by t. h. snyder
"Thanks Bryce, see you Friday night."
I leave Bryce's office yet again in a cloud of fog. I knew the move to Boston would shake things up, but I had no clue how quickly my life would change. I’m ecstatic to be the general contractor for my team and heading to NC to outbid some of our biggest competitors along the east coast.
I take a quick walk outside to catch my breath, this is happening. God I could not have asked for a better life right about now. I look up to the sky and say, "Thank you Mom and Dad." They are watching over me and are so proud of the man I have become.
I get my ass back into the office and finish up a few things before I have to meet the team to see another client. Some things are going to change now that I’ve taken on the GC position. I suppose we need to hunt ourselves down a building contractor now.
The rest of the day passes by in a blur. The guys were thrilled I’ve accepted the general contracting position and they are full of support. I told them that I leave for NC tomorrow, but first thing Monday we will be looking to bring on a building contractor to complete our team. There’s no doubt in my mind the level of skill these guys can bring and I am anxious to see what lies ahead for our crews.
After work I head right over to Derrick's to chat with my roommate. Since things with Char and I have gotten so intense, I barely see the guy. I figure the two of us can catch some grub together and catch up on the past few weeks.
By the time I make it to the house it’s a little after six o'clock and Derrick is sitting in the living room watching the game.
"Hey guy, whatcha doing?" I ask throwing my bag on the chair.
"Hey Manny, look who finally came home...yea Mommy is here, go get her boy!" Derrick tells the dog in a crazy tone.
"Shut the hell up man." I tell him while petting man's best friend.
"So seriously, what's been going on punk? I take it you and Charlie are pretty serious already. Will I be losing my roommate soon?"
Derrick is full of questions and I think the guy deserves to know what is going on, after all Char is like a sister to him.
"Well I can pretty much guarantee you know more than you are letting on, but if you must know I guess I can tell you." I say with a laugh and plop myself down on the couch next to him.
"Yea, I do. So I suppose I should fill you in on what Chloe has told me and you can fill in the rest."
"Figures." I say with a huff.
I proceed to tell Derrick about the past few nights and how I am feeling about Char. I tell him that she is fully up-to-date on my family drama and that I have told her I love her. He is a bit taken back given it only has been a few weeks knowing her, but he understands given that we are pretty much inseparable.
"So where is your little vixen tonight?" Derrick asks.
"She went to dinner with Angie and Ruthie from work, girl’s night out or something like that. I told her I would come over later with Manny. So I will need your key pal."
"Did she say where they were going for dinner?"
"Man you are so damn nosy! What the hell does it matter?" I shout at him.
"Geez dick head, relax. I was just asking." Derrick says putting his hands up in defense.
"Oh ok, yea she said they were meeting up at Snides on Fourth St."
"Shit Riley!" Derrick shouts standing up.
"What?" I ask confused why he is suddenly so pissed.
"That bar is owned by Marc's family and the fucker is in town this week. Fucking hell! I was hoping she wouldn't bump into him. Man we got to head down there in case she sees him." Derrick says pacing the living room.
"No way in hell man! There is no way I am going down there. She will think I don't trust her and I’m a stalker." I stand and run my fingers through my hair.
"Fuck man what do we do?" Derrick asks.
"She is a big girl Derrick. You can't fight her battles for her. If she runs into Marc she needs to deal with this on her own. If she needs us she will call us." I try to tell him with all the confidence in my girl.
She will be okay, right?
I can hardly breathe as I see him walking toward our booth. I was well aware this was his parents bar, but I also knew that they never come here anymore since they moved to Florida a few years ago.
I take a deep breath in through my nose and exhale through my mouth as I give him a big smile.
"Marc, wow what a surprise to see you here in town. How are things in Tennessee? How is Natalie?" I ask trying to hold it together.
I can feel Ruthie's hand grab on to me for support. These girls are the only lifeline I’ve got in this moment and oh god I wish Riley was here to touch me and make me feel better.
"Char you are beautiful as always. I am in town to visit with some friends for the Labor Day weekend and thought I would stop in to see how the bar is doing. It seems like the typical crowd is here for a Wednesday night." He says with his trademark smile releasing his two dimples on either side of his face.
Marc is an extremely attractive man. He just so happens to also be the biggest asshole on the face of the planet. He stands about six feet tall, has a body only a gym god could have, his hair so blonde it’s almost white, and eyes so blue you can see through them. Like I said he is the biggest ass face in the world.
"Well we are in the middle of a pretty intense conversation here, so you might as well run off Marc." Angie yells to him.
"Yes, well I don't want to disturb you fine ladies. I'll see you around." He says looking between Angie and Ruthie.
"Oh and Char, you will definitely see me before I leave." He winks right at me and walks away.
"What the fuck was that all about?" Angie asks looking in my direction.
Ruthie's hand is still in mine and I can barely feel her fingers interlaced with my own. All oxygen has been deprived of my body and I am about to pass out.
