Alejandro (5 page)

Queen_V:
Laughing at someone else’s pain is a national pastime :P Splenda? That’s an adorable but strange name for a dog.

Al79V:
I’m diabetic so yeah. Customer appreciation lol And my puppygirl is the sweetest dog I’ve ever had

Queen_V:
Aww :) I love animals.

Al79V:
I don’t trust people who don’t like animals. It usually means they have a coal briquette for a heart.

Queen_V:
lol That’s harsh.

Al79V:
Just sayin. Animals are innocent. If u have a problem with innocence, u have a problem lol

Queen_V:
That actually makes sense.  

Al79V:
I’m a sensible guy. How was your day Beautiful?

Queen_V:
Good. How was yours...Handsome?? I’m not sure that you are :P

Al79V:
Very funny. You won’t tease me into giving you a pic ;) Rest assured that many women have called me handsome.

Queen_V:
That’s not fair. You get to see what I look like, but I can’t see u. I want to make my own judgment of your attractiveness.

Al79V:
What are you afraid of? Liking an ugly person?

Queen_V:
No. I’m afraid of clowns, rapists, murderers, snakes, liars, unemployment, and disappointing my mother. What are you afraid of?

Al79V:
Clowns, failure, needles, liars, and disappointing my grandfather

Queen_V:
So we hav a few fears in common. And we both share a fear of liars. You’ve got to understand then y I want to see a picture of you

Al79V:
I could post someone else’s picture and u wouldn’t know the difference

Queen_V:
Hmm. I didn’t even think of that. Scary. I was pretty convinced I should delete my account from this crazy site. Now I’m totally convinced.

Al79V:
Wait. Don’t do that just yet. Let me explain some of my reasoning.

Queen_V:
Ok let’s hear it. 

Al79V:
Don’t take this the wrong way. I mean this in the nicest way possible... Women are immature. Yes, I know men are immature too, but in a different way. Women like to play psychics. They like to see into the future and imagine the beautiful wedding and the cute little family on the other side of the rainbow. While the thoughts of a honeymoon, a house, and babies are dancing through their heads, they aren’t paying attention to the man truly standing in front of them. In fact, they’ll turn into chameleons. They will act like a different woman without even realizing it, just to ensure they will get to the finish line. I’ve been the victim of a woman’s imagination too many times. This way, all you have is my word. No face to cut and paste onto a page from a wedding magazine. No walking talking lump of clay for you to mold into something else.

Queen_V:
Wow. You literally made my jaw drop. You’re right. I do that. I did that in my last relationship. I kept seeing the possibility of what the relationship could be and I ignored the details that weren’t right. I let go of my own interests tryin to get the prize, even tho it would’ve been a Cracker Jack prize in the end lol

Al79V:
Thanks for hearing me out. I am not some controlling bastard. When you think about it, you’re the one in control here. You can ask all the questions, as personal as you want, and I’ll answer them. That way you’ll know I’m not parroting your responses back at you. And since you have no idea what I look like, you are free to be as blunt and honest as you would be if you were writing in your diary. If for some reason I decide not to speak with you anymore, you won’t know who you’re being rejected by. I, on the other hand, will never be able to forget your pretty face if you decide to end contact.

Queen_V:
Don’t make me blush. You’re very persuasive. Cult leader would be a great career move for ya.

Al79V:
Lol I like your sense of humor :) Like I said on my profile, I’m looking for something genuine, and this is as real as it can be. Two people, talking honestly with each other, without any pressure. It’s been fun so far, hasn’t it? We have nothing to lose.

Queen_V:
I guess I’m not losing anything...other than my precious time ;)

Al79V:
Our precious time.

Queen_V:
Wait a minute...You’re a diabetic who has a fear of needles?

Al79V:
Yep. I’m a special guy.

Queen_V:
Aww I’m sorry, hun.

Al79V:
Everyone has their cross to bear. Things could always be worse.

Queen_V:
What’s ur name? What should I call u?

