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“Where are you going?”
I narrowed my eyes at him, seeing Jen’s gleeful face in the corner of my eye.
“Ice called. Someone bailed on him and he needs some help. Apparently, I have nothing better to do, so I told him I would come in.” I informed him, lying my ass off but not having a better excuse to use.
Brad came around the couch, and headed for me, but I started for the front door. He would not talk me into staying, no fucking way.
“What are you doing? It’s late,” he stated lamely. He knew exactly why I was leaving. I could see the guilt all over his face.
“It’s fine. It’s not like I haven’t gone into work this late before. Don’t worry about me. Continue with your conversation. Looks like she needs you.”
“Wait, hold on,” Noelle interjected. “you actually left them two alone?”
Ayana placed her empty cup on the table and nodded.
“I did. I refused to feel like a stranger in my own home. I didn’t want to hide in my room while they talked.”
“I get that,” I added. “But you could’ve stayed in the living room with them? She was inyourhouse.”
“I know and believe me, I thought about staying. The thing is, I didn’t want to be around Brad while he was around Jen. I felt jealous that she had his attention, you know. His attention has belonged to me for so long that sharing him with someone else is too painful. He should have friends outside of me. It doesn’t matter if they’re male or female. I trust Brad, I do. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, and I felt I needed to show him that I trusted him. That’s why I left.”
“I guess that makes sense. So, what happened when you left?” I asked, then groaned. “Please don’t tell me you walked in on them or something.”
Ayana laughed.
“Please. If I did that, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you now. I’d be locked up for double homicide. Nothing really happened, or rather Brad didn’t tell me that something happened. But he did say he had a long talk with Jen, and he finally saw what I had been talking about. Here’s what he said…”
I watched my wife leave, knowing I wasn’t going to hear the end of it for ruining our night. I let out a long, tired sigh, turned, and took in my guest. I had to admit, Jen was a beautiful woman, smart, great body and an all-around great person. We have a great time together anytime we hang out, whether that’s at the doctor’s lounge or on the rare chance we’re able to sit down and eat lunch together. She’s a great friend. Easy to talk to and a great listener.
If I was someone else, maybe she would even be a great catch. But I wasn’t someone else. I was me and I was head over heels in love with my wife. I wanted my wife above any female I would ever meet or have met. It’s just that simple. She was my world. She was my best friend, and even though I hadn’t been around very often to show her or tell her, she had my heart always.
“I hope I wasn’t the cause of her leaving.” Jen remarked, a look of regret on her face.
I ran my fingers through my hair and headed back to the couch. “No, she had to go into work.”
“This late?” she asked, and I would like to say there was genuine concern in her eyes, but it wasn’t.
“Yup,” was all I said as I retook my seat.
We sat in silence for a few minutes before she asked, “How did you two meet, by the way. I’ve been meaning to ask you. You seem to be complete opposites.”
I looked her way, a smirk playing on my face. “You see, that’s where you’re wrong. We’re not complete opposites. She’s my better half and I’m hers. We fit hand in glove.” I leaned back and stared at Jen with a fresh pair of eyes. There was something in those baby blues of hers, something that I hadn’t realized was there before. Doubt. She didn’t believe me. It was then that I wondered if Ayana could be right about Jen. To test the waters I asked, “You don’t think we make a good couple?”
Jen took a few moments to answer, I assumed thinking about a response that wouldn’t piss me off. She shrugged her shoulders and settled into her seat as well.
“I mean, not really. You’re a doctor, you’re well off, smart, sophisticated. She works as a barmaid, no offense to her, but it just seems like you’re not equally matched.”
“How long have you and I known each other?” I asked, trying not to take offense to her opinions about my wife.
“I don’t know, since you started the program, I guess. And I know what you’re going to say. She’s known you longer, but sometimes I can tell things about a person right from the beginning of meeting that person. The first time I met you, I knew you were special. I knew you would become a great doctor. You’re an amazing person as well as talented. You need to be challenged at work and at home.”
“And you think you’re the woman that would challenge me?”
“Yes,” fell quickly from her mouth. She then caught herself, eyes wide and corrected, “No. I mean, I’m not saying that I could fill those shoes, per se, but someone like me, I guess.”
Damn… I guess Ayana was right. I was either blind and naïve as fuck, or slow as shit.
“I was engaged once to a woman like you described. It didn’t end well because of the very things you just mentioned. I don’t need anyone to challenge me. I don’t need anyone to make decisions for me or run my life for me.”
