Authors: Vivian Rose Lee
“You okay?” he asked standing beside her.
“I broke all my dishes,” Asia said fretfully looking up at him her green eyes shining prominently as the sun shone in them.
“Don’t worry we’ll get more.” Aaron said smiling gently.
Asia looked up at him, and then at the large hand he had extended to her. She placed her hand in his rising, hoping he didn’t feel the slight tremble in her hand.
“Thank you,” she said softly, pulling her small hand from his larger one. Aaron lifted the discarded box and took it to the curb.
Martin and Aaron finished bringing in the boxes while Tia and Asia begin to unpack her meager belongings.
Martin observed Aaron’s as his eyes strayed to Asia every time they brought up a box. With all the boxes delivered, Martin and Aaron leaned on the kitchen counter watching the girls unpack as Tia talked, Asia listening.
“She’s beautiful, right Martin,” Aaron said low to Martin.
“Yes Aaron she is, but you better let this one go, Tia not going to allow you to have anything to do with Asia, you know she of all people know your track record with women.”
Aaron looked at Martin somberly. “I don’t know, for some reason Martin she different, I can’t figure it out; she makes me feel different, like I need to take care of her, protect her,” Aaron proclaimed looking at Asia.
“I know that feeling,” Martin commented, “that’s how I felt when I saw Tianna for the first time,” Martin said smiling. Aaron looked at Martin frowning.
“No, no Martin,” Aaron replied shaking his head, “you married Tia, marriage is the furthest thing from my mind, I could never stay with one woman long, you know that.”
Martin grinned at his friend, “I wasn’t thinking about marriage either when I met Tia, but I fell in love with her anyway.” Aaron looked at Martin as if lost his mind.
Then Martin laughed. “All I’m saying, if you’re feeling what I think your feeling, say hello to your wife.”
“Shut up Martin!” Aaron said with annoyance, and moved away from him.
Wife and marriage. No, Aaron thought. Those things were not for him. Martin Holland was his best friend since grade school and no one knew him better. They both attended the same college and as fate would have it both got drafted for the Atlanta Buteo’s pro football team. But Martin was wrong about the statement he made. He stood by Martin when he and Tia went through troubled times, for he knew Martin loved Tia more than his own life. Martin was there when those dark times came to him about his biological father, whom he despised when he witnessed him as abusing his mother. However he did have a stepfather. A man he loved and who loved him and his mother deeply. Trevet Harrison was the only father he wanted to know. He was young when his biological father abduct him and his mother. He had to watch as he beat his mother, something he would never forget. Every so often something would trigger the nightmare, causing a rage to build in him. He could not trust himself with a wife. What if he were like his father? Therefore, marriage was out of the question. It was true he loved the ladies making it clear that they understood his position before venturing in to an affair. If he did decide to settle down, it would only be with the stipulation that he would have a love like his stepfather and mother. In his heart of hearts, he knew he would never find that type of love, it didn’t exist for him.
Martin laughed loudly. Asia and Tia looked over at them, then at each other.
“I forgot I have to get a bed.” Asia told Tianna alarmed.
“Come on lets go now, it’s still early.” Tia said excited.
“I don’t have much money, Tia; I could get a bed from the goodwill or secondhand shop.” Asia said quietly.
“Let’s go look anyway.”
Agreeing Asia and the three of them went to Tia’s favorite furniture store. Asia looked at Tia strangely, when they pulled in front of a fine furniture store. Aaron followed in his car. As he pulled up beside them, he wondered what in the hell was he doing. He didn’t want to leave Asia. Why? True she was the most beautiful woman he had met, and he has had many, yet none affected him as she did. This was not good. He decided. He should just pull back out and be on his way.
“Come Aaron, if you’re coming,” Martin called out.
Aaron exhaled a breath. “You are in control,” he muttered getting out of the car.
“I can’t afford anything in here Tia,” Asia whispered, slightly embarrassed.
“Just look.” Tianna insisted smiling.
Inside the store, Asia roamed, admiring many pieces of furniture. She stopped to looking at a contemporary styled crème colored overstuffed loveseat with lots of pillow. She really liked it. How she wish she could afford to buy furniture from this elegant store. She lifted the sales ticket, her eyes widened. Three thousand dollars. She gasped, dropping the tag as if it burnt her. She could never afford that, even if she worked a months worth of overtime she still afford the loveseat.
