Page 151 of Unhinged

I try to speak evenly, but my tone drips with contempt. “I don’t want to get in the way of you and Kleo. She’s very nice. Very beautiful. Very everything. She could make you very happy.” And I’m going to be very sick.

“Uh-huh. So, you thought we were on a date while I’m working?”

“Well, no. But I saw you having a nice talk with her. I’m glad. You deserve to be with someone like her.” With my voice cracking, I whisper, “You look good together.”

“Right. And it was getting serious, so we went outside?”

I clear my throat, so I don’t sound pathetic. “I don’t know. You seemed serious.”

“How would you know?”

I shrug. “I saw you through a window. They’re transparent now. It’s all the rage.”

Greg rolls his eyes, but Amos smirks. “You weren’t out there to hear what we were talking about, were you?”

“No, but it looked like you were going to kiss her.”

He nods. “Hmm. What else?”

“How would I know?”

Greg scratches his jaw, almost like he’s thinking of starting shit or uncertain of what he wants to do. “That’s right. You don’t. When I came back inside, alone, Candi ran up to me, crying because you fucking quit. No goodbye to anyone and a gigantic middle finger to me.”

“I can’t watch… I want a… I think we should…”

Greg snarls, “If you say what I think you’re going to fucking say, you can shut that down right now.”

I sit straighter. “We agreed to a year. I can’t live a lie anymore. I want to end this marriage.”

He licks his lips. “Are you sure about that?”

My voice shakes with my body. “Yes.” I frown as I look at the carpet. “I don’t care what you say. It’s not fair to you. I saw you with her, and I can’t stand in your way, but I also can’t stand to watch you fall in love.”

His laugh makes me look up at him. Greg glances at Amos, who smiles. Turning back to me, Greg sighs. “Are you fucking serious?”

I scowl at his attitude. “Yes. So, you can be with Kleo.”

“But you can’t watch me fall in love?”

“That’s what I said. Can you both go now?” I grab a pink heart throw pillow and pout, “Where’s my tea, Amos?”

They ignore me, and Greg crosses his arms again, asking, “Why does it bother you to watch me do that? You quit the bar, for fuck’s sake. There has to be a reason.”

“Because in the truck I told you…things. It’d hurt.” I use the pillow to cover my face as sudden sobs erupt. “She took my husband away from me.”

“Look at me.”

Still covering my face, I shake my head. “Please don’t do this to me anymore. Get out!”

Greg’s voice cracks. “Simone, this hurts me too. I don’t want to see you upset, and I don’t want an annulment.” What?

I use the pillow to dry my face, but it doesn’t help, and when I look up at him, I avert my gaze again. “You don’t? But you and Kleo—”

“Just stop with Kleo.” As I study the carpet, Greg moves closer to my bed, stopping in front of my legs. He puts his hand under my chin to make me look up at him. “I’m going to tell you something, so follow along. You have no reason to worry about Kleo. She doesn’t matter. We’re friends. Nothing more.”

I push his hand from my chin. It hurts to feel his touch. “I guess I have nothing to worry about since I’m out of the picture.”

“You never left.” Greg’s eyes are again dark and intense, even in my bedroom light. “You wanna know why?”

---