“Okay. I’ll get ready,” I said, climbing off my bed to rifle through my closet.
Kayden had a bottle of booze to keep him company. I had my girlfriends to fill the void caused by his total absence. I’d be damned if I’d stay home sitting by the phone and waiting for his call.
* * *
Worried about Kayden, I booked a flight to New Orleans on Friday. I needed to be with him, and he needed to be with me.
I’d always told myself I would never get involved with anyone who was an addict. I’d always steered clear of drugs in my life, but alcohol was everywhere. Could he control himself, or was he an alcoholic?
I wanted to think that if he was, I had the ability to save him. I wanted to be the good in his life that made him want to change. I needed to talk with him and find out exactly what was happening. I loved Kayden, and I was in too deep to turn my back on him.
When the plane touched down, I found a cab driver willing to take me to his apartment. I was so nervous and hadn’t talked to Kayden since yesterday. I stared out the window and rubbed my sweaty palms together.Was I crazy to show up unannounced?I had to know he was okay. I had to see it for myself. I texted Kayden a few times during the drive but received no response. The taxi pulled into the parking lot where it all began—our first kiss and all the happiness and joy that I felt we would have together.
I walked to the door, hoping someone would be home to let me in. I knocked on the door and heard voices in murmured tones and laughing. I waited a moment before knocking again.
“Oh…hey, Sophia. What are you doing here?” Tom said as he began to close the door a little bit, so I couldn’t see the entire living room.
“I need to see Kayden.” I started to push against the door.
“He’s not here,” he said as he began to push back.
“I know he is, jerk. Just move out of my way,” I said as I pushed the door open. His truck’s in the parking lot. I just had to get to him.
Tom moved away after I pushed him into the wall behind the door. I walked through the apartment with all the men looking at me strangely. They all said hey to me but were on edge. I felt their eyes on my back as I reached Kayden’s door, but none of them tried to stop me. I thought about knocking, but I wanted to surprise him. I slowly turned the handle to make it as quiet as possible. I walked through the doorway and stopped dead in my tracks.
What the fuck?
Kayden was lying in bed, but he wasn’t alone. There was a girl snuggled up to him, and neither of them woke when I walked in.
I stood there for a moment and just stared. I recognized her from his postings on Facebook, but he said they were only friends. She must have been one of his girls before I became hisonlygirl.
Her body was smashed against his with her arm draped over his stomach. She was wearing a tiny black tank top, but their lower bodies were covered by blankets except for their bare feet, tangled together.
I didn’t make a sound…stunned and heartbroken. The sight in front of me squeezed my heart, crushing it. I had worried about him, flying to be by his side, but he had found solace in the arms of another. I walked backward and closed the door to rid my eyes of the vision of Kayden andher.
Tom tried to stop me and explain, but what could he say? I didn’t want to hear it. I walked out, not looking back. Tears began to fall as I let myself feel the pain of his betrayal.
Keep walking, just keep walking. My mind was a jumble of emotions and numbness. I walked to the main street and hailed a cab.
“Where to?” the cab driver asked.
I fought through the tears to steady my voice, “Bourbon Street, please.”
“You okay, lady?”
“I will be,” I responded. I didn’t know where else to go. I needed a drink and wanted to forget the horrible image that was burned in my eyes.
I had enough time on the drive to try to regain my composure, fix my makeup, and gather my thoughts.
“Can you drop me at the Funky Pirate, please?” I requested.
The streets were filled with people stumbling and celebrating; the nightly party thrived. I needed the excitement and liquor to make me forget. I climbed out of the cab and grabbed my small overnight bag. I hadn’t brought much with me, thinking Kayden and I would spend the weekend in bed.
I was a fool. I found an empty seat at the bar, and the space was filled with happiness. A blues band played, and people were singing along, enjoying the funky music filling the air.
“A shot of vodka, please, and a chocolate martini,” I said to the female bartender. She placed the martini in front of me moments later. I stared at it for a moment before taking a large gulp. I swallowed it, slamming the glass back on the counter.
“Another martini, please,” I said to the bartender before she could walk away. Tears began to stream down my face. She placed the small glass filled with the vodka in front of me, but before her hands were totally free of the glass, I grabbed it. I downed it, feeling the warmth ooze throughout my body.
