Free Lying to Live by Darrien Lee Page B

R.J.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI need to see it for myself,” she answered. “What’s his real name?”
    Dré shook his head in disbelief. “Do you really want to know the truth? Because I don’t think you can handle the truth,” he said in his Jack Nicholson impersonation from the movie A Few Good Men as he tossed a sofa pillow in the air like a basketball.
    Denim giggled. “Seriously, what’s his name?”
    He sat down beside her and let out a breath. “Are you sure you want to know?”
    â€œYes. Now, for the last time what’s his name?”
    â€œReginald Jackson.”
    Denim typed in the name and watched as the search engine brought up article after article with Reginald Jackson’s name included in it. There were news reports of some of the worst crimes imaginable, and Denim couldn’t believe her eyes.
    She closed the lid on her laptop and turned to Dré. “Okay, I get it. Are we cool?”
    He gently kissed the bruise on her shoulder and then her lips and said, “You’re more than cool with me, Cocoa Princess.”
    Dré continued to kiss her, this time more passionately, until they were interrupted by Mrs. Mitchell clearing her throat.
    â€œYou must be feeling better,” she said to her daughter, who was startled by the interruption and jumped away from Dré.
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    Dré blushed and said, “Sorry about that, Mrs. V.”
    She sat down across from the young couple and stared directly at Dré.
    â€œI appreciate you apologizing, Dré, but I was young once, so I understand what it’s like to be young and in love. What I do want to reiterate with you two is that you have to be extremely careful with the choices you make because your futures are at risk, and I’ll leave it at that,” she said, then stood and walked out of the room.
    Dré’s eyes were as big as basketballs. He was totally caught off guard by Mrs. Mitchell’s comment. “What was that all about?”
    Denim took his hand in hers and said, “She knows we’re having sex.”
    He covered his face with his hands in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”
    â€œNo, I’m not. I had to tell her. We were in the emergency room and the nurse was asking me all these questions and one of the questions was if I could possibly be pregnant. I couldn’t lie.”
    He put his arm around her shoulders and said, “Well, you can forget about ever doing it again. They’re not going to let me take you anywhere now.”
    Mrs. Mitchell walked back into the room and asked, “Dré, are you staying for dinner?”
    He looked over at Denim, who was nodding her head.
    â€œYes, ma’am, if it’s okay with you.”
    She waved him off and as she exited the room she said, “Of course it’s okay. Just call your parents to get their approval.”
    â€œOkay, Mrs. V.,” he answered as he pulled out his cell phone and sent his parents a text.
    â€œWhy don’t you think they’ll let me go anywhere with you?” she asked.
    â€œCome on, Denim. Every time you walk out the door, they’re going to think we’re going somewhere to get busy.”
    She snuggled up to him and said, “And what would be so wrong with that? I wish we could go somewhere right now.”
    â€œPlease! You’re already bruised up from the accident. I would only do more damage, so get that thought out of your head.”
    Denim giggled and then kissed him seductively on the neck and whispered, “I can’t wait.”
    He looked over at her and studied her expression. She had that yearning look on her face. He caressed her cheek and said, “Okay, let’s take a ride. My parents are not home, so we can . . .”
    Denim’s eyes widened just before he received a text, which snapped the young couple out of their sensual trance.
    He read the text and said,