“Greg, that’s none of your concern now.” My tone was harsh, but not as harsh as I would have liked it to be.
“Don’t say that,” he said softly. “Please, let’s go talk somewhere.” I sighed, walking to my room. I opened the door and let him come in. He looked at Harvey’s suitcase.
“He’s been staying here?”
“Well he hasn’t been in Natalie’s room has he?” I asked.
“I’m just sleeping there because you kicked me out. Trust me that nothing is going on.”
“Trust? Trust!” I yelled.
“Alright, I understand it will take time for you to trust me again, but I’ll do anything. It… It was such a fucked up mistake. I don’t even know how to begin apologizing to you, Audrey, but I’ll do it for the rest of my life. I’m so sorry baby,” he said, getting closer all the time.
“Stay away from me,” I said. He stepped back. “Listen closely, Greg. We are done. I’m not even a bit willing to put up with someone cheating on me. This marriage is over, and it’s not because I’m saying it’s over now. It’s because you couldn’t keep it in your pants however long and however many times this was going on.”
“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” he said.
I covered my ears. “Ew, no I don’t want to hear any of that.”
“I do,” Harvey said, as he walked into the room. Alarm bells went off in my head. This would not end well.
“How many times did you fuck my wife, you piece of shit?” Harvey repeated.
“Look, I think you should talk to Natalie.”
“No, I wanna talk to you,” Harvey said, inching closer. He was itching to fight him, I could tell. And he’d been drinking, so if the story he’d told me about the bar was any indication, fists might start flying soon.
“Greg, get out,” I said. He looked at me, surprised that I was kicking him out. Nobody moved. “Get out now!” I yelled.
Harvey moved closer to him, and Greg walked out. I grabbed Harvey’s arm as he started to follow him. The door closed.
“Please, Harvey, stay here,” I said, moving him towards the couch so he could sit down. He did, but then he got back up again and paced the room. He was fuming. His ears were red, and his facial muscles were tensed up. Finally, he walked out to the balcony. I breathed a sigh of relief and left him to cool off for a few minutes. I brushed my teeth and changed into my PJs, no longer worried that there would be an altercation… at least for that night.
He was still sitting out there when I finished changing. I opened the door, peeking my head out.
“You OK?” I asked.
“No,” he said, running his hands through his hair. He was slouched over the banister, not looking at anything in particular. I went out and stood next to him.
“You can’t go around punching people all the time, you know,” I said giving him a slight jab with my elbow.
“Yeah, I know,” he said seriously. I guessed I wasn’t lightening the mood any. Then he said, “But I can dream about it.” I laughed.
“I think I’ll dream about it too.” I patted his arm and went back in. He’d be fine. He was dealing with his own demons and trying not to show it, but they came out tonight. No matter how long he had known his marriage was over, now was the moment it had come to fruition. It would be hard on him too, just like me.
I went to bed and put out the lights but didn’t fall asleep until I heard that Harvey was on the sofa bed. Then I drifted off into dream after fitful dream. I tossed and turned and must have done so right off the bed because I woke up as my body hit the floor. I had fallen off the bed, and I moaned in a half asleep stupor. I heard Harvey calling my name, and he helped me up off the floor.
“Are you OK?” he asked.
“Um, yeah, yeah, I think so. I don’t even know how that happened,” I mumbled.
He sat on the edge of the bed next to me. The warmth of his legs seeped into my own legs, and I panicked.
“Go back to sleep,” I said. “I’m fine.” I hurried back under the covers, and Harvey shuffled back to his sofa bed. The clock next to my bed said 5:47 AM, and I couldn’t fall asleep again after that. Around seven, I gave up trying and went down to the beach to take a walk.
It was refreshing and soothing to stroll along the shoreline. I picked up the prettiest shells, watched a few crabs find their way to their sandy homes, and saw a man and woman walking as I did. She hung onto his arm and they were both smiling, obviously in their own romantic bubble. I was jealous— so jealous of her.
Up in the room, Harvey was in the shower, and I sat on the bed waiting for him to finish. When he walked out, again in his towel, I said, “Breakfast?” I focused my gaze above his neck.
