The Other Other Woman

by Mallory Lockhart

  We perused Matt’s list of the more hoity-toity restaurants, but I told Brooke I just wasn’t sure I wanted to go by his recommendations. I was more of a beef eater and he was into lighter dishes like salmon or chicken. We had had a steak (well, a small portion of one, since we had to share with Nicole and Liza) at Pubbelly that was just amazing. In fact, I couldn’t stop thinking about it–not to mention their Goat Butter toast, and their bread pudding, and even their Brussels sprouts. I suggested it to Brooke and she looked so excited.

  “Oh my Gosh! I was just thinking the same thing! I would totally go back there! That steak!” she cried, practically wiping the drool off her chin.

  “We can’t do that though, can we? That seems so lame to come to a brand new city and go to the same restaurant again?” I argued. “Matt would be ashamed of us for sure. We didn’t go to any of his favorite places, well, except that burger joint.”

  “I know, but it was soooo good, and we could just get a couple of different things to make it seem like a different place!”

  Back we went. We stuffed ourselves to the gills with much of the same food from the previous evening, but more importantly, each got our own bread pudding. It was absolutely perfect. We went back to the condo, made some more grape juice and Grey Goose deliciousness, got our bathing suits on, and headed down to the hot tub. There were a few people swimming in the pool for a short time, but they left after a few minutes and we had the entire place to ourselves.

  We got on the topic of relationships, as we often did. I’m not sure what it was about that particular night. Maybe it was the alcohol or the fact that we were totally relaxed and just had the best time of our lives together. I decided to tell Brooke all about my Wonderbread Queen suspicions. I don’t think she had realized before Miami just how much I really cared about Matt and figured it was more of a casual “friends with benefits” type of relationship. She was definitely not aware of how many times I had caught him in lies or had doubts about his intentions for me. I wanted her to know what I had been going through, or maybe I was seeking some sort of validation from her. Since she worked in the same building, she could tell me if I was way off my rocker thinking that there was anything going on there.

  I told her that I had no actual proof of anything but that a certain name popped up enough to make me worried that he had another relationship. And the fact that he was so hot and cold with me over the past few months didn’t help. I hinted around, hoping she would figure it out on her own, because in some weird way, I felt like I was betraying him. But Brooke did not have a single clue who I was talking about. “No really, help me out here,” she said. “I can’t think of anyone I have seen him with that would make me suspect. I mean, I guess he flirts with some of the younger account reps, but not enough to be obvious.”

  “You can’t think of anyone, huh?” I asked. “Not even, say, a young foreign girl?”

  Her eyes flew open, telling me everything I needed to know. “Oh my God! That Katya girl. Oh my God. You are right, that makes total sense now that I think about it!”

  “Oh… wonderful,” I said, on the verge of tears.

  “No, no, what I mean is, it wouldn’t shock me if they were an item before. But she hasn’t come around in a long time. I never, ever see them together. She used to come and visit him in the mornings, and she would use his office for stuff. You know I’ve never actually seen her face? She must be shy. She used to run by my office in a big gust of hair!”

  “Her face is pointy,” I said. “She has very severe features. And she looks a lot older than she is, a total butterface.”

  “What the hell is a butterface?”

  “She has a great body… but her face…”

  “BWAHAHAHA!”

  “So, you haven’t seen her around at all?”

  “No, not really. A few months back she was driving around in that snotmobile of a car she has; it’s a green Scion. She stopped and waved us down as we were going to lunch, but otherwise, no.”

  I told her how I had tried to track him down at her townhouse that day back in August. “Damn girl, remind me not to mess with you!! Hahaha. I’ll definitely let you know if I notice anything amiss…”

  “Yes, please do.”

  I felt a lot better with her in my corner. Not that she wasn’t before, but I knew she had a lot of respect for Matt. So, while I didn’t want to make her choose between me and him, I was still glad that she would choose me if push came to shove.

  “Hey, Mal?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You… you don’t think we could have caught any critters from dancing with those boys, do you?”

  I immediately spewed my drink everywhere. “What!? Like STDs?!”

  “Yeah, I’m just asking, you know. They had their hands all up on our butts. I just want to be sure you can’t transmit anything that way.”

  I was crying laughing. “Brooke, I’m pretty sure you cannot get critters from hand-to-butt contact. Now, hand-to-ice-cube-to-nipples, there may be an issue. So I’m screwed. But I’m pretty sure you are still critter free.”

  We stayed in the hot tub well into the wee hours of the morning again. I would have to catch up on sleep once I was back at work. The next day we cleaned every speck of sand or dust we brought into the condo with us and had that place looking spic and span, even better than when we arrived. We also went to Target and bought him a few things, some nicer potholders (his sucked), a knife, and some Lucky Charms. I knew he and I shared an “instant affinity” for them so I wanted him to have a fresh box the next time he was down. I also left him some butter in the freezer because he was always watching his weight and I wanted to fatten him up. Food is love!

  We said goodbye to Miami and made our way back home. We had to split off to different gates at the airport. I texted Matt while waiting to board my plane.

  No fair making me go home.

  Hey, sorry, reality sucks, babe, but I hope you had a good time.