"Char, take in a deep breath through your nose and slowly let it out of your mouth. Breathe in and let it out. Good! Do it again...in and out. Good! One more time honey, in and out. How are you feeling now girly?" Ruthie asks rubbing at my left arm.
"Better thanks! God that sucked! I haven't seen him in over a year and he thinks he can just waltz over here and act as if nothing ever happened?" I say in a whisper.
I take a few more deep breaths and shake off the uneasy feeling Marc left with me. I have full function of my hand and I call the girls' attention to my wine glass.
"Let's not let his little appearance ruin our girl’s night out. Come on ladies. Raise your glasses. I have a toast to make." I tell them.
The three of us raise our glasses and I say, "To new beginnings and even better love lives."
"To having great sex with hot guys." Ruthie says.
"To great friends and living through them and their amazing sex lives." Angie says.
The three of us burst into laughter and continue to drink our beverages. I am so glad these two ladies are in my life right now. Running into Marc was not easy, but without them it could have been a whole hell of a lot worse.
We each have another drink and share a couple of appetizers to help soak up the alcohol. We chat about our love lives or lack thereof and what we plan on doing for Labor Day weekend.
Before long we realize the time and that we’ve been sitting in or booth sharing some quality girl time for more than a few hours. I look at my phone to check the time and it is well after 10 o’clock. I see there is a message from Riley and check it out. The time stamp reads 8:30.
Riley - Hey babe! Manny and I are here! See you soon, love you!
Being it’s so much later from when he sent the message I quick send him a reply.
Char – Sorry, I just saw your text. I am having so much fun with the girls I lost track of time. Leaving soon, love you too! xoxoxoxo
I toss my phone back in my purse and let the girls know I am going to be heading home for the night. They each agree that it’s time to close up our tab. We pay our ways, give each other a hug good-bye and head out of the bar for our cars.
As I approach the side of the road he stands up from against the side of the Jeep and puts his arms out for me to come to him. He must be fucking crazy, what the hell is he thinking? Does he not remember the hell he put me through last year?
"Marc, what do you want? We said our pleasantries in the bar and now I would like us to go our separate ways. Please move out of my way so that I can go home." I say in a harsh tone.
"Char, but I miss you so much. Nothing in my life has gone right since you walked out on me." He says still holding his arms out.
"Are you forgetting that I walked out on you because you fucked my best friend Natalie? Speaking of which, where is your girlfriend right about now?” I say through clenched teeth.
“I don’t want to talk about our past. I just want to discuss our future.” He says moving closer to me.
"What the fuck Marc! Do you not remember anything that happened last year? Are you delusional or something?" I shout in his direction.
“Char relax baby, it was a mistake. Everything I did, it was all because I loved you so much and I was so scared.”
"Marc, I don't believe a word you say. It’s over between us and nothing will ever take away what you did to me. You hurt me Marc. You broke my heart. You fucked my best friend. I will never forgive you for that." I continue to scream at him and beat my hands against his chest.
"I know baby and I am so sorry. I tried to live my life without you in it and I just can't. I need you back Char. I want to go back to where we were before this whole mess happened." He tells me while trying to bring my body closer to his.
"No Marc! It will never ever happen. We are over! Do you hear me over? Now get the hell out of my way so I never have to see you again."
After Derrick had his little worry fest about Char running into Marc I started to get a little anxious myself. I didn't want to go chasing after her, especially when it was girl’s night out in all. I figure if she needed me she would call or text.
Derrick and I sat and watched the game and ordered in some pizza. Once the Red Sox were way ahead I figured it was safe to say they had this game in the bag.
I went up to my room, which I hardly ever sleep in anymore, and grabbed some stuff for tonight and my trip to North Carolina. Before heading over to Char's I grabbed the key from Derrick and told him I would drop Manny back off before my flight out in the morning.
On my way over to Char's I had this sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. Thinking it was just from the pizza I went along my merry way and let me and Manny into Char's place.
It was so quiet in here and the entire place smelled sweet and sexy like Char. I pulled back out the comforter Char lets Manny use and set him up with a bowl of water.
I sit down on the couch and flip on the TV to Sports Center. If nothing else I can listen to today's highlights to pass the time. I pull out my phone to see if there are any missed calls or messages. None, ugh! I am worried about my girl, but I need to leave her be with her girls tonight. I figure I can just shoot her a text letting her know Manny and I are here.
Riley - Hey babe! Manny and I are here! See you soon, love you!
At least she knows we are here. Yea I feel better about that now.
I kick my shoes off and lie down along the couch. My eyes are feeling kind of heavy so I let myself drift off to sleep. Char can wake me when she gets home and then I will crawl into bed with her.
I jolt up on the couch and look over to see the time. "Holy Shit!" It’s after 10 o’clock. I quick grab up my phone and see a missed text alert from Char a few minutes ago.
Char – Sorry, I just saw your text. I am having so much fun with the girls I lost track of time. Leaving soon, love you too! xoxoxoxo
I smile to myself looking back at the message. It’s an amazing feeling to know we share this chemistry together, but something is still not sitting right in my stomach.