Al79V:
Alejandro

Queen_V:
I like that name ;) I’m Veronica.

Al79V:
Nice to meet you, Veronica. I’d love to keep chatting with you but I have a busy day tomorrow.

Queen_V:
Shit. It’s one in the morning already? How’d that happen?!

Al79V:
Where I am it’s two

Queen_V:
I thought you lived in Sacramento

Al79V:
I travel for work. I’m in New Mexico right now. I have a good feeling about you Veronica.

Queen_V:
Whoa. Pump the brakes. I don’t want to be a victim of your imagination.

Al79V:
Lol You got me.

Queen_V:
Goodnight ;)

Al79V:
Sleep tight.

Five

The Keyshia Cole ringtone on her cell phone startled Veronica awake at eight that morning. Staying buried under her comforter, she reached her hand out to the night table, grasped her phone, and drew it back into her dark lair. Her tired eyes read the screen. She hesitated but answered the call. “Quincy, why are you calling me so early?”

“Early?” He huffed. “You’re usually up around six. Why are you so tired? What did you do last night?”

“Nothing. Just messed around on the computer,” she explained before realizing it was none of his damn business. “What did you do last night?”

“Since you the one that kicked me out, I don’t know why you wonderin’ about that.”

“I was just being polite. I’m not worried about you like that anymore.”

“I had a good time last night,” he continued. “Went out with my boys and didn’t have to think about you naggin’ at me about it when I got home.”

“That’s nice. I had a good time Friday night, celebrating my freedom,” she fired back.

Quincy chuckled. “You don’t have to lie to make me jealous.”

“I have no reason to lie. Trying to make you jealous would be a waste of time. You weren’t concerned about me when we were together so I doubt you care now what I do with my time.”

“Why do you say stuff like that? That’s bullshit! I wasn’t concerned about you? I’ve been there for you for two years but I didn’t care about you? You don’t even make sense right now, man.”

“Don’t call me up to argue with me first thing in the morning. Matter of fact, don’t call me at all. Goodbye. Have fun at your momma’s house.”

“Hold up, hold up.” His deep voice became soothing and apologetic. “Okay. I don’t want to argue with you. Honest. Can we talk, please, like two adults?”

“Unless you’re going to tell me that I was hallucinating when I found those condom wrappers under my couch, there is nothing to talk about.”

“Nica, I am who I am. A man like me needs to have a couple females on the side, but you’re my woman. I don’t love them. I love you.”

Veronica clutched her pillow tighter. “When you really love someone...” Grief pressed at her vocal chords. “Quincy, the thought of hurting them tears you up inside. You never thought of me. All I wanted was for you to think about me
.
”

“I wish you could understand how it is for me,” he said, dejected but also irritated.

For a moment, Veronica felt guilty. Maybe he really couldn’t control his lust. Maybe he was a sex addict. She could do some research, find a psychiatrist. They could both do counseling. They might work this out, if she was willing to make some sacrifices. But what would he sacrifice for her? “If I fucked four different dudes while we were together, would you
understand
, Quincy? Would you accept that ‘I am who I am’, Quincy?”

Quincy was silent. The blanket suddenly felt cold against Veronica’s skin. “Leave me alone. Let me move on with my life.”

“Come on. You don’t mean that.”

“Bye, Quincy.” She ended the call. Her trembling hand emerged from the blanket and returned her cell phone to the nightstand. She buried her wet face against her pillow and curled up like a sautéed shrimp.

God, why did I answer the phone?

***

Al79V:
 How are you this evening, Beautiful?

Queen_V:
Shitty. How are you?

Al79V:
What happened?

Queen_V:
My ex called me this morning. I stayed in bed most of the day.

Al79V:
You let him ruin your day? :/

Queen_V:
Yeah. I should’ve ignored his call. You said I can ask you any questions I want, right?

Al79V:
Yes but some specifics will be off limits. My last name, the name of the company I work for, etc. 

