Evening Gentleman (17 page)

LESLIE

I can’t. I don’t want to.

             
Rachel leaned in and kissed Leslie.

RACHEL
You are mine now.

LESLIE
I will never be yours and when Nathan wakes up I swear I am telling him everything. How you plotted and planned this whole thing. How you told me everything about your past with him.

RACHEL

Is that a threat? Are you really capable of that?

             
Rachel back-hand slapped Leslie over the counter.

RACHEL
Baby I’m sorry. (bending down to help Leslie) Look what you made me do.

             
Leslie was crying.

RACHEL
Don’t make me shoot you Leslie. I love you. I love you like no one ever could. Now we need to stick to our plan.

             
I started to wake up from my knockout. I saw Rachel with Leslie. I scurried over towards them. Rachel pulled a knife from the drawer.

RACHEL

You take another step and I will cut your heart out.

LESLIE
Rachel don’t.

NATHAN
So you were lying to me the whole time.

RACHEL

You weren’t the only one getting yours on the side. Now either you can leave peacefully or we can make this look like a suicide.

             
I looked at the knife that was in Rachel’s hand. I didn’t want to do anything that would hurt Leslie or the baby. I tried to walk backward to go and get my gun.

RACHEL

No no no…don’t do anything stupid. Now I love Leslie but if you try me she will get it.

             
I stopped in my tracks.

NATHAN
Ok Rachel. You win. You win. You and Leslie can have the house, the cars, the money. That is what you want isn’t it. Or do you just want someone to love you. Think back to when we were in high school. Do you remember the big football game when we won state championship? Do you remember when we all went to David Parker’s house?

RACHEL
Shut up.

NATHAN
No think about it. The whole football team took turns flipping you. Everyone except me. I was there for you. I tried to pull you out but I couldn’t.

RACHEL

You don’t know what you are talking about.

NATHAN
Do you remember the night that your dad came home drunk and killed your mother?

             
Rachel pulled a gun from behind her waist.

RACHEL
I swear on everything I love, I will kill you.

NATHAN

Leslie doesn’t love you Rachel. She was only using you. You see, she had discussed your little plan with me.

RACHEL

No she didn’t.

NATHAN

Yes she did. We talked about your for hours. How everyone that you love always leave you.

             
Rachel fired a warning shot in the ceiling.

RACHEL
If you don’t be quiet I will kill you.

NATHAN
No you won’t. You love me too much. Remember when we made love after senior prom. Remember when we graduated from college and we spent the weekend together in a cabin. You are in love with me. You told Leslie that same thing but you know that you love me.

             
Leslie picked up a medium sized vase and smashed it against Rachel’s back. It jarred her causing her to fire a shot in my arm. Rachel turned and Leslie turned to run. Rachel went after her.

RACHEL
Don’t run!

             
When Rachel caught Leslie she started to choke her.

LESLIE (barely able to talk)

I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

RACHEL
You forgot to say you love me, you heartless bitch.

             
Leslie scratched Rachel’s face. When she was free she ran. She locked herself in the room. Rachel kicked the door in.

RACHEL
I gave you my heart.

LESLIE (holding a gun she grabbed from the closet)

Don’t make me kill you but if you come any closer I will.

             
Rachel grabbed the gun.

RACHEL

You are pissing me off Leslie.

             
I fired three shots into Rachel’s back. She turned and looked at me before she fell dead.

Leslie came over and hugged me. I refused to wrap my arms around her.

LESLIE

I am sorry Nathan.

NATHAN
All this time you were lying to me. I admitted to cheating and doing wrong. You made me feel like shit. When you have this baby I am taking it.

LESLIE
You can’t.

NATHAN

You want to bet. I have cameras throughout this house. So I have the proof that I need to get you locked up for life.

LESLIE
Please don’t do this.

NATHAN

You have forced me to.

Cool Relax

              Your boy is back. I hope that you didn’t think that I was going to allow someone like Leslie and the bull with Rachel get me down. I have my son and we are living well. Rachel is planted in the ground and Leslie is locked away for a long time. No I do not take my son to visit Leslie in prison. She calls and writes all of the damn time. Her letters make a great fire in the winter.

             
This evening, Alhaji and I had seafood for dinner. I love watching my son eat crab meat. I must admit that I do have a lover now. He is a very good person to, and for me and my son.

             
We took a family vacation to Hawaii. I surprised my lover by asking for his hand in marriage. I was happy that he accepted. We had a simple ceremony on the island. Being in love with someone that loves me back unconditionally – is worth everything that I went through. I know how to enjoy and respect him.

             
I would issue a warning but I am settled. I changed in time – don’t you think? No more switching lanes…

Author’s Cover Bio

AnDerecco
is a native of Waynesboro, Mississippi, and graduate of Alcorn State University and University of West Alabama. Before becoming an author, he worked as a banker and a teacher. AnDerecco is a frequent traveler and loves to analyze love, life and relationships.

His other works are:

FAMILY VALUES

TORN

UNDERCOVER LIES

LOVE TO LUV

WHO CAN I RUN TO?

AnDerecco currently resides in Jackson, MS.