Chapter 12
Khenji
According to Samone, I have a meeting at ten. That gives me time to sip coffee and talk to my girl, but since I don’t know if she has any meetings this morning, I send her a text.
Khenji: good morning
While I wait for her to respond, I open the top drawer of my desk, and get a whiff of her lotion.
Mmm. My baby.
I take a deep breath and put it back in the drawer then check the markets – an activity I always do first thing in the morning, but imagine my surprise to see Livia’s brother at my office when I arrived at 7:30. He said he wanted to talk to me – to get a feel for my personality and know what my intentions were with his sister. So, I told him—man-to-man—and I didn’t hold anything back. No one will keep me away from her. She’s mine, and she always will be.
When my phone beeps, I know it’s a response from her.
Livia: good morning, Khen. how are you?
Khenji: I’m well, thanks.
Khenji: Hayes came to see me this morning
Livia: what! omg…I’m so embarrassed.
Khenji: don’t be
Livia: he didn’t harass you, did he?
Khenji: no. he’s a good dude
Livia: but you just met him yesterday. Don’t you think it’s weird that he showed up today?
Khenji: why is it weird?
Livia: because I’m still getting to know you and he’s inserting himself into the picture
Khenji: That’s fine with me. It shows he cares about you. I like that.
Livia: oh, my client is here. I’ll talk to you later.
Khenji: I’ll stop by your place after work.
Livia: okay
I get off work and drive straight to her apartment. She must’ve just got here, too, because she still has on her work clothes – a skirt and a blouse. She slides off her shoes. My eyes land on her toes. She embraces me and says, “Oh, it’s so good to see you after a long day.”
“I hold that sentiment for you as well, Livia.”
When she releases me, I say, “Put your shoes back on so I can take you to dinner.”
She does so and we go out. I tell her about the conversation I had with her brother, about how I admire the fact that he cares for her so much. We end dinner with dessert. I drop her off at home and that’s how our night ends.
TUESDAY I have dinner prepared at my place and we talk for a few hours about everything and nothing at the same time. I made it a goal to be more present with her – more engaging and I think I accomplished that. I’m learning her mannerisms, her behavior patterns and even the way she speaks. I know her likes and dislikes. I know what makes her happy. I know when she’s keeping something from me. There’s still more for me to learn and I’m sure I will by spending more time with her.
WEDNESDAY came and went – the workday, that is. I sent Livia flowers and she immediately called and thanked me for them, telling me how lovely they were. Then she told me to leave on time today because she wanted to take me somewhere. And she wouldn’t tell me where we were going. She told me to dress casual – that’s it. That messed with my head all day long because I’m not as experienced as she is with a lot of activities. When she picked me up, I was tense but when we pulled up at a bowling alley, my nerves settled even though I’ve never bowled a day in my life. I watch her, follow her lead, and find out that I’m pretty good at it. The biceps are a big help.
THURSDAY, I tell her to wear a formal dress. I took her to a symphony. She’d never been to one before and I can tell she enjoyed it. So did I, but that’s only because I stared at her for most of the performance while she let the music flow through her body. I love reading her. Analyzing her. I’m learning ways to keep her happy.
After the symphony, I wined and dined her – something I enjoy doing. Spoiling her is a new habit for me.
And now it’s FRIDAY, and I get to have her all to myself this weekend. I haven’t formally asked her if she’ll spend the weekend with me, but I’m hopeful she will – that she wants to.
As soon as I leave the office and slide into the backseat of the Wraith, I dial her number.
The phone rings five times and then goes to voicemail.
I hang up and call her again.
Voicemail.
She gets off work at noon on Fridays and I have no idea where she is. She could be with her family, or maybe running errands. I don’t like that I don’t know.
“Are you heading home, sir?” Amos asks.
“Yes,” I say, conflicted. My home is not really a home unless Livia’s there, and she’s not. And she’s not answering her phone. I try not to worry, but after spending the entire week with her, not being able to reach her is unsettling. I need her. She’s the only source of energy that keeps me smiling – that gives me a feeling of elation no matter what’s going on in my life.
I don’t want to act sporadically, so I wait a while for her to return my call. I shower, hit the gym, and throw back a protein shake. A few hours later, I check my phone and there are no missed calls or text messages from her.
I call her again around nine and still, I’m not getting an answer. I can’t wait anymore.
