Pink Lips (22 page)

“Thank you.” Willow engaged in conversation with the stranger.

“Go away,” Talvin said as he approached them. Willow's eyes still focused on his.

The man scurried away as Willow glared at Talvin with her insides boiling. She touched her throat remembering what he had done to her. Visions of Duke lying in ICU hijacked her thoughts and made it difficult for her not to kill him right there in front of everyone.

“I want you,” Talvin whispered in her ear.

“You don't even know me.”

“We have all of the time in the world.” Talvin faced her and grabbed her hand; his eyes told her to follow him.

She agreed as they brushed through the crowd; his hands massaging her along the journey. Men of all calibers tried to stop him to talk, but Talvin only had one thing on his mind: getting to know the beautiful woman he was holding on to.

They came to a room which was dark until Talvin hit a light switch brightening the room fully. It was quiet and as the door closed, the music from the outside vanished. He held her hand escorting her to a table draped in white lace cloth. He pulled the chair out for her as he watched her sit down properly, bending her knees while hiding her treasures like a real woman was supposed to.

“I'm Talvin.” He held his hand out.

“Willow,” she said as she did the same; his lips kissing her hand to say hello.

“Are you from Philly?”

“You can say that.” She eyed the empty room.

“So, Willow,” he said as he sexually harassed her with his voice, “do you have a man?”

“If I had a man,” she said seductively, “I wouldn't be here with you.”

“I respect that.” Knocks interrupted their conversation. “Come in,” he screamed and the narrow tan door opened.

Willow nearly swallowed her tongue when Craig entered the room. His black tuxedo complemented his dark complexion. The watch on his wrist could blind a man quicker than the sun. His facial expression changed as he got closer and realized that it was Willow that Talvin was serenading.

“What's up?” Talvin asked him as he kept his eyes on Willow.

“It's business.” Craig signaled for Willow to leave.

“You can talk to me in front of my new woman.”

“Yo' new woman.” Craig cut his eyes toward Willow. “Yo, are you serious?”

“Do I know you?” she asked, playing dumb.

“So, you gon' do me like that?” Craig walked off. “I'll get at you when you don't have yo' new woman around.”

Willow watched as Craig's nose flared up and down with anger. He opened the door and left the room. She could tell that his blood was boiling from hearing that she and Talvin were a couple. She wasn't trying to embarrass him; she was simply trying to keep him out of her scheme.

Willow and Talvin talked alone for the majority of the night inside the room until the party was almost over. They made their way back to the crowd toward the end. Eyes were in shock as Talvin introduced Willow as his girl. She smiled and played along; all of it a part of her sadistic plan.

“I have to go,” Willow whispered in his ear as she leaned back, showing him Kail and Choice were waiting for her.

“Okay, that's cool, baby. I'll get at you first thing tomorrow.” Talvin kissed her passionately as the women standing around threw daggers into her with their eyes.

Willow, Kail, and Choice walked toward the door to leave; all
eyes still on them as if they were actresses. They exited the venue as a valet brought the car around to the front.

“Shit, I gotta' piss,” Choice said suddenly, then made her way back into the building.

“Me too.” Kail followed behind her.

“Can I take you home?” Craig appeared at Willow's side.

“Why would I even want you to?” She looked back, making sure Choice and Kail weren't nearby.

“Willow, if I ever meant anything to you, then you would let me take you home. No tricks or funny shit, just conversation.”

“What about Choice?” she asked.

“Ditch her.”

He disappeared into the night and Willow could see Kail and Choice coming out of the building. She fed them a weak excuse about how she wanted to feel the night air and they bought it. She walked toward the direction she saw Craig go while Choice and Kail drove off into the busy streets passing her.

Willow could see the lights from Craig's car in the alley as the hungry cats ran for their life fearing the smoke coming from his exhaust. She opened the door as the smooth sounds of jazz entered her ears. She sat down as her bright yellow heels dug into the carpet before she closed the door.

