Page 23 of Defending the Post
Marquise’s jaw flinched as he gave me a serious expression. I knew he was serious about his dictatorship, however, I wasn’t playing in the gray area. We were friends.
“You’re using the wrong weapon to kill the crater monster at the end of the board,” I said to lighten the mood.
Marquise turned his head back toward the game. I tried to remove my feet, but he grabbed my ankle.
“Why are you moving your feet?” he questioned.
Because you’re mad, I thought to myself, but was too timid to say it.
“It’s my foot,” I answered.
“Leave it,” he requested and for some reason, I obeyed.
I observed Marquise’s continued use of the wrong weapon to master the board. His playfulness had long left, rushing guilt through me. I raised from my seat, crowding his space, hugging his neck.
“You’re using the wrong gun,” I whispered in his ear.
He paused the game and glared at me. I secured the controller and moved through the weapons categories, selecting the starburst gun.
“You’re welcome,” I said.
Before I could move, Marquise pulled me on his lap. As my body rested across his, he mugged me and I cackled.
“Beat this board for me.”
I agreed with my own mug crinkling my nose.Marquise rotated my body but kept me pinned in his lap. Using the starburst gun, I dodged craters and aliens with ease, including the three-headed monster at the end.
“I should make you pay me for this,” I said, as the banner appeared on the screen.
“Tomorrow, we’re going on the road for a week,” he whispered in my ear.
The warmth of his breath awakened some sleeping parts of me. I tried to stand up, but he pulled me down. Marquise wrapped both arms around me. With my back to his chest, our bodies synced.
“I expect you to answer the phone for me and go upstairs with Jhae. It would put Malcolm and I both at ease. You arewelcome to sleep in my suite. My sheets are clean, and no woman has ever slept in my bed,” he said.
From the tone of his voice, I knew he was serious, but I was surprised by his declaration.
“Okay, I can bunk with Jhae, but I’m not comfortable in your space. Do you have a guest room?” I said.
Marquise tightened his grip around my waist and leaned into my neck. I knew we had crossed a line, but I didn’t want to turn around. At least not today.
“Why not?” he questioned
“Because it’s your private space,” I said, looking over my shoulder into his brown eyes.
“You trying to say I’m nasty or something,” he countered.
I narrowed my eyes in his direction.
“No, I’m saying your bedroom is personal. It’s your sanctuary.”
“I’m offering it to you. I don’t allow people where I sleep unless I trust them. How are you supposed to be my friend but won’t accept my hospitality?”
I found myself speechless as I took in the validity of his words. We called ourselves friends and friends shared spaces all the time. It’s not as if we were going to be in the bed together.
“I’ll introduce you to the space before I leave tomorrow, bestie,” he said, and I chuckled.
As “Forbidden” then “Golden Heart” played, my mind traveled back to Marquise. He moved me into his bedroom before he left, and it wasn’t what I expected. He occupied the downstairs part of the condo while Malcolm was upstairs. His space was calm with warm lighting, double floor-to-ceiling windows, alarge platform bed with brown bedding and it smelled good. The brown sectional with the pixel TV would be my new resting spot. I migrated to the living room to meet Jhae and Tyrus with my ideas.