Queen_V:
Understood. I want to know, have you ever cheated on someone before?

Al79V:
I have, but I would never do it again. I was in college and not mature enough to let go of a girl I loved but wasn’t in love with. I’m sorry your ex hurt you that way.

Queen_V:
So my ex cheated on me because he was never in love with me?

Al79V:
I can’t speak for him, but that would be my guess. Don’t allow yourself to think you don’t deserve love and loyalty. Your ex, who we can both agree was an asshole, didn’t do anything extraordinary, but you loved him for him. You don’t have to do anything more or be anything more to find someone who will love you for you. Just be yourself.

Al79V:
Veronica?

Queen_V:
I’m here. I had to grab a tissue.  

Al79V:
I was trying to dry your tears, not start them :(

Queen_V:
I’m not upset. I’m touched. No one has ever said that to me the way you said it. Thank you for the encouragement. You’re very kind.

Al79V:
That’s what friends are for. Besides, an insecure woman is a complete turnoff.

Queen_V:
Did I say you were kind? Strike that from the record.

Al79V:
Ha ha! Honestly, kind is not the first word most people would use to describe me. I reserve most of my kindness for my family and close friends.

Queen_V:
If you want a completely confident woman, try a drag queen.

Al79V:
Lol No way in hell. Are you angry with me?

Queen_V:
A little

Al79V:
First of all, I can tell you’re a confident woman compared to most. Secondly, I was being honest. Only predators are attracted to insecurities.

Queen_V:
What’s one of your biggest insecurities?

Al79V:
Predator!

Queen_V:
Lol No I’m not. Answer the question.

Al79V:
But
my ego is so very important to me. Have pity.

Queen_V:
Don’t chicken out now.

Al79V:
Alright. I’ll tell you... I was practically born with a unibrow. My mother has been waxing my eyebrows for me since I was twelve.

Queen_V:
Poor baby! LOL!

Al79V:
I share my deep dark secret and you cackle all over my computer screen?

Queen_V:
Are you angry with me?

Al79V:
Nah :P

Queen_V:
Good. I do care about your feelings, papi. :)

Al79V:
Keep on calling me that ;) You speak Spanish?

Queen_V:
A fair amount. I’m a paralegal and sometimes I help translate for my boss’s clients. Do you speak Spanish?

Al79V:
Por supuesto. Soy cubano y puertorriqueño.

Queen_V:
Cuban and Puerto Rican?!
Wow :) Where were you born?

Al79V:
I was born in Miami. Lived there 8 yrs, then moved to Texas for a while, then to Sacramento when I was 12. There’s what I consider home.

Queen_V:
I’ve been in California my whole life. Why did you move around so much?

Al79V:
Wherever my grandfather went, my family went.

Queen_V:
He must be a good man :)

Al79V:
Yes. He’s a very smart, hardworking man who always takes care of his family. Sometimes he’s too generous. I do my best to protect him from greedy mouths. 

Queen_V:
Aw, good job protecting your grandpa :)

Al79V:
I’m closer to him then my father. I like to think I take after him. Smart, handsome, and a sucker for dark-skinned women.

Queen_V:
Is that so? Be careful. A diabetic shouldn’t have too much chocolate. ;)

Al79V:
Veronica, I take my health very seriously and I watch my sugar. The darker the chocolate, the less sugar, so I strictly go for the chocolates that are 70% cocoa or higher. Take you for instance ;)

Queen_V:
You are a trip! :P

Al79V:
I’ll catch you tho :)

Queen_V:
Just remember to lift with your legs lol

Al79V:
I bench 220. I’m more than strong enough to sweep you off of your feet. Trust me, you’re perfect for me.

Queen_V:
Ok Lol I’m worried you have a fetish :/

Al79V:
For black women?

Queen_V:
Mhmm

Al79V:
I wouldn’t call it that. I’m not obsessed with black women. I’ve dated women that aren’t black. I just prefer fuller lips, wider hips and skin that’s darker than mine. What do you prefer?