Marcus Johnson stepped into his apartment at 2:17 AM, the scent of antiseptic and ink still fresh on his skin. The living room was dark except for the blue glow of the TV with his wife Keisha's standing there. Twenty-two years as a CPA, and tonight was the first time he'd ever done something that truly makes no sense.
"Where the hell have you been?" Keisha's voice cut through the darkness. She muted some late-night infomercial and stood up, arms crossed tight over her chest. "You don't answer your phone? Not even a text? I called the office at midnight, Marcus. They said you left at seven."
Marcus dropped his briefcase by the door and unbuckled the top button on his Ralph Lauren collar polo shirt. The pain between his legs throbbed with each step, but he couldn't help the smirk forming on his face.
"Damn, I was out getting a tattoo," he said, her eyes widened.
"A tattoo?" She shouted, stepping closer looking up and down at him. "I don't see nothing. You lying where the tattoo at Marcus?"
Marcus's smirk grew wider. "I got $100 dollar bills on my private," he said proudly, still in pain adjusting his stance to stick his chest out.
Keisha's mouth fell open. "What the hell are you talking about?" I know you didn’t just say…….you didn’t say that she said, shaking her head in disgust. "What the hell is wrong with this man? Why on earth would a Professional Accountant get $100 dollar bills tattooed on his freaking private?"
The question hung in the air between them. Seven years, and he'd never seen Keisha this upset. Even during tax season when he'd work long hours for weeks and come home smelling like coffee and desperation, she'd never looked at him like he was a stranger.
"Well," Marcus said, counting off on his fingers, "one, I like to watch my money grow." He stepped closer to her. "Two, once in a while I like to play with my money." Another step closer. "Three, I like how money feels in my hand." He was inches from her now. "And lastly, instead of you going out shopping, you can stay right here at home and blow a thousand dollars anytime you want!"
Keisha stared at him for three full seconds before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell back on the couch. Marcus quickly lunged and sat next to her.
"Shit," he mumbled, lowering her head in his lap. He tapped her face gently. "Baby? Keisha?"
Her eyes opened. "Tell me you didn't," she whispered.
To be continued………