I grab my keys and nearly floor it over to her place. I jump out of the car and run to the stairwell like a rescue worker going to save a life. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.
I push the doorbell twice, knock a few times, and then wait. Moments later, the doorknob turns.
Livia opens the door wearing a long T-shirt. Her eyes are barely open. Her hair is all over the place and she’s holding her head like it’s about to explode.
“Hey,” I say, immediately pulling her into my arms after stepping inside. “I was worried about you. What’s wrong? You feel hot, like you have a fever.”
“Khenji,” she hums and in nothing more than a whisper, she says, “My head is killing me.”
Still holding on to her, I close the door and ask, “Have you taken anything?”
“No. I got off work and went straight to bed. I’m so sorry. I know you were looking forward to spending the weekend with me.”
She breaks away from me and walks down the hallway back toward her bedroom.
I follow her and say, “And I’m still going to spend the weekend with you.”
“No, Khenji. I don’t want you to waste your weekend. You could be out enjoying yourself.”
“How do I do that without you?”
She sits on the bed and massages her temples.
“What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
“It’s my cycle. Some months it’s a breeze and other times, it’s like…this. I get these terrible headaches and feel downright awful.”
I’ve never seen her like this. She looks like she’s in agony. I can’t imagine her going through this every month.
“Have you taken medicine?”
“No. I’m out of Excedrin, and I didn’t feel like going out, so—”
It bothers me a little that she didn’t think to call me. That’s why I’m here – for all of this – to take care of her for the rest of my life.
“I’ll make a run to get you some. Have you had anything to eat?”
“No, but I’m not all that hungry.”
“You’ll probably feel better if you eat something, my girl.”
She yawns. “What time is it?”
I take out my pocket watch and say, “It’s eight-thirty. Listen—I’m going to go pick up your medicine and some dinner.”
“Khenji, you don’t have to,” she’s says soft-spokenly. “I don’t want to ruin your night.”
“You’re not ruining anything.” I sit beside her and say, “The only way my night would be ruined is if I couldn’t be with you.”
She rests her head on my shoulder and says, “Stop it. You’re going to make me cry,” and then I hear her sniffle. It punctures my heart.
“Don’t do that.”
“It’s the hormones. I’m sorry.” She sniffles again.
I put my arm around her and say, “I’m going to take care of you, okay?”
She nods against my chest.
I don’t want to leave her. I could call someone to do it for me, but I’d much rather do it myself to make sure she has what she needs.
I help her lie down comfortably again and pull up the covers.
“I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Okay.”
It takes everything in me to leave her here, but I do because I have to. I get up, take her keys from the kitchen counter so I can let myself in when I return, then head to my car and drive to the nearest shopping center. I find a Walgreens. They should have what she needs.
I get one of the workers to show me exactly where the medicine is because I don’t want to waste time looking for it. Then, after following her to the aisle, I ask the woman, “Hey, what else does a woman need when she’s on her—you know…?”
“Period?” she asks and has a smirk on her face.
“Yes.”
She looks at her bare wrist, pops her knuckles and asks, “How much time you got?”
My brows raise. The heck?
She says, “You gon’ need some pads or tampons if that’s her preference, ibuprofen, chocolate—lots of chocolate—”
“What kind of chocolate?”
She cackles. “It doesn’t matter. It could be that cheap imitation chocolate for all she cares. Trust me. She just needs something sweet. And salty. So make sure you pick up some potato chips. Again, the flavor doesn’t matter.”
“Anything else?”
“No. I think that might be it.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Oh, wait—you may need to get a heating pad too because the back pain be on ten!”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Is this your first rodeo, sir?”
“It is.”
She looks me up and down and asks, “How’s that possible?” but doesn’t wait for an answer. She continues, “Well, you’re a good man. Most men are frightened of women and their cycles. Don’t get me wrong—they have good reason to be, but the ones who tough it out—y’all the real MVPs.”
“Thanks. I appreciate your help.”
I take out my wallet and hand her a twenty as a tip for helping me out but, she won’t take it. She holds up both hands and says, “Nope. This one is on the house.”
“No, I insist—” I look at her name tag “—Peggy.”
She takes it this time and says, “Thank you and good luck.”
I collect all the items she told me to get and check out. Then I head to Kopan where I order her a mild ramen bowl. I opt for the spicy, and then order two sesame chicken dinners and mango salmon sushi.
