Page 49 of Oxygen Deprived

“I slept with a married man!” I wailed.

***

Drew

“That was a bullshit move,” I said to Constance. “You fucking know we’re not together anymore. You’re such a bitch.”

“Dad!” Attie said in reproach. “Don’t call mom a bitch!”

“How about you come inside, darlin’,” I heard at my back.

Tai.

“Okay,” I heard my daughter’s timid voice say. “Just let me grab my phone out of my car.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked my wife once Attie made it into my house.

“I’m here to see why you bought your daughter a brand new truck. Was it because you’re trying to butter her up to meet your new bitch?” She spat.

I blinked, then moved so fast Constance didn’t even have a chance to move back before I was practically on top of her.

“You need to shut your fuckin’ mouth,” I growled. “And for once in your life think about anyone but yourself.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Think about someone but myself?” She screeched. “I’ve been thinking about nothing but you for our whole damn marriage! I finally am thinking about me, and now you’re going to fault me for it?”

“Yes,” I said. “You were thinking about yourself when you told me day in and day out how much you hated my job. Or how about when you told your dad how unhappy you were, causing him then to come to my work and ream me out for working.”

She gritted her teeth. “I love you. I still love you, even though you chose that job over me. I’m willing to take you back.”

“The problem there, is,” I started. “That. I. Don’t. Want. You. Back.”

I said it with exaggerated slowness, causing her eyes to widen at my declaration.

“You don’t mean that,” she gasped.

I was nodding before she even finished her sentence.

“And now I found someone,” I started.

“That looks very similar to me. Now, tell me again that you don’t want me back,” she said shakily.

I shook my head.

“I don’t miss you. Not even a little bit,” I informed her. “I was with her for less than two minutes, and she’s the only thing I can think about all day long. I don’t go more than an hour before I’m thinking about her. You need to back off. You need to sign the papers. I’ve given you the house. You’ve pulled Attie to your side. You’ve taken the dog. What more do you want from me?”

“You!” She screamed. “I want you!”

“Well, you can no longer have me. I’m not yours. I’m mine,” I growled, turning my back on her.

“I’m selling that truck. She has no need for one so new,” Constance said to my back.

I turned around and leveled her with my stare.

“No,” I growled. “You won’t.”

“And how exactly are you going to stop me?” She hissed.