We’re married.”
That wasn’t an answer. “We are, but…we haven’t been together much and you sometimes come home in different clothes, if you come home at all. Those hours are longer than the club hours.”
He rose to his feet, body stiff, and anger rolling off him. “So that means I’m cheating on you? I just fucking explained things to you, but that’s not enough? Can you not let things go for one night?” He gripped his hair, pulling at the ends. “What the hell do you want from me?”
I stood up and stared at him, disbelieving. The reaction was too big for what I had asked. After months of him being gone, he gave me a couple minutes of honesty, and I’m supposed to take it and move on.
“I wanted everything from you.” I bit down the heat of my anger, my words coming out icy clear. “But not anymore.”
I walked away and slammed the door to the bedroom. After a moment, it became clear he wasn’t coming after me. I let the emotions of the night erupt in tears and cried into the soft pillows with only my arms and warm blankets as comfort.
***
I stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and brushing my still wet hair from a shower, just in time to see Gage zip up his suitcase.
“What are you doing?” I questioned, taking in his grey slacks and button up shirt.
He rose to standing, back to me as he reached his full height. “I’ve got to go. Something’s come up.”
“Back to New York?” I stepped closer to him, gripping the brush in my hand. “What time is the flight? Do we have time to say bye to Dexter and Leona?” But I choked on further questions as I noticed it was only his bag he had out.
He turned, his lips pressed together and avoiding my eyes. “You should stay. Go to the birthday tomorrow. I’ll see you on Sunday.” He picked up his luggage and paused in front of me. He hesitated then tried to give me a kiss, but I stepped back.
“That’s it? You’re leaving, and that’s all you have to say?” I couldn’t breathe as the reality settled on me. “You’re leaving me here?”
“You can come back, but I’m going to be busy. I thought you’d prefer to stay.” He still wasn’t meeting my eyes.
I snapped and pushed him, but he didn’t stop me when I pushed him again. He just let his body fall back. “Why?”
“I’m sorry. We’ll talk on Sunday. I have to go.” He started to reach for me, but then he dropped his arm and walked away. He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “I know how messed up this is. And I know you don’t believe me, but I love you.”
Those words only added to my confusion, salt to the wound that was his betrayal. But closing my eyes I could still picture him in the hospital bed all too clearly and I couldn’t let him walk away without saying it.
“You’re right this is messed up.” Tears evaporated in the fire of my anger. “I love you. I love you and you are breaking my heart.”
He paused with his head bowed and then opened the door to leave. “Sorry,” he spoke so low I thought I imagined it.
It didn’t matter anyways because words didn’t mean anything. He was still gone.
7: That’s it?
LEONA SET THE BOWL OF POTATO SALAD down and began adding spoons to each dish spread out on the table. “Can you get the watermelon from the fridge in the garage?”
I finished pouring chips into a bowl and crumpled the empty bag in my hand to throw away. “Sure.”
“Oh man.” She pressed her hand to her forehead. “I forgot the bug repellent.”
“It’s not Maryland, it’s not that bad here. But I think Dexter bought bug spray and suntan lotion this morning.” I tried to smile at her. She had been an emotional mess all morning, running around nonstop. “Everything looks great, and the kids are having fun.”
She looked around the playground at the kids running around, the older ones shooting water guns and the younger ones playing in the sand box and water table. Felix was standing next to
That wasn’t an answer. “We are, but…we haven’t been together much and you sometimes come home in different clothes, if you come home at all. Those hours are longer than the club hours.”
He rose to his feet, body stiff, and anger rolling off him. “So that means I’m cheating on you? I just fucking explained things to you, but that’s not enough? Can you not let things go for one night?” He gripped his hair, pulling at the ends. “What the hell do you want from me?”
I stood up and stared at him, disbelieving. The reaction was too big for what I had asked. After months of him being gone, he gave me a couple minutes of honesty, and I’m supposed to take it and move on.
“I wanted everything from you.” I bit down the heat of my anger, my words coming out icy clear. “But not anymore.”
I walked away and slammed the door to the bedroom. After a moment, it became clear he wasn’t coming after me. I let the emotions of the night erupt in tears and cried into the soft pillows with only my arms and warm blankets as comfort.
***
I stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and brushing my still wet hair from a shower, just in time to see Gage zip up his suitcase.
“What are you doing?” I questioned, taking in his grey slacks and button up shirt.
He rose to standing, back to me as he reached his full height. “I’ve got to go. Something’s come up.”
“Back to New York?” I stepped closer to him, gripping the brush in my hand. “What time is the flight? Do we have time to say bye to Dexter and Leona?” But I choked on further questions as I noticed it was only his bag he had out.
He turned, his lips pressed together and avoiding my eyes. “You should stay. Go to the birthday tomorrow. I’ll see you on Sunday.” He picked up his luggage and paused in front of me. He hesitated then tried to give me a kiss, but I stepped back.
“That’s it? You’re leaving, and that’s all you have to say?” I couldn’t breathe as the reality settled on me. “You’re leaving me here?”
“You can come back, but I’m going to be busy. I thought you’d prefer to stay.” He still wasn’t meeting my eyes.
I snapped and pushed him, but he didn’t stop me when I pushed him again. He just let his body fall back. “Why?”
“I’m sorry. We’ll talk on Sunday. I have to go.” He started to reach for me, but then he dropped his arm and walked away. He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “I know how messed up this is. And I know you don’t believe me, but I love you.”
Those words only added to my confusion, salt to the wound that was his betrayal. But closing my eyes I could still picture him in the hospital bed all too clearly and I couldn’t let him walk away without saying it.
“You’re right this is messed up.” Tears evaporated in the fire of my anger. “I love you. I love you and you are breaking my heart.”
He paused with his head bowed and then opened the door to leave. “Sorry,” he spoke so low I thought I imagined it.
It didn’t matter anyways because words didn’t mean anything. He was still gone.
7: That’s it?
LEONA SET THE BOWL OF POTATO SALAD down and began adding spoons to each dish spread out on the table. “Can you get the watermelon from the fridge in the garage?”
I finished pouring chips into a bowl and crumpled the empty bag in my hand to throw away. “Sure.”
“Oh man.” She pressed her hand to her forehead. “I forgot the bug repellent.”
“It’s not Maryland, it’s not that bad here. But I think Dexter bought bug spray and suntan lotion this morning.” I tried to smile at her. She had been an emotional mess all morning, running around nonstop. “Everything looks great, and the kids are having fun.”
She looked around the playground at the kids running around, the older ones shooting water guns and the younger ones playing in the sand box and water table. Felix was standing next to
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