by R.A Cullison
Chapter 18
All good things come to an end!
I got a job at the gas station across the street, Matt still worked at the docks. He was becoming more distant with me, like he was hiding something. We stopped making love or even kissing. He would yell at me, treating me bad, which hurt because it happened all at once.
I was sitting on the couch watching tv, enjoying some quiet time. I got caught in watching the tv, I didn’t hear Matt calling my name until the commercials.
“Nora!” he called from the bathroom, I walked into the bathroom he was standing in front of the mirror with shaving cream on his face.
“What? You need something?” I answered.
“What the hell? don’t you knock?” he voice was angry.
“The door was open, did you need something?” I asked again. He had this angry look on his face, a look I have never seen before especially towards me.
“Yeah, didn’t I tell you never to use my razors?” he was pissed at me for something I didn’t do.
“I have my own razors, I never used yours.” I said defensively.
“Then who did? Chewbacca?” he was just being mean now.
“You’re an asshole!” I was hurt, I tried not to sound upset, but he never talked to me that way before. I walked back into the living room, in tears. I sat on the couch blankly staring at the tv, thinking this might be the end of our relationship. I was trying to figure out what I did wrong, what did I do for him to treat me this way. I couldn’t think of anything, I have done nothing but treat him like I always do.
“Nora!” he called for me again from the bathroom, but I ignored him. I heard him start the shower.
His cell rang, his ring tone was different then I remembered, I didn’t answer it. Then it ran again, I walked over to the table where it was. I picked it up and looked at the number. It said Melody, I let the voice mail get it. Then I listened to it. “You have one message. Hey babe, where are you? I want to thank you for lunch, I was right about you, I still cant believe your going to leave her tonight. Her loss. Hurry up! End of message”
My heart sank, he was sleeping with that girl from the laundrymat, that explained a lot, why we havent made love and why he was so mean to me. Matt came out of the bathroom, smelling and looking good, he looked at me,
“What’s wrong?” I walked up to him and slapped him right across the face.
“You son of a bitch!” he looked stunned.
“What was that for?” he held his face.
“Melody huh? You cheating bastard! Get out of my apartment, pack your shit and get the hell out, I am not one bit kidding.” he looked confused.
“What are you talking about? I’m not cheating on you.” I started crying and started towards the bedroom, “Wait, whats going on here?” he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, I jerked my arm from him,
“She called while you were in the shower, she is waiting for you.” he looked even more confused.
“Who called me?“ he asked, I picked up his phone and showed him, he grabed the phone and studied it, “This isn’t my phone, this is Troy’s , we have the same phone.” I didn’t buy it.
“I don’t believe you.” I felt faint.
“Oh, really, call my number.” I dialed his number, it rang and Troy answered it.
“Hello, Nora, I have your mans phone and I bet you he has mine.” I looked at Matt. “I’m on my way over to pick it up.” I looked at him.
“I don’t understand, if your not cheating, then why have you been mean and ignoring me.” I was crying, looking at the floor avoiding eye contact.
“I’m sorry, babe, I know I been avoiding you and we havent really been connecting, I have a lot on my mind, like Troy leaving his girlfriend for Melody, which is my fault, work and Ken getting out of jail. I been alittle stressed. I am SO sorry for treating you like that.” He hugged me. I looked at his face, which was red.
“That don’t give you the right to treat me like crap, I never did anything to deserve that.” I said still keeping my eyes on the floor.
He lifted my face to his, “I know I am so sorry, I guess you hurt the ones your closest to, and I was hurting you.” I could hear the regret in his voice.
“I’m sorry for hitting you.” I stroked his cheek.
“Its ok, you have a mean slap on you, I am glad your able to defend yourself.” he kissed my hand, “I promise things will be better, I will stop acting like a big jerk.” we hugged, I felt this big weight off me.
Troy showed up for his phone, “I am here to swap phones.” they traded phone.
“Troy, why are you screwing around with that skank?” I asked him.
“Skank? Oh Melody, she is hot and really get me going.” he smiled really big.
“What about Dana? she don’t deserve to be done like this, and she is my friend, Maybe she should know what your doing? Your going to drag her around, even after she has this baby.” I was getting pissed.
“Mind your own business, I can do whatever I want, just because you have a man that will follow you through hells gates don’t mean all men are like that. I need to have a woman that will rock my world, in this case 2 woman.” he checked his phone.
“You’re a dog, Troy, I hope Dana finds out and dumps you and takes you for everything you have.” I walked into the bedroom.
“What the hell man? Why is she so up in my business? I got to run, Melody is waiting for me, Hey if Dana calls here, don’t let Nora talk to her.” I heard him close his phone.
“Hey, this is more her place than mine, I will try but no promises.” I heard the door shut. I was sitting on the bed when Matt walked in.
“He is a dog, why do men always think with their penises?” Matt sat next to me.
“Not all guys are like that? Lets go rent some movies?” He stood up.
We got to the movie store, its wasn’t busy and there were a lot of movies in. I found a few so did Matt, we also got one XXX movie, I never watched them before, so I was alittle leary about it.
I was looking at the comedy movies when Dana walked in with her son, who was 6 and he was adorable.
“Hey Nora, How did the phone switching go?” she returned a few movies.
“Pretty good, I was wondering why I couldn’t get a hold of Matt at work.” we both chuckled.
“Is Troy with Matt?” then she seen Matt, “Oh what happened to Bowling, Matt?” I looked at him and he looked at me, Then she had this look on her face, “you have no idea what I am talking about do you?” we shook our heads, “That’s son of a bitch.” she left, I turned and looked at Matt.
“I didn’t say anything.” I held up my hands
“Nope she figured it out.” we put the movies up on the counter.
We watched the XXX movie first, it had very bad acting in it and the sex scenes where getting Matt all excited. He turned towards me and began kissing me and touching me. He began kissing me and taking off my shirt.
“Matt?” he pulled back, “ excited are we?” he smiled and continued.