  Best time ever, thanks again for everything!

  My pleasure, sweetie. Let me know when you land, ok?

  Will do. Brooke and I are going to need to come back every few weeks, hope that’s okay…

  Of course you may. Anytime.

  I texted him once I landed in Raleigh. Back in RAL. BOOOO!

  Welcome back, sweetie!!

  With a dead battery at the airport! *cry*

  Oh, I am sooo sorry. Bad finish!

  I was in my car in the short term parking deck, and it wouldn’t start. One of my kids had left the little light on above their seat, and I didn’t notice it in the daylight. Luckily, the airport has a car service that drives around for those types of emergencies.

  Chapter Eleven

  Leaving Miami behind was rough, but I was so excited that I would be seeing Matt that next Friday. I assumed anyway. I mean, it was his idea. He was pretty good about staying in touch while we were away. And even though I didn’t get a ton of warm fuzzies from him while we were in Miami, he was very friendly once we were back. He texted me before nine a.m. that morning, which he hadn’t done in months, to tell me he wanted to hear all about our trip.

  His new branch manager, Wiley, had started just after I came down in April. So I had not been able to meet him just yet. Wiley and I spoke on the phone, however, and had a decent working relationship. We were discussing me taking over a couple more of his branches one afternoon when he asked me when I was going to come down for a visit. I texted Matt, who just happened to be number one on the Top Broker list that morning.

  Just saw the hit parade… I was thinking I need to get with that sexy mofo who was number one today, but then I remembered I already did!

  LMAO. And you will again, on Friday…

  Wiley just asked me when I was going to come down there to meet him/do a branch visit. Why on earth would I want to do something like that?!

  Surely you would not do that!!!

  Terrible idea. I replied. *thinks she hears Marvin Gaye music*

  Schedul
e it!!

  I can maybe schedule it for when you are in TN or FL since I’ve already met you once or twice, right?

  LOL. Nope, I’m an integral member of the ATL party team.

  Oh, well, since you put it that way…

  In order to score babysitting services for Friday night and into Saturday morning, I told my mom that one of my few single friends wanted to go out dancing for her birthday. I figured my mom would be so happy to hear that I was actually going to a straight bar for once that she wouldn’t possibly refuse to watch them again. She was already trying to fix me up with every single co-worker of hers that she could think of. I felt bad about deserting my kids for another night so soon after getting back from my trip, but after about 36 hours of them whining and screaming at each other nonstop, I quickly got over it. I began focusing instead on the possibility of wrapping my body around my hot man all night long.

  He was going to have to make a quick visit to his friend in Durham that Saturday afternoon, so we determined it was a more practical idea for me to meet him in Greensboro and spend the night in a hotel there instead of Raleigh. It was closer for him, for one thing. Also venturing out in public as an actual couple would be much less risky there, since the probability of running into anyone we knew was small. I’d been in Raleigh for almost 30 years, so the last thing I needed to do was to run into someone from work, my kid’s school, or worse, my soon-to-be-ex in-laws.

  Due to the nature of our relationship, (and no, I hadn’t forgotten that he was married) our time together had always been relegated to hotel rooms. Not that I minded that. But as my feelings for him deepened, little luxuries like being able to hold his hand outside or riding in his car meant so much to me because we had never been able to do them. The idea of being able to have a casual meal together or even a small public display of affection became incredibly appealing to me.

  Both Jules and Brooke were well aware that he was planning to come see me, even though he had yet to mention it to Brooke. He hadn’t even told her that he was taking Friday off, which made me a little nervous. But then when she asked him about his plans for the weekend, all he gave her was a devilish smirk and said, “I don’t know, might see if I can get in a little trouble,” which of course, made me grin from ear to ear when she told me. I guess I didn’t have to worry about him not showing this time. I still did… just little. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief when she ended up getting a voicemail from him later Thursday evening saying that he wouldn’t be in the next day because he “had an appointment with a mutual friend of ours.”

  Jules and Brooke had never met and didn’t know each other well, but they knew “of” each other through me. The three of us had shared some group texts, usually for the sole purpose of making fun of me. The night before I was supposed to meet Matt in Greensboro, we were having some fun with a little bet. I asked them how many times they thought I would be able to hit it within an almost 24 hour period. I was confident it would be at least four, but Jules wasn’t convinced.

  No way, that geriatric fucker? Four times might kill him! I say no more than three.

  Yeah, Brooke agreed, I’m going with three, too.

  Oh please, every time I’ve seen him it’s been twice and we are usually together for no more than four hours.

  I still say three.

  Agreed.

  Y’all are nuts. I’m going to attack him when I first see him at around 1, then later that afternoon, then we’ll eat dinner, then do it again. Then maybe in the middle of the night, and again in the morning. So, see, that’s like five. I’m being really conservative with four.

  Girl. You better bring him some Ben Gay and Epsom salts to soak in.

  LMAO Jules! Oooh… You think he’ll take out his teeth and put them in a glass by the bed!?

  Why do you bitches have to make fun of my love of the elderly?

  I still say three.

  Me too.

  I hate you both.

