Page 13 of Candid Moments
“We can talk about it. I just didn’t want to upset you.”
“The anger has passed. You’re safe from my wrath,” she says then grins. It’s not the same laugh from earlier. This one sounds contrived, maybe even nervous. She sighs then adds, “I hate that I let him take me there. I really do. That’s not me. I’m not loud, angry, or the kind of person who puts her hands on other people. I apologize.”
“You didn’t do shit to me and I get it. We all do things we sometimes regret later.”
“Not you.”
“I regret not following my instincts. Things with Maddox and me have been off for a minute but I ignored it. I knew something was up though. I felt it; I just didn’t think it would be that foul shit. If she wanted ol’ boy, she could have told me and I woulda fell back,” I admit.
Did I love Maddox? Yes, I thought I did, just like I thought she loved me. But I also ignored a lot of shit. She had started to pull back but blamed it on her new business. I wanted to believe her excuse even though deep down I had my doubts. Her so-called time spent on her business wasn’t translatinginto money or even a client roster. Things were stagnant and she actually needed more money to cover her overhead. Things weren’t adding up. My plan this weekend was to actually see where we stood, where we were going as a couple ,but she made that shit loud and clear. I saw exactly what I needed to see and I’m good on her. Maddox and I are no more.
“How long were you together?”
“A year. What about you?”
“Eighteen months and I thought I knew him. But coming here made me realize I didn’t know him at all. Hell, I found out last night I didn’t even know his real damn name,” she scoffs.
“What?”
“Yeah. Ain’t that some shit. The ladies at our table told me his name and he blew me off when I confronted him,” she says as she slowly shakes her head. Then, she shrugs. “I didn’t even want to come to this reunion. I mean who has a reunion in a blizzard?” She laughs again and this one is lighthearted.
“I said the same thing,” I admit. “My ten year was in the spring.”
“Like sensible people. Mine was in October and that bastard didn’t even go with me. He had to all of a sudden go out of town for a work emergency,” she says and I remember an unexpected trip of Maddox’s in October.
“Last October?” I ask and she nods. “When?”
Her eyebrows narrow and she tilts her head to the side. “The weekend of the thirteenth? Why?” she asks and I just shake my damn head.
“Because Maddox had a business trip in October too. It was strange because it was last minute.” To confirm my suspicions, I open my phone and scroll through her texts. After finding the one with her dates, I say, “Yeah it was the weekend of the thirteenth. Dallas.”
“Dallas,” she utters. “That lying bastard. Shit! I was a fool.” She shakes her head then closes her eyes. They remain closed for a moment and I don’t bother her. This is her situation to deal with however she needs to. When she finally opens her eyes, she turns back to face me. “How could I have not known?” she asks but I’m not sure if she’s looking for an answer. So I wait for her next move. She speaks again almost immediately. “Was I stupid or something? I saw this shit growing up. I should know better. Did you have a clue?”
Her last question is directed at me so I respond. “I knew something was up but I didn’t exactly expect this,” I divulge.
“I swore I would never be a man’s number two and this fool made me his number fucking two. Brought me all the way to the North Pole to do this. I’m so mad at myself. Ugh! I could scream. I won’t but I can. When I say I’m done acting crazy over him, I mean that. I’m so over him it’s not even funny.”
“It’s his loss.”
“And hers too. Fuck them both.” Sheila walks up in the middle of her words and Jamila laughs. “Sorry,” she utters and the server gives her a polite smile.
“Are you done with these?” the server asks then nods at our plates.
“Yes,” we say in unison.
While gathering our plates, she says, “I’ll be right back with your pecan rolls.”
“Actually, can you please box them up to go?” I ask.
“Sure, and would you like your drinks to go?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Me too. Another coffee will have me bouncing off the walls,” Jamila adds.
We finish our drinks while Sheila grabs the pecan rolls. When she returns, I sign the bill and Jamila leaves a twenty on the table as a tip. As we are exiting the restaurant, a crowd of people wearing blue and white Polar Bear shirts and sweatshirts passes us. Thankfully, Maddox or ol’ boy aren’t in the crowd. I have no interest in seeing either of them today.
Jamila