Aaron watched as Asia moved from one piece of furnishing to another. He couldn’t bring himself to take his eyes off her. He could not remember ever being so absorbed in one woman. He continued to watch as she moved from piece of furniture to the other and grimacing each time she looked at a price tag.
Aaron shook his head. Here he was walking around a furniture store with his friends, just so he could be near Asia. He thought of her all night, trying to figure out why this woman intrigued him so much. Hell, she wasn’t even his type. Still he watched Asia with acute fascination, wondering why she affected him. Tia was right. She wasn’t his type. He preferred the tall slender and glamorous model type, didn’t he? Asia was of medium height, curvy in all the right places, naturally pretty, not made up or mannequin like. Even in the baggie t-shirt that covered her jeans, she still had that feminine allure about her. Aaron silently moved behind her.
Exhaling a breath, Aaron glanced at Tia had Martin as they moved leisurely through the store. He moved to join Asia.
“You like that?” Aaron asked coming to stand beside her.
Asia glanced shyly over at him. “Yes, very much, but it’s too much money for me.”
“What would you put with this sofa?” Aaron asked.
“It doesn’t matter, I can’t afford it,” she replied softly.
“So humor me,” Aaron said smiling charmingly.
Asia shrugged, “I don’t know, I think these two chairs, and that coffee table, and those lamps,” she replied quickly, then moved away going to the bedroom furniture.
Aaron called the salesperson over.
“Yes sir,” the salesperson said eagerly recognizing Aaron and Martin, the moment they step into the store.
“I want these pieces,” Aaron said pointing to the furniture and accessories Asia had picked, and handed him his credit card. Martin and Tia watched Aaron, and then glanced at each other, astonishment on their faces.
“Are you getting furniture Aaron?” Tia asked suspiciously joining him.
“Yep, for Asia.”
“She doesn’t like handouts Aaron,” Tia warned him.
“Its not, it’s a housewarming gift,” he said seriously, walking away. He didn’t want to explain to them why he was buying the furniture for Asia, because he didn’t know why he was doing it himself.
Tia and Martin looked at each other and smiled.
“He’s been very quiet since last night.” Martin told Tia. “I think Asia has affected him more then he cares to admit.” Have you noticed how his eyes stays trained on Asia?
“I had noticed that also,” Tia replied. Regardless, Martin I don’t want Aaron to pursue her. Aaron is too frivolous with woman’s hearts. He needs to stick with the gold-digger he is accustomed to, Asia is not his type of woman, I’m afraid he will hurt her.”
Martin shrugged, “Aaron is not a bad person, he just loves woman, but I agree with you, Aaron needs to let this one go.” Martin stated, watching Aaron as his eyes followed Asia strolling around the store.
“All I know Martin, he better not try and her to get in his bed because he’s buying her furniture,” Tia stated firmly.
Martin knew Aaron, as well as he knew himself. Aaron didn’t have to buy women; women were drawn to Aaron. Even growing up together through high school and college, the girls melted whenever he was around.
Asia was looking at a four-poster queen-sized bed, with the matching armoire and bedside tables.
“How much?” Asia asked the sales representative, a grinning man who looked as if he would sell his Mama for a commission.
“Forty-five hundred, for the whole set,” the sales representative answered.
Asia sighed. “Thanks anyway.”
Asia stood for a moment gazing at the furniture. Lightly her fingers moved across the cherry wood dresser.
Asia turned suddenly bumping into Aaron. He grabbed her arms steadying her. Instantly she pulled away, stepping backed up.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you,” she said apologizing.
“You like that bedroom set?” he asked her.
Asia frowned briefly, taking another step away from him. Why did he want to know it she like anything? She wondered. It didn’t matter whether she liked it or not, she couldn’t afford to buy a knob from the dresser. She shrugged before moving away from him.
Aaron purchased the bedroom set too.
Still roaming leisurely around the store, Asia glanced out the storefront window. It was starting to get dark. And with the dark came the fear.
“We better go,” she said looking out the window, trying not to sound panicked as she felt.
Tia and Martin turned to see what she was looking at. It was starting to get dark out.
