, the daughter of Ace Cigars owner, out on the town. Could make for the most powerful African-American couple in the Midwest.” I rolled my eyes and tossed the paper aside, chuckling when thinking how much I disliked Ray. He was everywhere, it was as if I couldn’t get away from him. My parents fawned over him, so much to the point where my mother took him out for drinks – without me! I was doing a good job at pretending for my parents but I was a complete jerk to Ray’s face. He deserved it.

  “Well what’d you do that for? That’s a fine young man that you better hold on to.” Gretchen warned.

  I scoffed. “Ray is thirty-two years old, he’s not young in any way Gretchen.” Which was true, Ray was quite old fashion in his ways…just like my daddy.

  “Awh, you don’t know any better dear.” Gretchen shook her head.

  I looked down to check my watch, Kate had called to let me know she would be visiting for lunch however, I didn’t see that happening with only minutes left in my break. But to my surprise, she pulled up as I was making my way back into the building. I stood with my hands on my hips and eyes squinted in the sun as I waited for her.

  “Good afternoon darlin’!” She waved with a bright smile.

  “Great timing Kate, I’ve got to go back now.” I whined.

  She glanced at her watch. “Your daddy won’t mind if I sit with you at your desk for a while, will he?”

  I shrugged, “Come on in.”

  Kate sat in front of my desk and removed her hat before laying down the same newspaper article I had just gone over with Gretchen. She looked at me with expectant eyes.

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ve seen it already.”

  “So when were you planning on telling me about Ray, Eva-Marie?” Kate asked after I plopped down in front of her.

  “Gahh! He’s no one important! I don’t even like him!” I exclaimed with frustration.

  “Well he sure does look like somebody! And honey this face doesn’t read an ounce of dislike.” Kate pointed out.

  “I was shopping, which girl wouldn’t be happy when she’s shopping.” I defended myself. “Besides, my parents made me to go with Ray.”

  Kate frowned. “Oh sweetie, why’d they make you go with him?”

  I leaned forward, resting my head in my hands. “They think Ray will make out to be a great guy for me.” I snorted at the idea and wearily shook my head; time was
ticking and Ray was beginning to look like my only ticket out of the life I lived with my parents. It wasn’t as if I had men lined up at my door waiting to be with me.

  Kate reached out and rubbed my arm. “Oh my…I can only imagine.”

  “Can we please not talk about it?” I held my hand up.

  Kate nodded quickly, “Of course baby doll.” Her eyes danced around as she thought of something else to talk about; her eyes widened and her face lit up once she did. “Oh! So I heard you were at the city club and met Mr. Handsome!” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

  I immediately knew who she was speaking of – David, the man with the aesthetics of a Greek God and the attitude of a bitter peasant. In my head I replayed the scene of the interaction with David at the city club numerous times. Overall, I felt like he was a mess. He was always so angry and disrespectful! Though I had to admit that I came off with an attitude first that day….I should’ve just taken the apology so we could move on from the silent war we had going on. Would there always be unrest between the two of us? It was going to be difficult because we had the same group of friends. Thinking about it gave me a headache.

  “Yeah, David Finley? Don’t give him any praise, his attitude is complete garbage. He’s bad news.” I shook my head.

  “Oh please Eva, you know that man is suh-mokin’!” Kate gushed. “I can see it on your face!”

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re not reading anything on my face Kate. Yes, I do agree with you he is attractive but he has a terrible temper.”

  “So I’ve heard.” She sighed.

  “How do you know?” I questioned.

  “He’s Timmy’s best friend.”

  “Oh, so I take it he told you about what happened at the city club yesterday?”

  “No, I can’t say he did. What happened?” She asked.

  “I was eating lunch with Ray and David appeared.” I answered.

  Kate snorted. “And that’s a bad thing, honey?”

  “No. Every time I happened to bump into him after the party, he would be just fuming and angry! So I asked him why he thinks he deserves a ‘thank you’ from me and he blew up.” I explained.

  “Blew up?” Kate furrowed her eyebrows.

  “Yes,” I nodded. “Blew up to the point where he called me out of my name and nearly ended up in an altercation with Ray.”

  “Oh my Lord,” Kate dramatically put her hand over her heart in disbelief. “This man has really got a short fuse.”

  “Now you see why I said don’t give him any praise.” I told her.

  Kate sighed. “Well as sorry as I am that your knight in shinin’ armor turned out to be a frog…he is Chris and Timmy’s best friend.”

  A confused expression crossed my face. “What does that have to do with me, Kate?”

  “As you know we hang out with them all the time. Not to mention the field get-together we have this weekend.” She mentioned.

  I rolled my eyes. “Is he going to be there? If so, then I’m not going. Every time I run into that man he just up and ruins my day.”

  “Oh stop it Eva-Marie! You’re comin’ to the field this weekend and that’s that. I won’t take no for an answer.” Kathryn crossed her arms across her chest and turned her nose up at me.

  Every month, our group of friends would make our way out to an open field in the middle of the woods. There, we would drink and some would smoke and as it got dark outside we’d lay and watch the stars. As we would watch the stars we’d talk about any and everything. It was a great break from our busy little lives. I wanted it to be relaxing…not a hostile war zone if David was in attendance.

  I sighed. “I’ll see Kate, I may not even get off work in time.”

  “Oh c’mon Eva, you’ve never missed one!” Kate whined.

  “We’ve only had four, Kate.” I rolled my eyes and laughed lightly.

  Kate hopped out of her seat. “That is beside the point, my dear. The point is you’re comin’ and you’re gonna to get over this thing between you and David. Have I made myself clear?” She spoke in a voice full of authority, making it clear she really wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer.

