Page 2 of Property of Big Daddy

I swing by Gilligan’s and grab two of the Castaway Meals to go.Breaded fish, hushpuppies, corn, crinkle cut fries, and rolls.My car is going to smell all greasy and fishy, but it will be worth it to surprise my man.

When I pull up to the furniture store, I’m worried I’ve missed Thad.The out for lunch sign is hanging on the main entrance door, but his car is still here.Maybe he’s having something in the break room.Sometimes him and the guy from finance order in, but rarely.Chris generally goes home for lunch to see his wife and their baby.

I gather our lunch and balance the drink carrier as I shut my car door with my hip.The front is locked, so I go around back to the loading dock to sneak in through the back.

No one is here.Not even the delivery guys.It’s eerily quiet outside of the low hum of the furnace running.Normally, the guys who work back here have music or a game on.

What’s that sound?I stop to listen to the creaking noises and sit the takeout bag and drink carrier on a stack of pallets.

“Hello.Is anyone back here?”I walk past the break room, following the sound.

“Like that,” I overhear Thad say and end on a grunt.

What the fuck?I know that sound.It’s the groan he makes when he’s about to get off.I storm through the swinging doors to the showroom and find him bending some floozie over the back of one of the display sofas.

Her cottage cheese ass is up in the air and the breath I’m breathing is knocked right out of me at the view of Thad slapping her jiggly ass.

“You like that, don’t you?”Slap.Grunt.Slap.

“Harder, Thad.”

My heart falls to my feet as a tennis ball sized lump forms in my throat.I go to scream at him, but nothing comes out, so I focus on rage instead.I grab him by the back of his hair when he’s mid-thrust.His eyes go big and round as they meet my tear-streaked gaze.

“Fuck,” he mutters as I release my grip and slap him as he tries to pull his dick out of the whore and jerks his pants up.

All I can do is stare at the two of them and seethe.Not that I give a shit about the woman.She doesn’t owe me anything, but Thad…I thought he was the one.I thought he loved me.

I punch at him as the woman screeches and attempts to pull her skirt down.

“Gwyn, it’s not what you think,” he starts, and I shake my head without a word.

I’m still too upset to speak as my anger and sadness bubbles and further clogs my throat.I’m speechless.I can’t believe my eyes.Has he been cheating on me this whole time?

“I can explain.I…you, we.I fucked up.”

I laugh at his piss poor explanation, finding my voice.“We’re through.Also consider this my notice.I quit.He’s all yours, honey.”I don’t spare the two of them another look as I strut toward the front door.

Thad chases after me, grabbing me by the wrist.

“Let’s talk about this.”

I snatch my wrist back.“One, don’t touch me.Don’t you dare touch me.Two, there’s nothing you can say that will ever make me forgive you.You disgust me.”

His face is ashen as he goes down on his knees.“Marry me, Gwynee.”

“Marry you?”I scoff, wiping away my tears.“I wouldn’t let you lick dog shit off my heels.Fuck you, Thad.Fuck you and your miniature dick.”I flip my hair over my shoulder and unlock the door.“Lunch is in the back.You two can help yourselves, though I really hope you choke on it,” I bite out as I storm out.

When I get into my car, I’m shaking.Inhale.Exhale.Repeat.I run through a couple of exercises to regulate my breathing and calm myself enough to drive back to Cecilia’s salon.

She takes one look at me and excuses herself from her client.“Oh, honey.What’s wrong?”

“Still have that job?”I burst into tears.

“We’re going out and getting shit faced.I’ll open the salon at midday.”Cecilia hugs me to her side as I cry and rant on her couch while stuffing my face with chips and salsa.I take another heavy sip of the margarita she shoved in my hand the second she had it poured.

“Who knows how many times he’s done this?I feel so dirty.At least I always insisted on a condom when we had sex, but I still feel nasty.”

“There is nothing dirty about you.Thad is the gross one.I never liked him anyway.He was greasy.”

---