car. “Mel. Mel. Wait up.”
My shoulders drop and my lungs push out a sigh. “What do you want, Greg?”
“I thought you might change your mind about the barbecue.” He follows me up the porch to the door.
“Why would you thi nk that, Greg?” I open the door and turn once inside. I use my body to take up the doorway to make sure he remains on the threshold.
He gives me the same expression he uses to pick up women; a half crooked grin with one arched eyebrow. “I don’t know. You seemed happy that I asked the other day.”
“You’re delusional, Greg. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. What happened to Sandra? I thought she was going with you.”
“She’s a bit…sore today. I took her out for dinner last night and well…” His dirty smirk repulses me.
“Greg, I don’t want to hear about y our conquests. Go away.” I try to close the door but he stops it with his arm.
“Mel, let me in. We’ll talk about this.”
“I’m not interested in anything you do or say anymore, Greg. We’re done. The ink on the divorce papers should be dry. Go find some woman who will give you what you want. Not that being married stopped you before.” I try a second time to close the door. Again he stops it.
Anger washes over his face. “Mel, you know I never meant to hurt you. It’s just that…I can’t control myself.” I feel my face morph into what must be a look of disbelief. Is he kidding?
“Greg, go find a woman who believes your bullshit. I’m done with you. You were not the man I thought I married. Or maybe I didn’t really know you. Before we got married, you cared about me. You treated me with respect and you were gentle. You wanted me . After the rings were on our fingers you told me you didn’t want to touch me because you didn’t want kids and you were afraid I’d get pregnant. We didn’t talk about contraception. We never even discussed children. You never thought about what I wanted. You only cared that having them would make me ‘fat and unattractive.’ Those were your words. You said you wanted your wife to be thin and pretty all of the time. A showpiece. Someone everyone else would admire and envy you for having.”
I suck in a breath and think about Dylan; how different he is from Greg. The way he treats me, the way I feel when I’m with him, how he is all I want. “And, while we’re on the topic, you never felt the importance of making sure I was satisfied – in my mind or in the bedroom. It was all about you, Greg. Maybe that was my fault. I let you get away with everything. Who knows how long that would have gone on? But, then I caught you cheating on me. I don’t even know how many other women you slept with before I found out, when I made my whole world you. Well, now you’re free to pursue what you want. Go have a good time. Don’t worry about me. I’ve moved on.”
Heat rises in my face. I know my blood pressure is way up. Not wanting to continue, I slam the door, turn the lock, and run into the bathroom for some tissues. I was never good with confrontation and I had just let Greg have it—big time. It was a long time over due, but I feel good that I finally told him how I feel. Tears stream down my face but they’re of triumph not defeat.
There’s a pounding on the door. “Go away,” I yell as I walk into the living room. Dabbing my eyes, I stand in the center of the living room with only the door between us. He’s yelling my name. “Mel. Melissa, please open the door.” I exhale in relief when the banging stops. My shoulders drop and my body starts to relax. Remembering my original goal, I turn so that I can change my clothes and get back to Dylan.
A loud crash makes me scream as the door forces open. Fragments of wood splinter out into the living room. My eyes widen when I notice it’s hanging from the hinges. Greg is in the doorway, fists clenched at his sides, his eyebrows are dipped low on his forehead. His stance reminds me of a cartoon bull with
My shoulders drop and my lungs push out a sigh. “What do you want, Greg?”
“I thought you might change your mind about the barbecue.” He follows me up the porch to the door.
“Why would you thi nk that, Greg?” I open the door and turn once inside. I use my body to take up the doorway to make sure he remains on the threshold.
He gives me the same expression he uses to pick up women; a half crooked grin with one arched eyebrow. “I don’t know. You seemed happy that I asked the other day.”
“You’re delusional, Greg. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. What happened to Sandra? I thought she was going with you.”
“She’s a bit…sore today. I took her out for dinner last night and well…” His dirty smirk repulses me.
“Greg, I don’t want to hear about y our conquests. Go away.” I try to close the door but he stops it with his arm.
“Mel, let me in. We’ll talk about this.”
“I’m not interested in anything you do or say anymore, Greg. We’re done. The ink on the divorce papers should be dry. Go find some woman who will give you what you want. Not that being married stopped you before.” I try a second time to close the door. Again he stops it.
Anger washes over his face. “Mel, you know I never meant to hurt you. It’s just that…I can’t control myself.” I feel my face morph into what must be a look of disbelief. Is he kidding?
“Greg, go find a woman who believes your bullshit. I’m done with you. You were not the man I thought I married. Or maybe I didn’t really know you. Before we got married, you cared about me. You treated me with respect and you were gentle. You wanted me . After the rings were on our fingers you told me you didn’t want to touch me because you didn’t want kids and you were afraid I’d get pregnant. We didn’t talk about contraception. We never even discussed children. You never thought about what I wanted. You only cared that having them would make me ‘fat and unattractive.’ Those were your words. You said you wanted your wife to be thin and pretty all of the time. A showpiece. Someone everyone else would admire and envy you for having.”
I suck in a breath and think about Dylan; how different he is from Greg. The way he treats me, the way I feel when I’m with him, how he is all I want. “And, while we’re on the topic, you never felt the importance of making sure I was satisfied – in my mind or in the bedroom. It was all about you, Greg. Maybe that was my fault. I let you get away with everything. Who knows how long that would have gone on? But, then I caught you cheating on me. I don’t even know how many other women you slept with before I found out, when I made my whole world you. Well, now you’re free to pursue what you want. Go have a good time. Don’t worry about me. I’ve moved on.”
Heat rises in my face. I know my blood pressure is way up. Not wanting to continue, I slam the door, turn the lock, and run into the bathroom for some tissues. I was never good with confrontation and I had just let Greg have it—big time. It was a long time over due, but I feel good that I finally told him how I feel. Tears stream down my face but they’re of triumph not defeat.
There’s a pounding on the door. “Go away,” I yell as I walk into the living room. Dabbing my eyes, I stand in the center of the living room with only the door between us. He’s yelling my name. “Mel. Melissa, please open the door.” I exhale in relief when the banging stops. My shoulders drop and my body starts to relax. Remembering my original goal, I turn so that I can change my clothes and get back to Dylan.
A loud crash makes me scream as the door forces open. Fragments of wood splinter out into the living room. My eyes widen when I notice it’s hanging from the hinges. Greg is in the doorway, fists clenched at his sides, his eyebrows are dipped low on his forehead. His stance reminds me of a cartoon bull with
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