Page 20 of Doormat
“Have you forgiven him?”Mia asked.
“Did you want to sleep with him?”Clarissa asked.
“Did you use protection?”This came from Tatiana.
Liana held her hands up, because there were a lot of questions coming, and the truth was, she didn’t know how to answer them.Thankfully, the waiter gave her a little reprieve by bringing her a glass of water, which she was thankful for, and offered him a smile in a way of thanks.She took a sip, and her friends were looking at her.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.No, I haven’t forgiven him.I’m still hoping for divorce.Yes, we did have sex last night, and no, protection wasn’t used.”
Tatiana winced.“If you are still hoping for a divorce and you get pregnant, you know that is not going to happen.”
Liana knew it, but last night was just different.They had never just talked, and he’d never given a part of himself to her, but she had a feeling that last night was a turning point.
“Do you love him?”Mia asked.
“No, I don’t love him.”But even to her own ears, she didn’t quite sound convinced.Her friends looked at one another, and it was like they were all communicating the same thing.
“What?”she asked, not liking their shared knowing look.
“You do know there is nothing wrong with falling in love with him?”Mia asked.
“I am not in love with a man who thinks I’m boring and a doormat.Last night was just ...an error in judgement.It meant absolutely nothing.”
Only, that didn’t seem to be the case.Not only had they made love last night, it extended into this morning as well.When they woke up, Liana had still felt that deep connection to her husband, which is why they had also made love that morning.
“I think I need a drink,” she said, raising her hand for the waiter to come back.
The waiter came toward her, and she ordered herself a whiskey.Although, last night that drink had been way too strong, she felt like she needed another taste of it.
None of her friends spoke and Liana looked around the table.
“I still love Emilio,” Tatiana said.
This drew her attention.
“Doesn’t that make me a doormat?”Tatiana laughed.“I mean, he admitted there was another woman and when I ask who she is, he tells me nothing.I’ve tried to find out who she is.I mean, he could be with her right now.”Tears pooled in Tatiana’s eyes, and then she held her hand up.
The waiter was in the process of bringing Liana her whiskey.
“Bring a bottle and three more glasses,” Tatiana said.
“You two are going to get drunk?”Mia asked.
“And you two are going to join us,” Tatiana said.
Liana picked up her glass and took a sip, and it was not the nicest taste.She let out a little gasp, then held it out for Tatiana to take a sip.Around the table the glass of whiskey went, and Mia and Clarissa took their sips.None of them were used to that strength of alcohol.
“This is not going to be good,” Mia said.
“Why should we be good?”Tatiana asked, when the bottle and glasses came.She poured them all out a large glass.
Liana picked up her drink and took another sip.She didn’t think it would work this quickly, but she did feel a little tingly all over.Whiskey was strong.
“What hasgoodgotten us?”Tatiana asked.“We’re married to men we didn’t choose, all of whom didn’t have many nice things to say about any of us.They even have sex with other women while you think you are falling in love with them and that they are in love with you.”
Tatiana lifted her glass.“To asshole men, and the women that love them.”
They all raised their glasses.Liana knew they were admitting to some degree that they were in love with their husbands, and that was what grieved them the most.
