My Scumbag Ex's Best Friend

Too Close For Comfort

Adelaide

If I thought his cold demeanor back at the house was uncomfortable, there are no words for what it's become now that we're alone in the car.

The engine roars to life and he puts the car in reverse, backing out of the driveway. His body turns slightly in my direction as one hand guides the steering wheel, and I fix my gaze on something outside the window to distract myself.

I can't recall ever having a single conversation with Everett, even back then. Now that I'm thinking about it, I can recall many times when he was around our house, playing games with Eric and Rick. My mother once made a comment about how they were the perfect trio, since my brother was named E-ric. Right between Everett and Rick. But all of this was so long ago, and I was younger than they were back then.

What would we have even talked about?

I keep my eye out the window, aware that I could put some effort into breaking the silence, but nothing comes to mind and I really don't need to say the wrong thing right now. I feel like an intruder, crashing into something I didn't even want to be part of in the first place. How could Granny be so intrusive? Why would she put me in this position?

Uneasiness washes over me again. I have to say something for my sake at least. Maybe that will help break this tension and the deliberate silence between us. "I...I'm sorry about Granny. She shouldn't have included me in your plans the way she did. I don't mean to intervene, and you don't have to keep an eye on me all night. I'll be fine."

His answer comes a few seconds later. Oh, and he's not even looking at me when he speaks. "It's no trouble."

What do I say to this?

I stay silent up until we arrive at The Poison Kiss, which so happens to be a nightclub. I've never been a dancing person, so this is just fantastic. Everett parks his car among many others and we wordlessly get out.

The entrance is packed and it crosses my mind that we'll never make it in, but then I catch him looking at me from the other side of the car and he tells me, "We're using a separate entrance. This way."

I follow, walking just a few steps behind him. We cross the busy road to get to the other side. I try to stay calm as we pass the main entrance and walk straight into a dark alley at the side of the building. It's narrow and poorly lit and to make matters worse, there are empty crates and boxes on either side of us.

Everett turns his head slightly to the side and mentions, "The door's just straight ahead."

Crap, I can barely see and these heels are way too high on this uneven ground, but we reach a metal door with a yellow light right above it. He pushes it open, barely looking at me. I hear the muffled bass coming from inside. I step toward it, but something happens and my foot finds a dip in the concrete.

It happens so quickly.

Everett's hand closes around my elbow. Instead of falling forward, I fall backward, crashing right into his body. The front of his body is now pressed right against my bare back, and goosebumps spread through me.

"Careful," he says in a low voice.

I look up and we make eye contact. His face isn't a blank mask anymore. I see something in his eyes that wasn't there before. But then I'm distracted by the fact that he's still holding the crook of my arm and I straighten up. He lets go of me in the same second.

Crap. Can this night get any worse?

Everett walks in, brushing right past me. When the door swings shut behind us, we're left in the dark. I just keep walking and trying not to think about my blunder, and then we reach another door. He knocks and someone opens it.

The loud music isn't muffled anymore. We walk in and I look around briefly, taking in the cherry red and black interior of the place. This place doesn't really look like a typical nightclub. It's more of a hybrid between a club and a bar.

He glances at me briefly before gesturing for me to follow him. We move away from what's clearly a VIP area into the main one, where there are more people. On one side of the massive space is the dance floor, lit by flashing lights. On the other, clusters of people are gathered around high tables and of course, the bar.

It suddenly crosses my mind that he's probably here to meet friends and here I am, in his way.

I nearly crash into his back when a dark-haired woman with painted red lips stops in front of him. She's in a tiny red dress and her arms immediately go around his neck. In a French accent, she says, "Everett, mon amour, I've been waiting for you all night!"

She kisses him before he can get a word out and I look away quickly. Thankfully, I see the restroom signs up ahead and I start toward them, making sure not to look back.

This night's been awkward enough.

Thankfully, the restroom isn't crowded. I lock myself in one of the stalls, then lean against the wall. This is terrible. Maybe I should've been firmer with Granny and told her no, I didn't want to go out with a man I barely knew, but I didn't want to contradict her, so here I am, forced to endure this embarrassing situation.

I open my clutch and reach for my phone. I'm not too eager to go out there, so I have to distract myself in here somehow. It's still on airplane mode. I switch it off, and my phone lights up with several notifications.

I have a text from my mother asking me to call her as soon as I land, a few from some friends I have here in Paris who're eager to see me, and the rest are all from Rick.

Calls. Texts. One voicemail.

I feel sick to my stomach.

We were married for four years and he never called my personal number. If he needed something from me or wanted to tell me something, he'd call the house number. He never even sent me a single text.

And I just...brushed it off. Ignored it. Kept waiting for the day when he'd warm up to me and we'd be a happy, lovey-dovey couple. God, I've never felt more ashamed. It's like I was in a deep sleep and now I've woken up to reality.

Rick: I've been thinking, and we really need to talk, Addy. Let me know when you land.

Rick: I'm guessing you're still on the plane.

Rick: I know you're upset and I take full responsibility for that. I messed up big time and I guess I got it all wrong. I got you all wrong, Addy. But saying you want a divorce in the middle of an argument isn't fair to either of us.

Rick: I'm not going to let you throw this all away over one mistake.

Rick: Answer me.

This scumbag. I can't believe this.

The last one was sent just a minute ago. I'm guessing his messages all went through and now he knows I'm getting them. I block his number. It seems like the most reasonable thing to do. Then, I send my mom a message letting her know that I'm in Paris and that I'm okay.

As for my friends, I'll call them tomorrow.

I don't want to think about Rick. I'm going to act like I never received them and when I get back, I'm telling my parents about my decision and we'll initiate the divorce.

There's no turning back for me. No matter what.

There's nothing in the world that would ever make me go back to him.

After what feels like ages, I finally leave the bathroom. I can't hide in there for the whole night, and anyway, it really felt like I was running out of air because of Rick's messages. I can't believe his audacity.

A mistake?

He was seeing my best friend this whole time and it was just a mistake?

I keep walking, looking around for Everett but at the same time, not really wanting to see him. Goodness gracious, I just want to go home and sleep this awful day off.

But a familiar voice behind me calls my name, and I know I spoke too soon.