Dean slammed the door shut behind her.-
He turned to me, acting like nothing had happened. “Why are you home early? Have you eaten yet? Want me to order something? Chinese, pizza, whatever you want.” He was so casual–like I hadn’t just caught him with another woman. If anything, he was talking more than usual.
I didn’t say a word.
Dean started digging around in the coffee table drawer for his cigarettes.
That triggered an old memory. Dean once had a girlfriend he was crazy about. She hated the smell of smoke–told him straight up she wouldn’t deal with secondhand smoke. So Dean quit, without hesitation.
But she moved overseas for work, and they split up, no hard feelings. If they hadn’t broken up, there probably wouldn’t even be a “me and Dean.”
After her, Dean never quit smoking for anyone. Especially not for me.
I didn’t want to breathe his smoke either, so I’d always end up throwing his cigarettes out whenever I found them around the apartment.
Tonight, Dean couldn’t find his smokes. He scratched his head in frustration.
A few seconds later, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me, hard.
I kept my eyes open. I saw the look on his face–like he was forcing himself, as if this was some kind of heroic sacrifice.
I pushed him away.
Dean’s face changed instantly. He looked furious, almost offended. Like no woman had ever rejected him before.
Especially not someone as ordinary as me.
I stared him down and asked, “Who was that woman just now?”
He looked annoyed. “Who do you think, Marian? Have I spoiled you too much?”
“Don’t forget, you’re the one who chased me. You were the one who wouldn’t give up. You’ve always known what I’m like–so why are you making a scene now?” A few tears slipped down my cheek. I let out a hollow laugh.
“I can accept that the people I like have dated others before me, broken up, started over, broken up again.“}
“But I never said I could accept my husband cheating on me.“”
My tears fell harder.
Dean’s hand shook a littie, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes.
But then he recovered. His voice was cold. “So what? If you can’t handle it, we can get divorced.“>
He said “divorced” like it was nothing, just like he used to say “let’s break up” to his exes.>
He thought I wouldn’t leave. He thought I’d cry and beg him to stay.
Just like all the girls before me.
For a long time, I thought so too.
Outside, the streetlight flickered, blinking like a dying star.
By four or five in the morning, it would go out completely, leaving everything in harsh clarity.
Even Cinderella only lost her magic at midnight–at least she was beautiful, and kind.
I whispered. “Okay”
Dean blinked, not quite believing what he’d heard.
“Dean, let’s get a divorce.”
In that instant, his face twisted with anger–so much that for a second, I thought he might actually hit me.
He let out a cold, angry laugh. “Wow, Marian. Didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Just don’t come crawling back, begging like a little puppy, got it?”
“Remember: I’m the one leaving you”
He grabbed his phone and switched it to speaker as he stormed out. “Send me the address again. I’m on my way.”
Through the phone, I could hear club music pounding, and that woman’s voice
“Hurry up! My friend’s been dying to meet you too she’s into you. Maybe the three of us-”
Dean left without looking back.
The door slammed shut so hard, the wedding photo on the wall shook.
In the photo, a handsome groom stands next to a bride who, after some heavy Photoshop, could almost pass for pretty. They’re arm in arm, pretending to be happy The bride looks at the groom, her eyes full of love &
The groom just stares at the camera–calm, maybe even a little bored &
They never really looked like a couple.
Thank God it’s finally over
Julafter 4
1 let out a long breath, feeling more relaxed than I had in years.
There’s one more thing Dean never knew.
My “business trip” wasn’t for three days.
It was for three years.