  I decided that I would head out a little early. I wanted to go to Mebane first, a little town near Greensboro where some of the better outlet stores are located. The clothing stores opened at 10 a.m. and even if he drove fast (which, let’s face it, he wouldn’t) it would be at least after 1:00 before he would get into town. I had very few clothes that still fit me after losing at least 30 pounds since the previous fall, so it was the perfect opportunity to pick up some cute things while waiting on him to arrive.

  That morning, before I did anything else, I made certain he was on the road. I was very pleased to learn that he had gotten an even earlier start than I expected. Normally, I shop when I’m depressed. I’m not a shopaholic, exactly, but I am used to having a lot of clothes and I definitely get a little high off of some good deals. I shop even more when I’m happy. The fact that I was alone for three hours in a sea of outlet bargains, and finally going to spend the night with the man I was crazy about after not seeing him for seven weeks, was downright dangerous for my wallet.

  He called me and left me a message once he was about 45 minutes away. I’m ashamed to admit that I loved the sound of his voice so much that sometimes I would purposely not answer, just so he’d leave me a voicemail. This was not one of those times, however. My phone was just in an Ann Taylor fitting room buried under a pile of 20 shirts. I finished up my purchases, and he texted me a little while later. Just the address: 304 North Greene St.

  On my way, I replied.

  He called me just as I was getting out of the car in the hotel parking lot to give me the room number and to see if I needed help “with all my luggage.” Punk. I had only brought one overnight bag… this time. Not including the five or so shopping bags of which I was now the proud owner. He left the door cracked for me as always, and I still knocked, as always. But this time I was so much more relaxed, even though it had been so long since I had seen him. Not having to worry if we might get caught together was such a refreshing change.

  He answered the door wearing his black jeans, a blue button-down shirt, and a hugely charming smile. When he embraced me, I could tell that he was more relaxed too. I was so incredibly excited to see him. I threw my bag against the wall to wrap my arms around his neck and nearly wrapped my legs around him too. He laughed and greeted me warmly with, “Hey sweetie, it’s so good to see you.” He rubbed his hands firmly over my back and gripped me tightly into his chest as his lips covered mine. He plunged his tongue into my mouth for a lush kiss that immediately sent me reeling, remembering just how much I missed him, the flavor and feel of his lips pressing against mine, the enticing smell of his skin so close to me, yet still buried under layers of clothing. I ran my fingers through his hair around his ears, noticeably damaging his perfectly coiffed hair, which was much longer now. I just whispered, “Oh God, I missed you,” in the most suggestive voice I could muster, and gently tugged at his bottom lip, kissing him back.

  As we let go of each other, he motioned me over to a little table near the window. “I missed you too. Come on, let’s catch up for a minute.”

  He had me sit in the chair opposite him. He made himself very comfortable, leaning back in his chair, hands clasped behind his back, with his legs sort of spread out in front of him, much like he did that day in his office. But this time his legs were gingerly touching mine. I swear he did that on purpose, just daring me to jump into his lap. But his sitting that way gave me a good chance to really look at him. Physically, he still made me crazy. I found him almost unbearably handsome, especially the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, the way his lips curled up in the middle, giving him a near permanent shit-eating grin. Even though realistically I knew that most people would look at him and think, “Yeah he’s pretty decent looking, you know… for an older guy,” at that moment, he was the still most gorgeous thing I had ever laid eyes on.

  “So, most importantly, what do you think of the hair?” he said with a big smile, primping and patting it down on the sides. It sounds superficial, I know, but I had been a little concerned about his hair. It was
already longer the last time I saw him in August, and he warned me he hadn’t cut it all since. Brooke told me that it looked absolutely terrible. It drove her nuts the way he was always messing with it, but I was pleasantly surprised that he looked really cute, almost boyish, in a way. He had a lot of product in there, for sure, but I loved the little black and gray curls peeking out around his ears. It was very European. If it got much longer than that, he was going to need a haircut. He definitely looked better with the shorter, more buzzed cut I was used to. But I could deal with the novelty of this for the sole purpose of running my fingers through it. “I like it actually,” I replied. “I didn’t think I was going to, but it does have its charm. It kind of makes you look foreign, don’t you think?”

  “Oh good. I like it like this for a change. It’s kind of a pain to keep up with though.”

  “When are you going to cut it?”

  “Not until after the conference,” he said. “I want to cause a stir.”

  “What?! Are you kidding me? Matthew, that’s in February!”

  “I know!” He got that twinkle in his eye, “Can you imagine how long it will be by then? I’m going to get a little ponytail going and wear it to the awards ceremony.”

  “Over my dead body you will. I’ll cut it myself before I let you go in there looking like a damn idiot,” I laughed, a little nervously. We had planned on spending the next conference together, so I sincerely hoped he was kidding. I couldn’t be sure with him. He did love being the center of attention and making a spectacle of himself.

  I noticed him suddenly staring at me, almost confused, like he was giving me the onceover. He sat up and said, “Hey, stand up for a second…” grabbing my arms and lifting them out to the sides, gasping a little as he did.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  He ran his hands over my hips and down my thighs and blurted out, “Babe, you are practically disappearing! You don’t need to lose any more weight, Mal. You’re getting too skinny!”