Page 128 of Come Apart
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Samantha invites herself over.
I make excuses, but she resorts to begging. Finally, I can't take it anymore and agree.
Truth be told, I've been avoiding her.
She's jealous.
I've denied it for a long time. It's not like Samantha to be jealous, and she did everything she could to throw me away. She's broken down crying a hundred times, apologized for leading me on, for never really loving me.
Is the change simply because she thinks she can't have me now?
I tell her to come by on Friday evening. We can sort out all the details of the mortgage. She can start salivating looking at the house that's going to be hers.
She arrives late. It's already dark and the only lights on are the fluorescent ones in the kitchen.
The door is open and she enters without knocking.
She looks like she's ready for a date—heels, designer dress, enough makeup I notice it.
My stomach drops. If she thinks she's going to impress me, she has the wrong idea.
"The place looks great." She offers a bottle of Cabernet like it's an amazing gift.
We both know she'll drink the whole thing.
"Did you eat?" she asks.
"Yeah."
"Oh." She frowns. She probably wants to make this a long dinner. "I guess we'll just have drinks."
I find the corkscrew and open the bottle of wine. Its rich, fruity smell wafts through the apartment.
"Luke." Her voice is low, like she's worried. "Are you okay?"
I nod.
As far as Samantha knows, everything is perfect between me and Alyssa. But if she really is jealous, if she really is in love with me... she'll be happy that Alyssa asked for space. She'll be happy that I'm losing the most important thing in my life.
I pour two glasses of wine and take a seat at the kitchen table. Samantha slips out of her heels and sits across from me.
Her eyes are fixed on me. "I have exciting news."
Please let it be that she has a boyfriend, something that will assuage the uneasiness filling my gut.
"What's that?" I ask.
"I got the job." Her face lights up with a smile. "Are you happy for me?"
"Of course."
She brings her glass to mine. It's time to toast. I am happy for her, but I'm happier for me.
A job is the first step to Samantha moving on with her life, to her needing me less.
"That's great." I take a long sip of the wine.