“The jazz type?” she asked as he pulled off. “I never took you for that type of man.” She smiled.

“Never judge the book, right?”

“Right,” she said as goose bumps filled her arm.

“So, you gon' tell me what you doing with Talvin?” he asked, the street light ricocheting off of the stop sign next to him and onto his face.

“It's business.”

“You know he's the go-to guy when yo' pops need someone to disappear.”

“People depend on me for the same thing.”

“You expect me to believe you a killa?” He pulled in front of her condo.

“How many guns do you think I have on me?” She looked at him and smiled.

“One,” he answered.

“Three,” she said as she touched the spots where they were. “Don't underestimate what I'm capable of.”

“The cover,” he said, looking at her.

“The cover.” She got out of the car.

“I gotta ask you something.” Craig rolled the window down. “That day in Hawaii at that reception,” he said as he leaned over so she could see his face and he could see hers, “did you and yo' sister do that shooting?”

Willow's head hung low as she gathered her thoughts. She could still see Melee lying there dead as the day came back to her. Her neck grew stiff as Craig looked at her for an answer. He positioned himself back in the driver seat; her eyes telling him everything he wanted to know.

“I didn't know she was my sister,” Willow defended as she stuck her head inside the car.

“I understand.” Craig looked at her before driving off. “The cover, right?”

Craig went into the night as he wondered what Willow was really capable of. He hadn't even committed a massacre of that magnitude. His mind ran a marathon as he dug deep within his skull trying to find a reason to stop feeling what he was feeling for her. It was too late; the love bug had bit him a long time ago, and
no matter what Willow told him about herself, nothing would change how he felt.

•  •  •

Evelyn walked into the venue of the bash with her clutch at her side, dangling along with her arm. She was late and the party was over, but she still wanted to see Talvin. She walked throughout the building until she spotted him at the bar alone sipping on a drink. He saw her; his eyes telling her to sit down.

“I heard you made a new friend tonight.” She grabbed his glass and started drinking.

“You have a husband,” he said in a defensive tone. “You could never be mine, so I have to find someone that can be.”

“So, you choose my stepchild?” she asked as his facial expression changed. “She is Rock's daughter, you know.”

“I didn't know that.” He grabbed his drink back from her; his words slurring.

“You know what he'll do to you if he found out?” she threatened.

“I'm interested in her, Evelyn, so whatever you're trying to do to scare that out of me, stop. I don't fear much.” He stood. “It was fun while it lasted.” He grabbed her face and kissed her lips one last time that night.

Evelyn finished the drink before walking out of the venue. She couldn't believe that Talvin had chosen Willow over her, especially after all they had been through. She was hurt. She couldn't believe it as she pinched herself, hoping it was all a dream. Talvin was the only thing that made her feel anything, and without him, she was numb and alone.

“What if they don't like me?” Willow squeezed Talvin's hand.

“They are going to love you just like I do,” he promised as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Willow watched as many golden hues from the color of the leaves lay scattered all around. The sound of children laughing and galloping rung out as they jumped on a heaped pile of discarded leaves. Lovers walked hand in hand to the sound of crunching under their feet as they walked a well-trodden path.

A slight breeze whispered along the trees and teased more leaves into releasing their tentative hold. Deeply engrossed in the message he was texting on his mobile, a young man sitting on a park bench, didn't notice when a wayward leaf landed on his head, but Willow watched closely; her heart beating with anticipation.

It had been a full month since her charade with Talvin had started. They were an item and everyone who was anyone knew it. They were joined at the hip and wherever you saw one, you saw the other. Willow was enjoying the idea of having someone, even if it was pretend. She had to remind herself of that, once she started having feelings for him.

Talvin was saying those famous three words in hopes that she would say them in return. He got her name tatted on him, he dropped dough on her, and he couldn't tell her no, despite what
she asked for. To him, he had found The One. To Willow, this was a game of chess and he was merely a pawn.