  “We’re clear.” I agreed reluctantly.

  A smile grew on Kate’s face. She squealed excitedly and came around my desk to hug me. “Oh I’d knew you wanna come! Well I’ve gotta meet Timmy now, we’re goin’ to search for our New Members’ Ball attire.”

  “Isn’t that next month?” I asked.

  “Yes but it’s never too early to have a dress baby doll.” She said.

  “I know, I know. Well go and have fun, my love.” I blew her a kiss.

  “That I will!” She began walking out. “Don’t be so tense about this weekend, it’ll be fun!”

  “I’ll try not to be!” I called after her.

  “You never know what’s gonna happen!” She called over her shoulder.

  Maybe she had a point.

  8. White Flags

  I had been unpacking for the past few hours alone in my house and it still seemed as if I’d made no progress. The boxes had been sitting, untouched in my house since I’d moved in. Since it was the weekend and I didn’t have to work, I saw it as an excellent opportunity to go ahead and get them out of the way. I knew I wasn’t going to finish organizing due to the fact that the sun had set two hours ago and I was running late for some get-together with the guys. I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible before I got promoted to Chief and had no free time.

  As I looked around at the progress I’d made, I grew annoyed. Why was it taking so long to organize my fucking house! I checked my watch and realized I was an hour past the time I told Chris and Timmy I’d meet up with them. Great, I thought. On my way into my cluttered room I managed to jam my toe on the corner of a heavy box.

  “Fuck!” I shouted and slammed my hand against the wall in the hallway. I stood there, leaning against the wall, fuming as the pain in my foot throbbed. Get a hold of yourself, my conscience seemed to tell me. Lately, I’d been like a ticking time bomb and it was only getting worse. How was I going to handle the stress of an undercover case if I was blowing up left and right? I would give myself away in no time! I couldn’t let that happen…I had my father depending on me and that meant more than the world to me.

  My anger was also causing issues with the people around me – that girl Eva-Marie to be exact. Since I’d gotten into it with her and Ray at the city club all my mind could replay was Eva-Marie rushing to gather her bags and get the heck out of there. I made her cry! What kind of monster was I? It was as if I was losing control over myself and some evil force was taking over. It had to be stopped and soon because I was on the quick path to destruction.

  “It’s the chief, man glad you made it!” Timmy exclaimed and opened my door for me as soon as I parked.

  “Remember what I said about calling me chief? I’m undercover, remember?” I said to Timmy as I got out the car. Sometimes he could just forget so much.

  Timmy rolled his eyes. “I mean the attorney!”

  “Good enough,” I chuckled. Looking around, I saw Timmy’s girlfriend and her little group of friends along with Chris and another male in the distance. “What’s going on?”

  Timmy placed his arm on my shoulder and pointed at the group of girls. “Over here we got the ladies. You know my girl Kathryn and then there’s Rita and Sarah.” He then pointed to Chris and the guy he was speaking with and lowered his voice. “Now you’re gonna love this, I think this is the first move into your case, buddy.”

  My interest heightened and I looked at him questioningly. “Do tell.”

  “I knew you’d be interested,” Timmy nodded. “That guy Chris is with over there is Nicholas Brandy. I linked him and Chris together because Chris wanted to purchase some reefer.”

  “What does this mean for me?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest as I watched Nicholas interact with Chris discreetly.

  “He sells drugs – including Trioxytin. What does that mean for you my fr
iend? He’s one of the greatest connections you’ll get in your case!” Timmy revealed excitedly.

  I, too, grew excited. “Oh Timmy you’ve hit the jackpot!” I patted Timmy firmly on the back.

  “Just thought I’d help ya out a bit. Wanna go have a chat with him?” Timmy asked.

  I shook my head. “Not just yet.” I watched as Nicholas got back into his car and was driven away.

  “We all ready to go?” Chris asked the group on his way back over. “Chief’s here!” He shouted once he caught sight of me.

  I blinked and decided to let go of the fact the he, too, had forgotten to stop calling me ‘chief’. “How’s it goin’, Chris?” I asked when he came to stand next to Timmy and I.

  “Awesome. Just glad we got a day where we could all get together.” He patted me on the back.

  “We’re ready when you are ladies,” Timmy called to them. “But what about –”

  “Well we’ve waited for an hour, I don’t think she’s comin’.” Kathryn cut him off, staring at me while she was talking.

  I broke the awkward eye contact.

  “Alright then, let’s move out!” Chris shouted.

  “But first, ladies, we would like to introduce you to our friend, David. I know none of you ever got the chance to meet him.” Timmy motioned to me.

  Why did he have to put a spotlight on me? I needed some alcohol, I felt so awkward. I waved to the women who were smiling and giggling to each other. “Nice to meet you ladies.”

  “You as well,” the two girls said simultaneously.

  The redhead stepped forward and held her hand out. “I’m Sarah.”

  “And I’m Rita.” She held her hand out as well.

  Timmy’s girlfriend was the only one smirking at me with her hands on her hips. “Oh we know who he is.”

  I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

  Timmy laughed nervously and tugged her along.

  I shook her comment off and followed the group through the woods. The rest of them talked and joked with each other as we made our way through the branches and leaves. I, on the other hand, fell toward the back and didn’t speak to anyone. I knew the girls most likely thought I was socially awkward – they kept looking back and staring at me and then bursting into fits of laughter. Kathryn had to have something against me but I couldn’t guess what I possibly could’ve done to her to make her dislike me.