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“Can’t. Got shit to do.” I jump in my Jeep and take off. If she thinks she’s going to get away with this, she has another thing coming. I thought we made progress today. We didn’t bite each other’s heads off. Yeah, it probably had to do with the five-year-olds surrounding us. But there was a second where I swore we shared a moment. Clearly, I’m delusional.
Turning into her driveway, I barely get the Jeep in park before jumping out. I make it up to her door and give three sharp knocks. “Open up, Mak,” I demand. She doesn’t come to the door, and I bang again. “I know you’re in there. Open up, sweetheart.”So I can turn you over and spank the living crap out of you.Still no answer. Stepping to the side, I peer in the bay window and swear I see movement. “I just saw you. Don’t be a chicken. You wanna talk the talk, then walk the walk, baby doll.”
My anger turns to frustration. I bang once more, grabbing the attention of a neighbor. Fuck this. “This ain’t over,” I yell and storm off, getting into my Jeep and speeding away.
She should know two can play this game.
And I’ve always been better at it.
Chapter12
Makayla
I shiftmy work bag over my shoulder and wave to Clare, the science teacher. “Have a good night! Thanks again for letting me join the fundraising committee.”
“Anytime, Makayla. You’re doing a great job. I’m so glad you came on board.”
I head home, feeling light on my feet. Moving home and leaving my entire life behind hadn’t been the most ideal, but I had been in such a rut, and it couldn’t have been worse than my current situation. I never expected myself to be thirty and divorced. Marriage was a sacred thing to me. When I said those vows in that church, I meant every word.
Chris and I met through mutual friends. He was super shy, but it didn’t stop him from asking me out. We went out to dinner and hit it off. Talked for hours. We had so many things in common and couldn’t believe how crazy it was that we met.
We’d been dating for almost a year when he asked me to marry him. Our wedding was small but beautiful. Since I was estranged from my father, Uncle Jim walked me down the aisle. We said ‘I do’ and danced the night away. Christopher made me happy. And I intended to do the same.
We both had solid jobs. He was an investment banker. I was a kindergarten teacher. We traveled and lived life. Never took advantage of the moment. I can’t really pinpoint when things started to change. I remember when my intuition kicked in, and I decided not to listen. I loved Chris. He loved me. There was nothing in our marriage that would make him stray. I refused to believe the facts right in front of me.
“I’m sorry. Please. . .”
“You’re not sorry or you would have never done this.” I yank my arm from his grip and walk out of the kitchen.
“Mak, please. It was a mistake. I hate myself for what I’ve done. I’ll do anything—”
I whip around, dizzying myself. “Letting you fool me was the mistake. The lies? You let me believe you were a good man. An honest man. You know what you really are? Pathetic.”
“Mak, I love you—”
“Was it worth it? Was she worth it? What did I possibly do that made you need more?”
“Please,” he reaches for me, and I back away. “She wasn’t worth it. She never meant anything to me, I promise that. It was meaningless.”
“Wow, that makes me feel so much better. You destroyed our marriage for meaningless sex.”
Tears fall from his eyes. “Mak, I fucked up. I’ll do anything. I cut ties with her completely. I told her it was over. I want you. I’ve always only wanted you.”
He had been having an affair for almost a year by the time the truth came out. He broke down and told me details I wish I never knew. By coming clean, he hoped I’d be able to forgive him, and we could mend the damage he caused. At first, I gave in, falling into a what-did-I-do-to-cause-this depression. Had I not given him enough? Was I not beautiful enough? Had I notbeenenough? What wasn’t I doing that had him seeking another woman to warm his bed?
I allowed him to stay in the house to work things out, but my trust was tarnished. Was he truly at work and not at a hotel? Alone when he traveled? Was he late getting home because he was with her? I was giving myself ulcers from the stress. No reassurance made it better. And it made sense. He was still cheating.
Little mistakes were made. Maybe he wanted me to find out. Maybe his guilt was eating at him too. But still, he denied it all.
At that point, I was done playing the fool. I got a lawyer and filed for divorce. Christopher went crazy, telling me he loved me and wouldn’t stop fighting for me. His version of fighting was borderline stalking. Vandalizing my car. Late night calls. It was too much.
In the mix of all that mess, my father died.
But strangely, it turned out to be a blessing. It brought me home—a place I swore never to come back to—and gave me a fresh start. Away from Christopher. Away from my past. I never expected to be in the position I’m in. A new job. Amazing coworkers. New friendships. I smile at how much my life has turned around the last few weeks.
And hopefully tonight at the open house, my luck will continue, and I’ll get an offer. Celebrate with a nice bottle of win— “What on earth. . .?”
I pull up to my house. “No, no, no. . . what’s all this?” The entire lawn is covered in signs. Pineapple signs. I pull into my driveway and hop out. “What. . .? No. . .!” I run toward the yard and start pulling them up. “Who did this?” I cry out, taking in the covered lawn and ripping another one out. A car pulls up, and I look at the time. Shit. Shit!
