Page 18 of War
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t talk to your mother, Faye,” Eli defended, “but I draw the line when she wants to be a part of our bedroom conversations.”
Silence.
Eli continued to bathe while Faith joined in. She stepped in front of Eli and felt the water stream down her face. It was fresh water pouring from the showerhead and not the kind she had to wait a few minutes before it became clear. “My mother likes you, baby.”
Eli wrapped his arms around her. “Your mother likes my flowers.”
“She makes you a pecan pie.”
Eli took a bit of soap and began to wash his girlfriend. “It’s my favorite.”
Silence. Now with tension.
Faith stilled as Eli washed her body. Even though he was mad at her, his hands didn’t reflect it. Her took care of every crevice on her body as if there were no problems. She watched in awe and desire how his muscular body flexed when he lifted one of her legs to scrub the bottom of her foot. “I’m afraid I won’t ever be enough for you.”
Eli felt the prickle of a burgeoning fight coming on. He just flew his girlfriend across the world, only for her to accuse him of eventually stepping out on her. He didn’t know whether he wanted to laugh or punch a wall. “How long have you felt like this?”
Faith wasn’t sure if she knew the true answer to that question. Did she feel that way for a while? How long was a while? They’ve dated for almost three years and broke up plenty of times during that timeframe. Whenever they did break up, Eli moved on as if nothing ever happened.
The other girls were forgettable. They were also sleazy, and some of the worst kind. The ones that gave it up so easily without a question and moved onto another guy shortly afterward. They were known as the passaround girls. The community girls.
Faith wasn’t like that nor did she aspire to be one. She was content staying at home, maybe going clubbing occasionally. She wasn’t in the clubs every weekend. She didn’t even want to be out that much. She liked going to the museums, watching movies, or reading a book.
She wondered if the type of woman Eli dated when he wasn’t with her, was the woman he really wanted, but was settling for Faith? “All of those girls you date in our breakups are nothing like me.”
“And that’s why I’m date them,” He set down her leg and lifted the other. “Because you’re nothing like them.”
“Do you want me to be?”
More silence.
Eli finished washing Faith’s leg and slowly stood up. He stared deeply into her eyes and a soft smile formed on his lips. “No. Turn around now.”
Faith turned around and faced the countryside and mountains of Dozza. She’d never seen anything so exquisite and beautiful, and it felt like she was staring at a painting, not God’s creation.
“Would you leave me for another woman?”
“And what the hell?” His voice was quiet and calm, but there was a little bite to it. They’d just spend the entire afternoon making love. He felt relaxed and free. Now Faith was poking the bear. “Where did that come from?”
“I was just wondering,” she shrugged, “that’s all.”
“Okay, would you entertain another man if you were with me?”
Faith turned around in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Let’s say we’re on another one of our breaks and some dude comes in and wants to slide into your DMs.” Eli softly blinked. “Would you?”
“Never,” she stated, with a soft hurt. “I would never even look at another man while I’m with you.” She paused. “But you would leave me for another woman.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You avoided the question.”
“I can’t predict the future,” he replied and Faith gasped, “that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. It just means I don’t see myself doing it.”
“That’s a very polite way of saying you’re going to leave me at some point.”
“So I really just brought you all the way to Italy for you to fight me on whether I’m going to be unfaithful to you in the future.” Eli stepped back and rinsed himself off. “Great.” He wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back inside.
