Page 11 of After Him, There Was You
“No. No, you are not,” I ridiculed, wondering what I had really drug myself into by crossing a line I knew better than to cross. “I am your ex-wife for a reason, Jason. Your current wife is at home where you need to be. Please don’t make this any more awkward than it has to be.”
“It wasn’t awkward when I was inside you, Tara. You have to admit it felt like old times.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I haven’t been with anyone outside of my battery-operated boyfriend since we got a divorce, so please don’t let it go to your head,” I calmly advised, causing the smile to disappear from his face. “I am going to take a shower. I hope you’re gone by the time I get out. Besides me not wanting you here, I think you have a fire to go put out with your wife.”
“What is that supposed to mean, Tara?” Jason inquired with his face contorted, slightly twitching as if he was on the verge of having a stroke.
“Check your text messages.”
Lunging to the other side of the bed where his phone was resting, he unlocked it, and his face dropped, letting me know the intimately revealing photo I had the liberty of sending Amber was on his screen.
“Why would you do this? Tara, how could you be so reckless?” As if the bed he’d only minutes prior had been too comfortable to leave had suddenly caught fire, he found a new sense of urgency to throw on the clothes I’d been begging him to put on.
With the tables reversed, suddenly I wasn’t ready for him to leave.
“How could I be so reckless? Is that the question you sincerely want to ask me right now? I don’t recall me coming off as reckless when you were inside of me, Jason.”
Throwing his words in his face, I could tell the truth wasn’t as sweet when he was forced to digest it. Leaving him where he was frantically preparing to make his exit, I walked into my bathroom, knowing I had somewhere to be. I needed to hurry to wash him off me.
Turning on the water, I couldn’t bring myself to look in the mirror.
Holding my head down in defeat, I felt like I’d backslid all the way to step one. I chastised myself because I knew better. I knew Jason, and I knew myself, so I should have never accepted his request to have me again.
Jason didn’t deserve any piece of me. Honestly, he never had.
There were certain things I could count on with Jason and one of many was that he would always put his interest and well-being above anyone else’s, even if he knew the person would be hurt in the process. Jason would never hold me higher than he held himself, and that would never be okay with me again.
He had put himself first, and I needed to do the same. Revisiting my past wouldn’t be an option going forward.
Chapter 7: Torn - Eva
A Few Hours Later
“Okay, spill,” I stated the moment Tara slid into the booth across from me, looking unusually tired. She wasn’t dressed in her typical yoga gear she was normally in when we met up for breakfast, which was my back up sign to know something wasn’t quite right with my best friend.
“Spill what?”
“Zane,” I stated, giving her a knowing look.
“Did you know Zane owned the club we were at last night?”
“Um-huh. Of course I knew,” I reasoned, shrugging my shoulders.
“Why didn’t you tell me before you had me at that man’s club?”
“Because I thought it was public knowledge, and I didn’t know it was something you would be uncomfortable with. However, I can admit I was surprised he showed up. I didn’t know until he walked in that he was back in town.”
“Well that makes two of us,” she claimed, shaking her head. One intense look at her led me to believe she was holding back, and I didn’t like it. I got the feeling she was diverting, and I needed to know what was what.
“When I dropped you off last night, did he come by and get you right?”
“No, after you dropped me back at home last night, I showered and went to sleep.”
“Are you sure he didn’t come over?”
“Yes, I’m sure, E. I think I would know if Zane would’ve come to my house last night. Besides, if he did, I wouldn’t lie to you about it. More than likely, I would’ve called you after it happened.”
“Okay, so who put that hickey on your neck?” I questioned with a smirk, giving her a knowing look.
