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Saturday morning, I was still working when Peter showed up at my house without warning. “What are you doing here?”
“Kids are sick,” he said. “I’m running away.”
“Don’t bring that shit here,” I said.
“Jessica kicked me out,” he said, sighing. “She said she couldn’t take care of me and them. I’m supposed to go find something to do.”
I laughed at the poor man’s dejected attitude. “I was trying to get some work done. I guess you can hang out.”
“You work too much,” he said.
“Gee, I’ve never heard that before.”
“It’s the weekend,” he complained. “Let’s go to a game.”
“You should be at home helping your wife take care of your kids,” I replied.
“Trust me, she’s got this,” he said and pulled a beer from the fridge. “I really do get in the way. Plus, I’m not good with the puke. I gag. It’s gross.”
“You better not be bringing that shit here,” I warned him. “I have a busy week. I can’t afford to get sick.”
“What’s all that?” He gestured to the hard copies of the handouts I was going to be using for the seminar.
“I’m doing a thing at the college,” I said.
“A thing?” he questioned.
“A talk. Summit. Seminar.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “I just thought it was time.”
“Wait,” he said and picked up one of the papers. “Mom mentioned you saw her. Doesn’t she work at this school?”
I couldn’t deny it. “Yes.”
“Jon,” he groaned. “What are you doing?”
“What?” I said, shrugging.
“You’re doing this to get close to her,” he said. “Don’t deny it.”
“It’s just a coincidence she works there,” I said. “This school sends me an invitation every semester. I’m just finally getting to it.”
“You’re so full of shit,” he said with a laugh. “Seriously, is that what you expect me or Mom to believe?”
“I’m not going to explain this to you.”
“Just be careful,” he warned. “I think you’re playing with fire. This girl has the power to turn you inside out. If you’re not going to be with her, walk away. Leave it alone. You can’t keep messing with her.”
“I’m not messing with her,” I insisted.
He lectured me a little longer before his wife called him home. I spent the rest of the weekend preparing for the lecture I was going to give.
I was actually looking forward to the damn thing. Now that I knew she was such a huge part of the planning, it inspired me to do better. I wanted her to be impressed. This was just another piece of the revenge.
It was Macy that greeted me in the lecture hall. “Good morning.” She smiled prettily. I imagined a cobra smiled a split second before it struck its prey.
