My Escape

Three days. I was in New York City again. The hustle and bustle, the amazing eateries. I mean I could find all kinds of food. After a nice day of pampering, I returned to Marco’s place. I was resting on the sofa staring at my phone. Messages from Grayson. We texted each other daily.

“I’m thinking after the European shows…you and I can take a quick trip to the Azores. I have a beautiful cabin there."

As I was replying, I felt Carlos’ hands on my shoulders, “You and that Grayson is sure getting close”

I looked to my right as he sat, “We’re friends.”

“Hmm, are you sure?”

I blushed, “Just fun. I catch flight…not feelings.”

“Alright. Just checking on you.”

I chuckled, “Have you thought more about what I said? Your mom seemed cool. I think she’d be fine with it.”

He sighed, “I don’t know. I can’t imagine telling my Nigerian mother and Italian father that I’m Pansexual and I’m in love with my childhood best friend who is a man. Their heads will explode.”

“It’s not the olden days. People are a lot more accepting.”

“Yes, people. Not my parents. She’s already going crazy over Dante’s situation. But she’s at least happy to be having a grandchild. Something I may not be able to give her.”

“My friend, you worry too much.”

He smiled, “Perhaps. I want to be as hopeful as you are right now.”

I placed my head on his shoulder. He touched my face sweetly, lifting my chin until our lips were moving closer. We savored the taste of each other’s mouth and then paused. And with all the seriousness he could muster, “If things don’t work out with you and Grayson, would you marry me?”

I sat back, “Really?”

“Yeah. I mean. Like next year. We can move someplace warm. Further south in Florida. The three of us.”

The idea swam around in my head. “What would our marriage be based on?”

“We would love each other. You can have my babies.”

I touched his face, “And what about Marco? How would he feel? It looks fine for you, but he would have to live in the shadows while we build a family.”

He sighed, “You’re right. It’s crazy.”

I sat on his lap, “It’s not that I wouldn’t. I want what’s best for you and Marco.”

He lifted me and placed me on my back. My dress went up. He stared at me. Two fingers slipped in. he moved nice and slow until I was sopping wet. He went down and slurped. I held on to my tits and squeezed as he sucked, “Aye, shit,” I moaned.

He eased up and we kissed. He fished his rod out and penetrated. That was our routine. We’d have sex in the afternoons and then we’d go to the restaurant for dinner. That’s where I met his parents. His father had a speck of hope in his eyes that perhaps something would form between Carlo and me. And as much as I loved Carlo, I wanted him to be happy. And he was happiest with Marco.

*****

Carlo’s and Marco’s parents happened to be in town that week. They sat in a private room eating and drinking. I walked in with Carlo. His mother left the table, “Jade, come sit.”

I spoke to everyone. Carlo’s father Jean Carlo hugged and kissed me, “You and my son are spending a lot of time together. I'm starting to think you have more going on than just friendship.”

I chuckled, “Um—”

“Leave the young people Jean Carlo,” said Marco’s mother. She gazed upon me with wonder, “You are so pretty. Like a model or something.”

“She is a model,” said Carlo’s mother.

“Oh, my, do you have any pretty friends that you can introduce to my Marco?” she asked eagerly.

Marco was standing at the end of the table talking with his sister. He made a face. I chuckled, “Um, yeah. I know lots of pretty ladies.”

“You hear that Marco. She has friends.”

He nodded.

****

By midnight, we were back at Marco’s home. This was our nightly ritual. The three of us were entangled in some way. I was on Marco’s rod twerking up and down. And Carlo was deep in his back door. Sweat poured from him but the pleasure on his face spoke volumes.

“Oh fuck, God, yes,” he said through his teeth.

I leaned over and kissed his mouth. He caressed my back, “Thank God for you. You’re our angel.”

_Was I? _I was not sure. Maybe I was just complicating things for them. We kissed some more. He gripped me tighter and gasped, “Ahhhhh.”

Then I felt my back wet. Carlo collapsed next to us.

****

My Friday was spent doing a photo shoot. I was glad to see Denise was on the same job. After working, we went for Jamaican food. We sat eating beef patties and drinking a nice cold beverage. “Did you even make it back to Alabama?” I asked.