“Okay Asia,” Tia said smiling, “did you see anything you like?”
She nodded. “I saw a lot of stuff I liked, but there’s this nice secondhand place downtown, I’ll find something there.”
Aaron soon joined them, he looked at Asia; she kept looking out the window distressfully.
“Asia,” he called her name softly, searching her face, “You okay?”
She looked at him, alarm rising in her. “Can we go now?” she said softly.
“I’ll take her to the loft,” Aaron offered, looking at Asia,” Is that okay?”
“Yes.” Asia didn’t care who took her to the loft, all she wanted was to be inside a building.
They all left the store, Martin and Tia behind them. When they step out the door, Asia reached out, took Aaron’s hand, and held onto it tightly. Aaron looked over at her puzzled. Why was she so afraid of the dark? Aaron wondered leading her to his car opening the door, setting her in the car closing the door. He waved to Martin and Tia.
The trip to Asia’s new home was in silence. Aaron’s was not sure she would respond if he talked to her. He glanced over at her, she kept her head lowered, and her hands clasp tightly in her lap. Still he is wondering why he was so attracted to her.
He pulled into the driveway, opening the door for her, she look around before she placed her hand in Aaron’s hand. Aaron walked her up the long stairway to the loft. Still holding onto his hand, Asia opened the door and went in. Aaron stood on the threshold. Asia turned to look at him; he could see the fear in her eyes.
“Stay with me,” she said so softly he wasn’t sure he heard her correctly. Aaron went into the loft with her and closed the door.
“Asia you don’t have to be afraid, you’re safe here.” Aaron said reassuringly.
She move to the few boxes stack near the wall.
“I have blankets we can lay on them,” she said looking through boxes; “I have pillows, she said pulling out the linens.
“Asia!” Aaron called.
She stopped, turned to look at him. His heart ached for her, again wondering what happen to her. Aaron instantly realized she did not feel safe and needed too. Right now, she did not.
“Okay Asia, I’ll stay,” he said taking the pillows from her arms. She spread the blanket on the platform, where a bed would go. Asia lay the pillows down and sat on the platform, Aaron sat beside her.
Breaking the lull in the room, Aaron asked. “Asia, why are you so afraid of the dark?”
She looked into his eyes wondering if she could trust this man, this stranger she met only last night. She trusted Tia, but this handsome man was another matter. He was here with her, and he has not tried anything with her. Could she trust him a little?
Overall, Tia, Martin, and Aaron have been very nice to her; she at least owned them the truth about her background. Asia took a deep breath her hands clinched tightly on her lap.
“I was with this man, at one time, he was the neighborhood drug dealer. One night we were coming out of my house, and a car stopped in front of us and started shooting, he died, I got shot in the shoulder, I guess I never recovered from the incident.”
Asia looked at him searching his handsome face for some react to what she had just revealed.
“Did you love him?” Aaron asked.
“No,” she answered shaking her head. Marcus just sort of claimed me one day.” She shrugged her shoulders. “You didn’t tell Marcus no. In the neighborhood Marcus owned the block, and anything and anyone he wanted.”
Aaron took her hand in his; he felt her trembling. Her head lowered. Aaron raised her chin, listless green eyes looking up at him. Aaron heart ached for her. His head moved closer to hers, her eyes closed. Aaron’s lips lightly touched hers. He knew he shouldn’t kiss, but he couldn’t resist. She jumped but didn’t move, and she didn’t kiss him back. Aaron raised his head, her eyes remained closed, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
“Asia,” Aaron called her name softly frowning.
“So you want to have sex now?” she asked her tone desiccated. She was wrong about Aaron. He was just like Marcus.
Aaron looked at her frowning, confused. “No I don’t… why would you think that?” he asked harshly, rising swiftly from the platform beside her. “What happen to you Asia?” he said frowning, perplexed.
Her head lowered. He went to her lifting her by her shoulders; she pulled away and moved to the other side of the room, fear clearly on her face.
“I’m sorry,” she said frantic.
She started removing her clothing, “Just don’t hit me please, I’ll hurry,” she said lifting her shirt over her head, with trembling hands quickly pulling down her jeans.
“I’m sorry, I’ll hurry,” she repeated standing before him in plain white bra and panties.