II Hands in Tahiti

Trading Places

That next morning Mina was awakened by kisses being spread all over her body. He hovered over with passion and excitement. "Michael", she voiced while stretching her reach. Suddenly the kisses stopped, she rubbed her eyes to clear her sight. In that instant she realized that she had trailed too deep into her mind and instead of Michael it was Alonso.

"You're still thinking about him? Did anything happen between you and him?" She crawled out of bed averting her eyes away from him, "Nothing happened I just said my peace and left". She bit down on her bottom lip, heavily anxious, feeling the heat of his disappointment snag at her. "Don't lie to me Mina, if anything happened just tell me the truth."

He went to face her his eyes roam at her body language. Feeling guilty she got up to kiss him. "Let's just lay down. I missed you." She spread a kiss on his lips then down his chest until her lips stretched further down his body. Not being able to resist the teasing he gave into her control. After their sexual conquest ended the two got ready for their individual plans for the day.

As she stepped out for brunch she was met with the form of Michael's presence. "You can't be here Michael, last night was a mistake, you don't need to come and guilt trip me about it." Mina looked around for Alonso's car to see if his car had left. Her throat was tight, her body was stiff and her mind was racing.

"Relax sweetheart I just came to give you back your ring". Michael drew a snarky grin on his face as he toyed the ring onto his index finger. "It's nice but it doesn't really suit you. I'm not too fond of the cut." Mina reached for her ring but he pulled back, "give me back my ring MIchael."

"If the ring was important to you, you would've left with it. We both know the truth, Mina. You're just stalling. You want him to be the right person. The right man for you, but he's not. He might be a great guy but for someone else. What you and I had was special, it was real. I belonged to you and you said the same to me. How could you leave me? Leave us?" He stepped towards her searching her eyes hoping his words went through to her.

"Michael you caused all of that, bringing your ex to play in my face and doing what you did. Ignoring me and paying me dust because I ran into someone I knew". Rolling her eyes when she recalled the very moment. The pettiness, the way he left her. Her stomach turned at the visual her memory forced her to repaint.

"What ex? I didn't think you were so gullible to rumors. Okay I'll be honest the two of us shared a drink and we talked a bit about a variety of things. Her culture and everything surrounding her life as an uprising artist. I gave her some advice. But I never dated her, kissed her or anything, The whole kiss you saw was staged. I found out later and that's why I was waiting for you in the hallway. I couldn't just stop the show." He spoke towards her softly.

"That's not what Karen told me Michael" Mina folded her arms and rolled her eyes at the memory.

"Of course it was Karen that told you. Why would you even believe her? She's jealous, nosy and spreads gossip to get people to talk to her." Michael's hands rested on top of his fedora then slid down his face as he tried to clear his mind of his frustration.

""Michael I have to go. You of all people know how needy these label execs are and I don't have any more time to waste I have meetings to attend." His hands reached out to hers and his eyes widened to level in her words which was just a cop out to avoid being around him for too long. "Look at me Mina."

He spoke to her calmly he tone was velvety and warm. Her head was turned away from his face. "I love you so much that it hurts. Touch my heart. It's weeping for you." She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth at him. "I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want. The choice is yours." His eyes lowered to her folded arms. He pulled them apart and captured her hand in his rolling the engagement ring into her possession before walking off.

Bill Bray was leaning against the blacked out SUV shaking his head at the whole scenario. When Michael neared the car Bill opened the door for him making sure he was comfortably seated. "The boy loves you girl. Give him another chance." He mouthed to her. "Your boy fucked up Bill." She mouthed back causing him to laugh at her reply and threw her a playful hand gesture before waving goodbye.

"For all this you would've actually thought you and the other gal actually had something going on." Bill flexed his words towards Michael but all he heard was silence and sound of the road slapping against the tires.

What Michael shared was true. He didn't expect a kiss to be added to the performance. If he resisted he would have to restart the set and possibly face all the potiental scandal of what tabloids would have to say. Michael hated an unorganized show, 'the show must go on', was one of many motto's he lived by. What made it worse is that he could feel Mina's eyes beaming at him the entire time. How was he supposed to explain something staged beyond his own agreeance to his lovely lady? The kiss looked so real, like there was history behind their sealing connection. If only he could've got to her sooner, ahead of Alonso, ahead of the rush of jealousy.

As they drove on, Michael eyes noticed a well from a far distance. He directed his driver to stop in front of it. The car came to a halt as he made his move out. His right hand reached for the single coin he had in his possession, ironically. He kissed the copper of the penny, voicing a wish to himself before flipping the coin into the well.

"Whatever happens don't let go of my hand"