I have this sense that something is wrong, Char is in trouble and I need to go find her. If this hunch I have is wrong then I’ll need to do some serious explaining, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
I text Derrick to let him know I am on my way over to Snides, just so that he knows I am going out to look for her.
I get myself over to Fourth St. in record time and make my way over to the parking lot on the side of the building. I park the Durango and spot Derrick's BMW on the other side of the lot. I run on over to him and in a split second I can hear Char's voice. She is yelling at someone.
In a panic I race right pass Derrick and see Char standing next to her Jeep pounding her fits into some guy’s chest.
I stop dead in my tracks and Derrick catches up beside me.
"Shit Riley, its Marc!"
The anger building inside of me has me grinding down on my teeth and clenching my fists.
"I need to stop this!" I tell Derrick.
"Go to it, I am right behind you." He says patting me on the back.
I run down the block and slow myself alongside the Jeep. I am coming from behind both of them so they can't see that I am standing right here with Derrick.
I can hear her telling him, "No Marc! It will never ever happen. We are over! Do you hear me over? Now get the hell out of my way so I never have to see you again."
My girl is so brave and I am so proud of her for sticking up for herself. But I see him grab her arms and I have no other choice but to step in before he hurts her.
"Get your fucking hands off of her!" I yell as I come between the two of them. "I think I heard Char ask you to leave her alone, so why the hell are you putting your hands on her?" I say to Marc while taking Char to the sidewalk next to Derrick.
"Pal, this isn't your business and Char doesn't need you coming to her rescue. We have a past together and I was just trying to talk some sense into her." Marc says while coming in my direction.
"Yea exactly, she was in your past and now she is with me. Get the hell out of here Marc before you regret cornering her tonight." I tell him as the anger of his touching Char sends me over the edge.
He gets in my face and I am about to push him off when I remember I can't fight him. I swore to Char that I would never fight like that again. It’s not who I am and I can't scare her like that. Not now not ever.
I am so lost in thought that I don't even feel his fist come across my face. All I can hear is Char screaming my name
"Oh god! Riley are you okay?" Char screams.
"Have fun with this bitch, she is nothing but a tease that doesn't know her way around a dick." He says with a laugh.
"What did you just call her?" I ask. The fury now beginning to surge through my body.
"Yea this cunt doesn't know how to please a man, why do you think I fucked her best friend. Char might have a great body, but she doesn't know how to use it. Better start checking out her friends’ man, you're going to need 'em to get yourself off."
I glace over at her and she gives me a single nod. In that moment I know exactly what she is telling me to do and I don't hesitate for a second. I pull myself together and stand tall while giving Marc a hard right hook to the jaw. He doesn't see it coming so he is taken off guard and stumbles into the side of the Jeep.
Just that single punch has him slouching to the pavement and Char runs to my side. I pull her in tight and tell her, "I am so sorry, I know I promised you I would never do anything like that again."
"Riley, don't even think like that. Had you not been here who knows what he could’ve done to me. You saved me tonight and I love you so much for it. Please just take me home."
Derrick says he will deal with Marc and I grab Char's hand in mine and walk her back to the Durango.
The touch of her warm hand sends shivers through my arm and I know that we are going to be okay. I wil
l always be there to protect my girl.
Riley drives us directly to my apartment and neither one of us says a word. I am still struck with the anxiety of seeing Marc and I can guarantee Riley is dwelling on the punch he threw at Marc's face.
I need for him to know that I am not hurt, upset, or angry by his actions tonight. I know it’s not his fault for hitting Marc. He did it to protect me and because I told him to do so.
We get to my place and Riley tells me to wait while he hops out of the truck and comes over to open my door. He puts one arm beneath my legs and the other around my back. Lifting me out he carries me over to the door of my apartment.
With such finesse he finds a way to carry me and unlock the door with his key. Manny greets us at the door and Riley tells him to go lay back down. Being the good dog he is, Manny listens right away and curls himself up on the comforter.
Riley takes me straight into the bathroom and sets me down onto the bathroom counter. He inspects my arm to see if there are any bruises or scratches left by Marc's touch.
"He is damn lucky he didn't leave a mark Char." He says rubbing up and down my arm.
"Riley I am fine really. Let me see your face."
I take his face in my hands and look it over from top to bottom and from side to side.
"You would never know you were even hit only a few minutes ago." I tell him completely amazed that there is no mark on his face.
"That's because he hits like a girl." He says with a laugh.
"Well come on then, let's wash up and head into bed. I am kind of tired." I say jumping down off the counter.
"Sounds good to me, I have to get us up extra early tomorrow. By the way I am going to North Carolina for a few days. You should come with me, that way I know that scumbag can't hurt you while I am gone." He tells me while following close behind me into the bedroom.
"Why the sudden trip to North Carolina?" I ask.
"Your dad has some business he needs me to take care of with a client, but I promise to be back in time for dinner at your parent's Friday night."
"I really do wish I could come with you, but I was just out for an entire week for LA." I say to him giving my most adorable pout face.