Leaving there, I head straight to her place again, gather the bags and let myself inside. I leave everything on the counter and go to check on her. She’s still lying there where I left her, but she’s not sleeping. She just resting.
“Hey, angel.”
“Hey,” she responds in a wispy undertone.
“I’ll go get you a glass of water and the medicine—just wanted to make sure you were okay first.”
“Yes. I’ll survive.”
I return to the kitchen, grab a glass from the cupboard, run some water in it and take the bottle of medicine to her. She opens it, tosses back two pills and drinks water. She lies down again.
I say, “I’ll warm your food a little. Be right back.”
I return to the kitchen, unpack the snacks, and then heat our food. I take the bowls to her room, clear off the nightstand and sit them there.
“Ooh, that smells good. Now, I’m hungry.”
“Good. You need to eat something.”
She sits up. I hand her the bowl and she tastes the ramen. It’s filled with meat and veggies and of course ramen noodles. “This is so good.”
“I thought you might like it.”
“Where’d you get it?”
“Kopan.”
“See—why can’t my mom plan a dinner date at a place like that?”
I shrug. “Maybe you should take the initiative and do it.”
“Maybe, but it’s probably not wild enough for her.”
I take my bowl and we eat together, quietly at first, until she asks, “Are you going to spend the night over here with me?”
“Yes, if you will let me.”
“I don’t mind. I don’t have anywhere for you to sleep and I know you don’t like being too close to me, so…”
“Well, I’m going to be close to you tonight because I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I guess I need to be sick all the time, huh?”
She smiles. So do I.
“From now on, every time you see me, I’m going to be sick.”
She chuckles.
I take pleasure in watching her amusement. She looks a whole lot better than she did when she answered the door.
“I ran into Melissa McCarthy at the store. She told me to buy you some snacks.”
“What?”
“At the store, I asked one of the workers where the Excedrin was. I swear she looked like Melissa McCarthy. You know who I’m talking about, don’t you? The actress that was in that movie Identity Theft.”
“Wait—you saw that movie?”
“I did. Does that surprise you?”
Her eyes brighten. “Yes. You don’t laugh and you hardly smile. That movie is a comedy. I can see you sitting there watching it now with a straight face.”
“No, it was pretty funny. Anyway, the lady—she told me to get you some things after I told her you were on your cycle.”
“Are you serious? You up in the store telling people all my business?”
“I had to do what I had to do. I know nothing about your body yet, but I will learn.” I stand up, gather our trash, and say, “I’ll go get the bag.”
I return to the kitchen where I grab the bag with the items for her. I take them back to the room and hand her the bag, then sit down and watch her open it.
She gasps. “You bought me some tampons?”
“I did.”
“Seriously, Khenji?”
“What? The girl told me to get them for you.”
“It’s just that men are usually ashamed to buy stuff like this.”
“I’m not ashamed of anything where you’re concerned, my girl.”
She looks up at me and smiles.
Returning her attention to the bag, she says, “You got some chocolate, ibuprofen, chips, a freakin’ heating pad—I’m all set!”
“So, I guess Melissa McCarthy was right.”
She giggles. “Yes, she was. I need all of this. Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome so much. Anyway, it’s getting late. I want you to get your rest so I’m going to go get comfortable.”
“You brought clothes?”
“I did.”
“Okay. Don’t be in the bathroom stealing my lotion.”
“I can’t make you any promises.”
She chuckles as I leave the room.
AFTER ABOUT A half hour, I come back to the room making sure to put on a T-shirt along with my boxers, though usually I sleep naked since I’ve always considered sleep to be a direct connection to life. To God. It’s when I’m most vulnerable and most relaxed. However, I can’t sleep naked tonight, since deciding that I’m sleeping next to her.
Before I enter her room, I take a deep breath and silently prepare myself for this. The last week has trained me to be comfortable in her presence, so this should be a breeze. Still, I’m apprehensive about it, but I want to be there for her.
I step inside, sit on the bed, and work my way under the covers.
She moves her foot to touch my leg and says, “You’re cold.”
I immediately move my leg away from her and say, “I just got out of the shower. That’s probably why.”
“My body temperature is already elevated. Let me warm you up.”
“I prefer if you don’t touch me.”
She sighs heavily. “Okay. I’ll concede to your wishes once again, Khenji. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”