“No. I stayed in Boston. I have to try to conserve money. I’m helping mom out. Paying bills while they deal with medical stuff for my dad.”

“Oh, I understand. Who did you stay with?” I wondered.

“Just around. You know.”

“No. I don’t. Like what do you mean?”

The money she earned was used to send home. She kept a little to pay for hotels when she could. However, most of the time she just wandered in train stations, and airports, until the morning.

My jaw was on the table, “God, Denise. No.”

“Don’t feel sorry for me.”

“No. It’s not that. I'm worried. You can't be out there by yourself. People are crazy. I want to help you in some way. Like. What can I do? I'm not rich but if we're ever on the same job, please stay with me.”

She reached for my hand, “Thank you. You’re the only person I’ve trusted with this information.”

After that, I called Marco and asked if Denise could stay the next couple of nights at his place until we both got on a plane on Monday.

****

She liked the space. It was unique. I was happy she wasn’t living on the streets until her next job. The guys took a liking to her. They enjoyed her southern drawl and her funny sayings. To them, she was a breath of fresh air. She was unfiltered, a raw beauty, and full of pizazz.

We talked about eating crawfish and boiled turkey necks. They stared at us, “What in the world? A turkey’s neck…just why?” Asked Marco.

“Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” I said.

“We ought to take a trip to New Orleans and let them try all kinds of things.”

Marco smiled, “I would love that. I want to see all the places that Anne Rice wrote about in Interview with a Vampire.”

“We can go to her old house on First Street in New Orleans.”

“You’ve been there?”

“I walked by it all the time when I went to school.”

“Let’s go for Mardi Gras. It’ll be a riot,” added Denise.

I nodded, “Laissez less bon temps rouler.”

“Yeah, what she said!”

“Then I guess the four of us have a date.”

As the evening progressed, we ventured outside to throw axes. Well, Carlo and I watched Denise and Marco have a great time. She was a natural. Better than I was. I had luck. She had skill. “I’ve been doing this with my brothers out in the woods since I was a little girl.”

“You’re on my team when the zombie apocalypse comes," I declared.

We laughed. After they tired of playing, we talked away the minutes. I was scheduled to fly back Monday morning. I dreaded it but I knew I needed to reset. It was good to reset after a long escape.

I thought Denise would be heading back with me but she said she had a few jobs in the city and planned to stay in a hotel. However, Marco would not allow it. He offered her to stay at his place and she gladly accepted.

More time elapsed. We became drunker. Marco and Denise stared into each other’s eyes. Then they kissed.

“Hey, what’s this?” Carlo asked playfully.

“Oh hush, you have Jade. Let me have this,” he said before standing taking Denise’s hand and going inside.

“Looks like Marco and Denise are hitting it off.”

I sighed, “Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

I kind of was, but I knew I couldn’t sustain at the pace I was going. Maybe it was good to have Denise step in as their girl while I focused on the rest of my situations.

“At least you get to focus on Grayson.”

I chuckled, “I don’t know. I’m not sure if that’s what I want. I don’t know exactly what we are. After everything with you know.”

“You mean the situation with Gio and Katia?”

I nodded.

“Mi amore, Gio and Katia will work on their issues. You have to accept that. You have a chance at love. Why are you running?”

“Because. I’m afraid that maybe I made a mistake when I stepped aside. I could have had everything I wanted if I had just done what I should have.”

“So, what will you do now?”

"You mean...right now?"

He grinned.

I took a deep breath. The only thing I wanted at that moment was to forget it. I ended up on his rod staring into his eyes. He was my beautiful escape and he knew it.

****

Home. The door opened. The wonderful aroma of Fabuloso hit my nostrils. I smiled. My cleaning lady was the bomb. My plants were watered. I touched them and said hello to them as I walked by to reach the sofa. I plopped down. My head drifted back. My heart sank. I gulped, “Fuck!” Why was I tormented by it all?

I received a text from Antione, “We are all set for June. Can't wait to see you again.”

“I can’t wait.” I smiled. I could get through it. I knew I could. If I was able to get over Antoine…surely I could get over Gio.