Queen Of Hearts

Queen Of Hearts - Chapter 3

"Good afternoon, Bayside Event Company. How can I help you today?"

Work is awkward today to say the least. Probably something to do with the fact that I've managed to talk s**t to our new manager not once, but twice in a 24 hour span. Not to mention he saw me in Cal's ugly basketball shorts and then completely disheveled at the office. After yesterday's uncomfortable exchange in the parking lot, I went straight home and made sure I had my clothes ready for today and I set three alarms.

A familiar voice answers on the other end of the line.

"Melissa! Hi dear! How is my Cally? Is he eating enough? Are you feeding him well? I know how you like to make those instant meals sometimes, but a growing boy like Calvin really needs-"

"Hi Pam! Cal is great. Did you need something? Everything alright with you and Ted?"

"We're fine, dear. Has Calvin not told you the good news? Ronald proposed to Felicity! We're throwing a bridal shower at our house next month, so we'll need every premium option you've got. White tents, signs, photo booth, food tables-"

"Okay, how about I email you the paperwork to fill out and I can put in the request for that particular date."

"I knew you'd come through for us, Melissa. We're counting on you. Give Cally big kisses from me! Chat soon!"

Relief washes over me as the line goes dead, but just as I pick up my coffee, a deep voice from behind me startles me.

"Hey-"

"Wah!"

I spin suddenly, the coffee sloshing over the top of my mug and onto ....ah, f**k. Alex? Arnold? Doesn't matter. It lands on his shoes with a wet slap.

"Oh my god, Alan. I am so sorry-"

"It's Adam" he says, clearly annoyed as he pulls a cloth out of his pocket to dab up the mess. "I just wanted to let you know that we had a big reservation come in for this Friday up at the Red Reaper's clubhouse."

"The bikers?"

"Yes."

"Okay.."

"I'm telling you this because Samantha, Carter, and Charlene will need your help. Paul's dog is being put down."

"Respectfully, Paul's dog has been put down about five times over the last three years."

"Do you have a habit of calling your co-workers liars Ms.Lennon?" Axel asks crossing his arms."

"No, just Paul. There's a Foo Fighters concert coming up, so that's probably what's up. "

"I'd like to think I'm a good judge of character, and that I can trust my employees. Which is why I trust that you'll be there on Friday. I've switched your day-off to the Sunday instead."

"But Aaron-"

"Adam"

Ugh, f**k. I was supposed to go grocery shopping on Friday since it's payday. I wait until he's back in his his office to text Calvin.

Melissa : Hey. Your mom called earlier. Did you know your sister is getting married?

Calvin : Felicity?

Melissa : You only have one sister, so yes.

Calvin : Oh, ew. To Ron? H8 that dude. He's an uptight buttwad.

Melissa : Right. Anyway, can you hit the store tomorrow and do a grocery shop?

Calvin : Idk what we need.

Melissa : Write a list. See you when I get home xo

I toss my phone on the desk and send the event forms to Cal's mom, and then I go outside to find Sam. Normally when she takes her breaks outside it's to smoke a cigarette and dissociate but this time she's tapping away on her phone like a madwoman, grinning ear to ear. I take a seat on the bench beside her.

"What's got you looking so pleased?" I say, nudging her shoulder.

"Oh, nothing" she laughs, backing out to her home screen.

I look at her in surprise, "Since when do you of all people not dish the dirty details? What? Tim send you a naughty picture?" I raise my eyebrows up and down.

"Not Tim" she bites her lip, and I gasp.

"Someone else? Who? Spill!"

"Okay, okay! His name is Max. Ugh, Melissa. He is soooo cute. Tim sends me dickpics, meanwhile Max cashapps me money to get my nails done, treat myself, whatever I want."

Oh.

"Don't look at me like that! It isn't a sugar daddy thing....he's just really generous."

"Riiiight... so, you haven't given him any 'sugar' then?"

"Mmm...I mean, a pic of my boobs." she says pressing her lips into a tight line.

I give her a look.

".....and a beaver-shot."

"Sam!"

Neither of us can help it as we burst out laughing. She lets out a deep sigh and looks to the sky.

"Don't you ever wonder what it feels like to be taken care of? You know, instead of being the one doing all the...caring?"

It's no secret that Sam hates Calvin, and really, it's only out of love for me.

"I mean, yeah. But not in exchange for nudes. That sounds more like a business transaction than love.".

"Are you calling me a prostitute? And who said anything about love ?" she enunciates the word like it's something dirty, "Love is a pipedream around here. I just mean, there's no harm in allowing yourself to be spoiled by somebody whose willing."

It isn't that I haven't thought about leaving Cal. We were high-school sweethearts and when we were younger, we had fun together. But over the years, time dragged on and life got more serious. Things happened, we had more responsibilities. Except I ended up being the only one to take them on. I suppose it's just been this way for so long, I put myself on auto-pilot. It feels like the older you get, the more s**t you go through, the less opportunities there are. You have to think about assuming your role in society and establishing some sense of stability.

"I never called you a prostitute! And I would never cheat on Cal."

"Of course not. Dump the guy, 'lissa. I'm sorry, and please don't be mad for my saying so but... we're twenty-eight years old. You guys have been together for what? Ten years? You aren't married, you don't have any children-"

"I don't want children."

"Exactly, that's the point. The dude is already a mama's boy to his actual mom. God, I hate that woman....wait, that isn't the point. The point, as I was saying, is that you don't have kids and you don't want to be a mother. So why are you wasting your prime years babying a grown man who brings absolutely nothing to the table except a knife and fork waiting for you to serve him like some 1950's housewife? You've been through so much. You deserve more."

I lean my head on her shoulder for a moment.

"I love you. But even if we broke up, I have no idea how I'd meet someone else. I'm too busy, and I don't do bars. I'm not even looking forward to that event set-up on Friday."

"Adam scheduled you in with us? f**k yes!" she fist pumps the air.

"Is that his name? Ugh, yeah. It was supposed to be my day off. I had so much crap to do, now I have to rearrange it all. I spilled coffee on his shoes earlier."

"You did not!"

"I did. I.....also may have called him a dickhead. Turns out he was driving the car that nearly hit me."

"He was NOT!"

"He was. There was also this weird convenience store thing...."

Sam looks at me like I'm crazy, understandably. "Do I even want to know?"

"You do not."

"Right....Anyway, I know how you can meet someone without having to go to a bar."

"Oh?"

She picks her phone up and punches in the code on her lock screen. A few swipes and taps and she opens up an app.

"It's called QuickPal. It's like a video chat app where you create an account and then you video chat with random people. You can swipe at any time and it'll give you something different. Kick your manchild to the curb and give it a go."

"I'll think about it. Breaking up with Cal is not in the cards just yet. Pam called earlier. Apparently Felicity is getting married."

Sam turns to look at me, her brows creasing, "His bitchy sister?"

"Yeah. Cal's parent's are throwing her a bridal shower and they want us to cater the event. Might make it awkward to break it off before then."

"Fair enough", Sam tosses her cigarette butt in the metal butt can beside the bench and we head back inside.