Everything was going smoothly with Willow's plan for revenge. He was falling deeper and deeper for her. She learned everything she needed to know about him since the day of his bash. All of his secrets had surfaced and she planned to use everything she could to ruin his life.

She couldn't believe as the smell of barbecue hit her nose that she had let Talvin talk her into going to his family reunion. When she saw a group of loud black folks, she knew that they had arrived. The moment she had been dreading for a week had finally come.

Old school music played as picnic tables lined the center of the park. Lawn chairs were present along with coolers full of beer and soda. There were elderly men attending to meat in their pit and arguing about whose recipe was the best. Everyone was wearing the same family reunion shirt; everyone but Willow.

“Grandson,” an old man said as he approached Willow and Talvin. “Who is this fine young tender thang?” He started sucking his teeth.

“This is my girl, Willow.” Talvin laughed at his grandfather.

“You a fine young thang, Willow,” he said, reaching out his hand. “I'm Paw Paw Wilson, and while you're here, you're family. You can have whatever you like.” He smiled; his tonsils present through his cave-like mouth.

“Paw Paw, are you flirting with my woman?” Talvin asked, shoving his grandfather in a playful matter.

“She eyeing me,” he said, winking at Willow.

Willow smiled at the old man's enthusiasm. She laughed as she looked at the blue jean overalls he was wearing. His white beard was braided and long. She looked at Talvin and then Paw Paw Wilson, noticing how much they resembled each other.

“Is that my baby boy?” a woman screamed approaching them. Willow turned around.

“Hey, Ma,” he said as he hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek.

“I'm Mrs. Wilson,” she said as she looked at Willow. “And, you must be the woman who has my son's nose wide open.”

“Ma,” Talvin said, shaking his head.

“Shut up, Talvin,” she said and started to laugh. “He always gets embarrassed if I talk too much. Come over here and meet everybody else. We all have heard so much about you.”

Willow looked back at Talvin as his mother forcefully dragged her to a table with the aunts and great-aunts. Willow basked in her surroundings, never attending a function like this for her own family. She appreciated seeing a family together without the drama that hers consisted of.

•  •  •

After the food was served, Willow sat in Talvin's lap, as they watched the sun set. Everyone was packing up to leave but not them. They sat enjoying each other as the stars filled the sky.

“I got someone I want you to meet,” Talvin whispered, gently raising Willow off of him as he stood.

Willow remained standing as the night air attacked her like a girl slicing open a face with a razor blade. She looked up at the stars as she constantly told herself this was for Duke. The feeling of enjoyment that she was feeling was real. The masquerade had faded a long time ago and she hated herself for having a good time and catching feelings for the man whom she considered the enemy.

The sound of the grass crackling under a pair of shoes hit Willow as she spun around to see Talvin holding a little boy. He appeared to be six or seven. Willow smiled at him. His small family reunion
shirt overlapped his knees and Talvin's hands. His facial features looked as if Talvin had spat him out; his genes were strong.

“This is my son.” Talvin smiled. “This was the only thing in my life that made sense to me before you came into the picture.”

Willow played with the little boy under the stars as Talvin watched them run around in the dark. Willow never saw herself in a park with a child, running and playing. It made her feel unusual but good at the same time.

Night fell as Talvin gave his son to his moms to take home and watch. He held Willow's hand as they walked the path back to his truck and got inside. They cruised down the streets until they arrived at an abandoned warehouse.

Talvin guided her into the old building; the sheer darkness stripping them of the ability to see. They entered an old elevator and Willow's legs grew weak as they made their way to the third floor. The elevator doors opened as the smell of freshly picked roses filled the small elevator.

He grabbed her hand as the light from a hundred burning candles lit the room. He forced her to the ground onto a blanket as their bodies nearly knocked over the bottle of Moët that was chilling on ice waiting for them to indulge in.