Dabbling in Danger

Don't Leave Me Behind

"How's it feel driving yourself to school?" Adeen asks as he peels potatoes.

I look up from the paper I'm writing at the island counter.

"Liberating, never knew how dependent I was until now."

He responds with a smile, continues peeling, I return to scrawling.

"I was thinking we could watch a movie tonight. Put on something we've never heard of," Adeen suggests.

It takes me a moment to realize he's talking. I look up from my paper slowly, distracted by my thoughts.

"Uh, yeah, maybe... If my paper doesn't take all night."

Adeen goes to the sink and rinses the now peeled potatoes.

"Sorry I keep distracting you, I'm forgetting you're doing homework."

"You're alright," I look back down at my work and sigh.

Adeen quietly moves around the kitchen, preparing dinner. I try focusing on what I need to write but after a while I groan out of frustration and slam my pencil down. I can't think straight to save my fucking life!

I hear the sink shut off and Adeen walks over to me.

"Sweetheart what's wrong? Do you need help on this?"

I close my eyes and shake my head, "n- no I just need a break."

Adeen stands behind me now, slides the loose straps of my dress off my shoulders and starts kneading his fingers into my muscle.

"Baby what's on your mind? You've been on edge and distracted for the last two days."

I release a slow even breath, "I just, I've been thinking a lot about shit, but I'm fine, it's nothing."

I feel his breath against my neck now, he smells like starch and herbs.

"Talk to me," his hands massage down my arms. "You'll feel better I promise," his lips press kisses along my neck.

"I," I stutter in a breath. "Sasha and I got into an argument and we haven't spoken since."

"Which was two days ago?" He mutters into my skin.

"Yes."

Adeen's hands slide back up to my shoulders and he massages gently.

"If you two are bestfriends like you know you are, it may take some time and a nudge from one of you, but you'll start talking again... Why were you arguing, if you don't me asking."

I shake my head, I start to say nothing, but the more it's bottled up the more it bothers me.

"You," I say plainly.

His hands come to a halt and he sits up and away from me. I don't turn to look at him, I keep my eyes on the counter. Adeen now sits on the stool next to me, trying to hold eye contact.

"Why were you arguing about me? Does she know about us?"

"Yes she does..." I look at the floor now.

Adeen reaches over and takes my hand gently in his own.

"Honey, whatever you're worried about, you can talk to me."

Tears fill my eyes as I finally look at him.

"What happens when Tiana comes back?" I only let myself whisper these words, otherwise I'd begin to bawl.

Adeen's face falls, he stands from the stool to embrace me in his arms.

"Is that what's got you all worked up? I... I don't really have an answer sweetheart and I'm sorry for that. I do know that everything I feel for you won't just go away. I know that I'll still want to kiss you, make you smile and make love to you."

My tears spill but they soak right up into his shirt.

"What about Tiana?" I ask muffled because my face is pressed against him. I pull back slightly, chin still resting against him as I look up at him. "She's still your wife, I'm- I'm nothing, I'll be sitting here on the side bec-"

Adeen places his thumb gently over my lips, "baby you are not nothing," he says. "You're everything I need and want. When she gets back, we're going to talk about this and we're going to have to be adults about the situation."

"So what are you saying? Are you going to divorce her?"

He falls silent, his arms lax around me, I pull away to look up at him.

His thumb sweeps my cheek, "I'm saying, we'll all talk about this... And if divorce is the answer, so be it."

Towering over me, he leans down and lands a soft kiss against my forehead.