I rang the doorbell instead, and then I heard footsteps on the other side, so I already knew who it was.
The door swung open, and Ari stood there, beautiful as I left her in a bun and a sundress, hugging her body.
“It’s you, Proc,” she said, wrapping her arms around my torso, hugging me as tight as she could.
“I missed you, gorgeous. How you been? Where is my baby?”
“She’s in the room sleeping, but I've been okay. Well, as okay as I can be.”
I leaned in to kiss her, but she pulled back, lowering her head.
“Let’s go sit down in the kitchen, Proctor. I think we need to talk.” Ari said softly.
I walked into my kitchen and took a seat at one of the bars while Ari stood up on the other side, away from me.
“I know you want to talk about how we are going to get out of this but just know that my son has a few plans to ensure I spend no time in jail.”
“No Proc, it’s not that. I am more than confident you two are coming up with something that will work.” She dropped her head.
“What I wanted to talk about, well, ask you is when do we need to move out of here?”
“Move? Move out where? For what?” I snapped.
“I heard that you have to marry one of my best friends, and I take it that it means you and I have to take a break for the time being.”
“Take a break for what? That shit is not real and is just an arranged marriage to keep me out of some trouble. Ari, you know I want you and not her.”
“But I’m supposed to live here with you while you're married? That doesn’t even make sense, Proctor.”
“Ari, a marriage that is nothing but a legally binding contract. An agreement, a stipulation to my freedom,” I replied.
“Ari, you've been my wife since the day I met your ass. We got a kid together, so this is strictly business. Do you understand that?”
She dropped her head.
“Yes, I get what you are saying, but I honestly don’t even know how you are going to feel about me after I make a confession to you about something that.” She paused, as her next words pained her to say.
“Something that is breaking my heart and I’m sure will break yours.” Her words were coming out so slowly, I could tell this shit was weighing heavily on her. I wasn’t easily moved, but she had me anxious to hear what she was about to say.
“What is the confession? What is going on with you? Spit that shit out, Ari.”
She exhaled and walked around the counter towards me.
“Proctor, I was really scared when you got arrested for those murders. It made me worry, it made me think, and dreadlife without you and going through yet another murder trial with you.”
“I told you we were working on getting that shit handled, which is why we're making moves like me marrying your friend. Plus, whether I’m here physically or not, I’m always going to take care of my family. You and my daughter will forever be straight as long as my son and I are breathing.”
“But Proctor.” She exhaled again, and I sat up in my seat even further.
“Treasure is not your daughter, Proctor.”
“What the fuck do you mean she's not mine?” I asked. “How the fuck do you know that? Why are we even still on that shit, Ari? I told you I didn’t even want to test her.”
“But while you were gone, I kept thinking about our future, and I was battling depression, wondering if any of this was worth it. Wondering if karma was coming back to get me in ways I didn’t even see coming by taking you away from me again. Wondering if I even wanted what we have anymore, even though physically and mentally having you made me feel so good.” She dropped her head to stop eye contact with me.
“So, I tried to give myself a peace of mind, and I told myself that maybe if she’s not yours, then we don’t really have a bond, and leaving you wouldn’t be so hard. That I could move on with my life without having to see you, talk to you, or worry about you not being here with me. At one point, I selfishly wanted you out of sight and out of mind.”
My chest tightened.
