Chapter 5
1429 Words
Mia
The living room fire burns low, the lights dimmed as the sound of the TV fills the room.
It’s ten o’clock, and for once, I have the entire place to myself. Damon, I’m guessing, went to the gala—Anna most likely on his heels.
I’m glad he took my comment about not coming seriously, even though he kept bothering me while I was at the nail salon. I ignored every call.
He needs to figure out who he wants, because I refuse to be second best. I deserve respect, and right now, I’m getting none of it.
The episode I’m watching ends when the front door suddenly slams open with a loud bang. I jump, the blanket slipping from my lap to the floor. Seconds stretch with my heart in my throat—until his figure steps into view. I let out a slow breath and turn back to the TV.
“Are you happy with yourself?” he growls. “You f*****g embarrassed me in front of every motherfucking person there tonight.”
Here we go.
My fault—again.
I flip through the channels, refusing to engage, until the remote is ripped out of my hand.
“Don’t f*****g ignore me.” He throws it at the wall, plastic cracking.
I look up at him with a raised brow, amused by the sudden outburst. He isn’t usually this angry—scratch that—he isn’t usually this drunk. The smell of alcohol hits me immediately. His hair is a mess, his suit creased, like he’s spent the entire night fighting with himself.
“How can someone who wasn’t even there embarrass you?” I ask calmly.
His nostrils flare.
“That’s exactly why. Do you know how many times I had to lie and tell people you were sick? It was humiliating. They could tell I was lying. And all because you’re being a spoiled fuck.”
I laugh.
“Really? Spoiled? Come on, Damon. Why lie at all? Just tell them the truth—that you’re a cheating bastard who f****d his best friend last night while I slept in the guest room.”
His jaw tightens. “Stop acting like you didn’t agree to this s**t, Mia. f*****g hell—when are you going to stop?”
I stand, facing him fully.
“Because you gave me no choice. What was I supposed to do—say no and have you cheat on me anyway? Which you most likely already were. You got what you wanted. Now you can live with the outcome.”
He crosses his arms. “I’ve given you everything. Sacrificed everything for you. And this is how you act when I want to be a little bit selfish?”
“Selfish is ordering food the other person doesn’t want. Selfish is taking a parking spot someone else was waiting for. Selfish is not thinking about someone else’s feelings. Not breaking a promise of forever.”
I step back. “You allowed her into our home. You let her talk to me like garbage, say things you didn’t even correct. And you think I’m being childish? How would you feel if I found someone else to sleep with? If you heard everything? If I let him speak to you the way Anna speaks to me?”
He studies me for a moment. Slowly, his stance softens. He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear—something that would usually make me smile. But not this time.
“You know I only love you, baby. I’m sorry I upset you.”
I pull back. “If that were true, you wouldn’t have done any of this. Just keep her away from me. I mean it, Damon.”
“Mia, don’t be like that. She’s not trying to upset you.”
“You might be blind to her games. She might have you wrapped around her finger. But I’m not. And I will never do anything for her. The sooner you understand that, the better.”
“I don’t want us to be this way.”
“We’ve been this way for a long time now, Damon. You don’t care about me anymore, and it shows in your actions.”
He reaches out, but I step back. I don’t want him touching me.
“What do you want me to do? Is it the room? Do you want our room back?”
He really is clueless.
“No. I don’t want that room back—not after you and her shared the bed. Besides, I like the guest room.”
He grabs my cheeks gently, forcing my eyes to meet his. His breath smells of expensive whiskey.
“How about we go out tomorrow night? Just you and me. We can see that play you’ve been wanting to see.”
My stomach flips. Don’t get your hopes up, Mia. Don’t do it.
“What about Anna?”
He nuzzles my nose. “What about her?”
“I’m sure she won’t be happy.”
“You’re my wife. It doesn’t matter what she wants.”
A part of me knows he won’t remember any of this in the morning. To save myself the disappointment, I gently remove his hands from my face.
“It’s okay, Damon. I have to go see Mom tomorrow.”
I head toward my room.
“Mia, wait.”
But I don’t.
I close the door, lock it, and crawl under the covers. Sleep finally comes—deep and undisturbed.
Until loud laugher wakes me in the morning.
Yawning, hair a mess, still in my pajamas, I shuffle to the kitchen. I pour myself a glass of water and sit at the table, rubbing my eyes.
“I’m surprised Damon even let you stay here last night after the stunt you pulled,” Anna says. “He was upset, you know. What kind of wife does that to her husband?”
Is this going to be every morning with this woman?
I drop my hands and look her dead in the eye.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Besides, you could have gone with him. But I didn’t see you when he came home. Let me guess—you were whoring around.”
She narrows her eyes, flicking her blonde hair behind her shoulder. Who wears a sundress in the middle of November?
She looks me up and down, tilting her head as she laughs. “I’m not you. I bet you were f*****g every man you could get your hands on yesterday. Is that why you couldn’t go? Because you had every d**k inside you?”
If she wants to hurt me, I’ll do it right back. I step closer, our bodies nearer than they’ve ever been.
“The only one I had last night was Damon—right there.” I point to the sofa. “All the while telling me how much he loved me. He even promised to take me to a play tonight.”
Her face reddens. “You f*****g—”
She raises her hand, ready to strike, but when she hears Damon enter, she quickly pretends to rub her eyes.
“What’s going on?” Damon asks.
Anna turns on the tears instantly. “She said the tickets I found on your phone were for you and her.”
Damon freezes, looking between us. “W-well—”
“So it’s true?” Anna cries.
I lean back in my chair. So he did buy the tickets. Interesting.
“No, of course not, Anna,” Damon says quickly. “You know I wouldn’t do that to you.”
All those words from last night were complete bullshit—but didn’t I already know that?
He pulls her into his arms. I roll my eyes.
“Well, this was fun to watch, but I need to get going.”
Damon steps away from Anna. “One minute, baby,” he tells her.
Over my shoulder, I say, “Oh, don’t worry, Damon. Go comfort your new toy.”
He grabs my arm before I can leave.
“I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“Don’t bother. I’m used to the let downs. That’s why I make my own plans whenever you say we’ll do something. Just like tonight—I’m going out. Have fun with Anna. I hope you have a great time.”
This is why I said no last night.
Not because he forgot the ticket—
but because Anna whined until he caved.
- Writer
