lol always how it works, isn’t it?
Yep. Any chance you want some company? I’ll bring food and something to entertain you during breaks (wink emoji)
It was alien, imaging that there’d been a time—a very recent time—when I’d have been excited at the prospect of her coming over like that. We’d spent many evenings hanging out on my couch, me on my laptop while she scrolled her phone, pausing to eat dinner and fool around. Lately, she’d been slammed with work, so I hadn’t seen much of her.
At least, I’dthoughtshe was slammed with work.
Turned out she’d been up to her eyeballs in planning a wedding. To another man. To the man she’d said had broken her heart, which had led to me “comforting” her and?—
Ugh. I felt disgusting.
Baby? You there? I can pick up Thai or something. And I know you want dessert. (wink emoji)
The way my jaw tightened just then was reminiscent of when I’d gone into the coffee shop’s restroom earlier, but I swallowed hard to keep from throwing up. It was only by chance—by sheer dumb luck—that I’d found out about Eric. Which meant it was only by sheer dumb luck that I wasn’t at half-mast, grinning while I texted her what to order me at the Thai restaurant in between promising to make her scream as soon as she got here.
I suddenly wanted to ask my sister if she was willing to swing by and smudge the place. I wasn’t into all that stuff, and I hated the smell of burned sage, but it was either that or have someone come over and exorcise all the ghosts of nights I’d spent with Selena.
Nights I’d spent with her… but rarely awholenight. She’d nearly always had to leave because she had to be up early for work, and even on the weekends, she’d only stayed here a handful of times.
And I’d never been to her house after the threesome because“it feels weird to sleep with you in the same place we fooled around with my ex.”
I was so stupid, so gullible, and so ridiculously in love with her that it had never occurred to me that her “ex” was still sleeping there. That Selena was still with him. That she was marrying him, for God’s sake.
I squirmed on the couch and chafed my arms. I wasn’t rigidly monogamous, and it didn’t bother me to be non-exclusive to someone. I’d had open relationships before and never thought twice about it. When Ithoughtmy partner and I were exclusive, though, and I found out they were banging someone else? That grossed me the hell out.
Sighing, I started writing out another message.
Sorry, baby. Maybe this weekend?
Can’t (sad emoji) Going to my parents’ cabin.
I made a disgusted sound in my otherwise silent condo.
Then I switched to a different window and texted Eric.
Please let me know when you tell her. This is killing me.
His reply was almost immediate.
That I’m leaving? You haven’t told her you’re done?
I wanted to give you a chance to bail first. Because of the house and wedding.
Right then, Selena texted.
Are you working at home on Friday? I could swing by in the morning for a little quickie before I head out of town. (kiss emoji)
I wrinkled my nose. I hated how much I’d loved those“I’m heading out of town quickies”in the past. Especially now that Iwondered where she’d actually been going… not that I needed to ask with whom.
Sorry. (sad face) I have meetings at the office all day Friday.
A lie, but I didn’t feel the least bit bad about it.
Then Eric texted.
I’m moving out this weekend. I’ll put my stuff in storage and get a hotel room if you’re not ready that soon.
Guest room is ready when you are.
