“Fuck off Lilah. I don’t have to pretend to even tolerate you anymore.”
“Try to be a good human being, Mason. We don’t get many fresh starts in life. It’s been interesting working with you. I’ll miss the competition.” Lilah stared at him.Was she trying to be nice?
“No need to lie to me now Lilah,” he spat out.
“Oh, I’ve only ever lied to you once Mason. Do you honestly think cleaners would even notice a pube, let alone comment on it?”
The stupid pube. He’d given that pube way too much real estate in his brain and it hadn’t even existed. He looked at Lilah and laughed. A deep, belly laugh.Why was this funny?He wasn’t sure, but it was funny. It was hilarious.
“Anyway Mason, ta ta. Please don’t stay in touch.” Lilah turned on her heel, leaving him in a crumpled, laughed-out heap on his chair. Lilah had won. Anna had won. The Incredible Hulk had won. And he’d been left jobless, alone, homeless and laughing about a fictional pubic hair.
His mother had been furious and tearful when he spoke to her. She’d promised him a few slaps across the head when he arrived but ultimately welcomed him back home. He had no money for rent. All he could do was get a job in his hometown, save money to pay down his debt, and begin his new life. The thought depressed him. He didn’t want a new life. He wanted his old life, but his old life now belonged to the Incredible Hulk.
The last time he spoke to Anna was after a full night of drinking. He’d drunk dialed her at 2am, begging her to return to him. Embarrassingly, he’d also begged for money. He was in so much debt and April had refused to sell any of the luxury gifts he’d bought her to help him out of his hole. He was cooked.
Surprisingly, Anna had answered, sleepily asking him if it was an emergency and why he was calling so late. He began to beg and plead his case, but the Incredible Hulk had grabbed the phone and told him to fuck off and never call again if he valued the use of his legs. It gutted him that she was with the Hulk. At 2 am. Sleeping. She’d blocked him after that.
So that was it. It was all over for him. All he had left was his mother and a $40K plus-interest debt. He walked out of his office building, having used leave owed in lieu of notice. No goodbye drinks, no well wishes from colleagues. He’d lost everyone’s respect, even his own. Lilah had spread word of their actions pretty quickly. He couldn’t really blame her. He andApril had provided her with the fuse and the matches to light it. In hindsight, he and April hadn’t been exactly subtle, but at the time, he was so high on his own importance and stuck in limerence that he hadn’t bothered to be as secretive as he should have been.
April seemed immune to the undercurrent of disgust in the office. She held her head high and didn’t let the whispers bother her. The Incredible Hulk was right. She was a soulless bitch. Actually, she was a soul-stealing bitch. She’d taken his soul and left him with nothing.
No, he corrected.I gave it to her. His mother, in her fury, told him a condition of his return was self-responsibility and accountability. Life was going to be rough for a while, he thought bitterly as he left his formerly happy life behind.
Chapter 27: April—Stinky chairs and silver foxes
A few months after Shane kicked her out, April joined a divorce support group. Maybe some eligible men would be there. Heartbroken men were the easiest prey. But no, it had been full of mournful women, sobbing into tissues and cheering each other on like demented life coaches. That had lasted about one week.
Work was okay, although she was beginning to tire of the hostility. Kate wanted her out and was making her life difficult. She’d been moved to the corner of the office next to Harold’s cubicle. The man should have retired 15 years ago. His chair smelt like cheese and old farts, and his constant throat clearing was killing her. Every time he wanted to speak to her, he’d stand and peer over the cubicle wall, directing his speech at her breasts. She didn’t even think he was perving. He just had the thickest glasses known to humankind and probably thought he was looking at her face.
“April *throat clear*, I think we should switch desks. *throat clear* The sun falls on your desk *throat clear* and my doctor says I’m low in Vitamin D. *throat clear* Kate said to ask you to swap *throat clear*,” he rasped to her breasts. *Throat clear*
That was the final straw. She would hand in her notice that afternoon. Nothing was left for her in this town. She’d sold a great deal of her designer gear to afford her Botox and lip filler. While Shane had been annoying, he’d provided a stable and secure life. She should have just pushed herself to make it work with him. That was no longer an option. He hated her and was cozied up with bloody Heidi from the mountain.
_______________________
Three weeks later, April had settled into her new apartment. It was modest, and way below her standards, but it would dofor now. She was starting a new job next week and looking forward to moving on. Shopping for some new shoes was her reward to herself. Her experiences over the last few months had awakened something in her. Anna and Shane seemed happy. She and Mason were unhappy. The lesson seemed clear, but it was uncomfortable to confront that feeling.
She wasn’t a bad person. She’d just fallen in love.No, that was a lie.She never loved Mason or Shane. She’d come closer with Mason, but never fully reached the love stage. She’d also never had real friends before. The divorce support group, while equal parts pathetic and depressing, had triggered something in her. These women supporting each other actually cared about how stupid Susie’s son felt, or how Maddie was coping with her ex-in-laws. That felt strange to April. She didn’t have a relationship like that with therealcousin Tina. Tina hadn’t even asked for more information when April asked her to be her cover story. She’d just said “Okay, whatever. Go get some.”
She decided her next relationship would be for love. She’d have what her parents never did. She’d have happiness and a true soulmate. She’d find some friends. Not sniffling, depressing friends though. Friends she could have fun with. Share stories with.
As she strolled down the street, she bumped into a man, causing her to drop her coffee.
“Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
She looked up into the eyes of an older man. He looked like he was in his 50s, with salt and pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wasn’t quite a silver fox, not even close, but he was wearing a Hugo Boss suit that appeared to be tailored. His briefcase was Italian leather, and his shoes were so ugly that they had to be expensive.
“I’m fine, you darling man. My name is April,” she held out her hand.I’m not really flirting; it’s just muscle memory.
He held her hand and shook it gently. His wedding ring glinted in the sunlight. Damn it, she thought.It must be an unhappy marriage though if he’s so obviously checking me out.Maybe his wife ignores him.
“I think I owe you more than a fresh coffee. How about a drink tonight?” he suggested.
No April, no, she thought. He took his keys out of his pocket. Porsche keys.
“I would love that, handsome,” she cooed, handing over her phone so he could enter his number. While he was unlikely to be her soulmate, she could do with some pampering from a man. This would help her move on. She deserved to be spoiled for a bit after what she’d gone through and all she had lost. True love could wait.Let’s give Mr. Porsche a chance, she thought.
Chapter 28: Anna/Shane—New lives
