Succeeding Love

Tattooed Hoodlum

Vin

“You just dropped the flowers on her porch and drove off?” Al Milton, my childhood friend, laughed at me. “Scared she would call the cops on you for assaulting her the night before?”

“I didn’t assault her,” I muttered, knocking back my beer. “I just kissed her.”

“Oh, my bad,” Milton snorted. “Kissing her in front of her ex-husband to make him jealous could never be construed as assault. Especially when she tells you to go home.”

I glowered at my friend. “I’m not telling you shit anymore.” I’m embarrassed enough thinking about that night. Not that I regret a damn thing. She loved it. I could tell by her reaction, and I’ve been thinking about that kiss endlessly ever since.

“Ah, come on,” he chuckled, signaling to the bartender to bring us more beers. “I’m just playing. You know I got to tease you a bit. I’m jealous you went on a date with your milf neighbor before seeing me after moving back home.”

“You told me you were busy when I asked you to help me move!”

“Oh. Yeah,” he smirked. “I was busy.”

“Bull shit,” I scoffed.

“Hey, some of us still work for a living. Not all of us become lifers with a nice early retirement like you. Must be nice.”

“It is pretty nice,” I grinned. Because of retirement and military disability from my deployments, I never have to work again if I don’t want to. I’m set for life. The army uses and abuses you, but they pay for it afterward too. Milton joined and went to basic with me right out of high school, but he just stayed in for four years, then used his GI Bill for school back in the civilian world while I reenlisted.

“Well, when you’re bored again, I spoke to my boss like I said I would. He wants to meet with you if you’re still interested in the security manager position at the district courthouse. The current manager is retiring in a few months, so they’ll start putting out employment ads soon.”

“At the courthouse? I thought it was for city hall?”

“Both, but the manager works out of the courthouse building.”

“Maybe,” I pondered, taking another drink. Going from Military Police to a civilian job, I thought I would look at joining the regular police force, but I’m still not sure what I want to do yet.

“So, tell me about this neighbor you assaulted. Has she texted you yet?”

I grinned, despite myself thinking about Feighlynn. After I dropped the flowers off two days ago, it wasn’t even ten minutes later that she sent me a text saying thank you for the roses. I was standing at the gas pump, pumping gas while smiling like a freak, reading the sweet message she sent me.

“We’ve been texting,” I shrugged, trying to play it cool.

We’ve been texting quite a bit, and I even called her last night, asking if she wanted to slip out and go for a walk with me and her dog. We walked for so long that I had to walk her back to her door. It got too dark, and she was squeamish about stepping on a frog on a way back inside. She’s so fucking adorable.

“Guess she’s not one of those women that thinks you have to wait days before texting a man back.”

“No,” I laughed. “She’s definitely not.”

“She sounds great, man. I’m happy to see you taking an interest in a woman again. I thought your ex had fucked you up for life. What’s your milf’s name?”

I grimaced a little at the mention of my ex, and the term Milton keeps using for Feighlynn. Not that he’s wrong, but he decided on the term when I told him what she looked like. I didn’t. “Lynn.”

“Lynn? A bit old-fashioned.”

“Well, it’s Feighlynn, but I’ve been calling her Lynn since we met, since she shortened my name to Vin.”

“Vin and not Kev?” Milton raised an eyebrow.

I shrugged, feeling a bit smug. “She has a thing for Vin Diesel.”

“Ah, I get it,” he chuckled around a drink from his beer. “You give off that vibe. She must have a thing for hunks like you then.”

I shrugged, not really sure. Her ex looked nothing like me. The man looked like a well-kept city boy with stiff hair and expensive suits. He didn’t even have stubble late at night. I’ve been worried that I was nothing like her type, but the more I learn about her, the more I can see she never had the chance to have a type. She got married way too young.

“Your mom like her?” Milton asked.

“Mom loves her. She and her kids had been looking after mom for a while before I moved back.” From what I can see, everyone on our street loves her. When we went for a walk last night, at least ten neighbors had her stopping to talk to them, and she was as personable as could be. I would just watch her, becoming more and more captivated by her happy spell of positivity and kindness.

Damn, I really like her. I like her more than I thought possible, having not known her for even a week.

“Good. That goofy smile looks good on you, man. For real.”

“Thanks.” I ran a hand down my face, feeling self-conscious suddenly.

“Feighlynn, huh? That name sounds familiar. Does she work for the city manager’s office or anywhere at city hall?”

“No. She works for a graphic design firm from home.”

“Hmm, I wonder why that name sounds so familiar then. It’s not a very common name.”

I shrugged. “No clue, man. Maybe I said it before and you just didn’t remember.”

“Maybe,” he shrugged before checking his phone. “Ah, I have to get back. We have a meeting with a couple of attorneys over a land acquisition case.”

“Is it okay that you go out for a drink on your lunch break like this?”

Milton waved off my concern. “It’s fine. It’s a done deal. Just signing and putting the city’s seal over the final documents. Two beers with my burger is a regular Monday lunch for me.”

He walked here, so I paid the tab, then walked him out, so he could go on his way. I just ran into him when I got the final utilities in my name at city hall. It was good to catch up in person.

As I was walking back to my car, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I smiled like crazy the second I saw her name on the screen.

Lynn|: I have an idea

Me|: What kind of idea?

Lynn|: For our date!

I chuckled out loud, imagining her upbeat voice as I read that.

Me|: Let me hear it

Lynn|: I would rather it be a surprise!

She’s so cute. She wanted it to be a surprise, but she still had to tell me she had an idea.

Me|: I can’t wait!

Lynn|: Me neither. Lol. Be at my house on Friday at 6:30 with your swimsuit.

With my swimsuit? Does that mean she’s going to be in a swimsuit?

Oh, damn, I really can’t wait.

~

Nick

“That’s the last one,” I said to Albert Milton, the assistant city manager. “My client will look over these and let you know by Friday, but we should be good to go.”

“That’s great to hear. My boss has been on our asses for the past year for this plot of land.” He sat back and sighed in relief. “Now we can celebrate. Why don’t you join our office for a drink tonight?”

“Not tonight. Thanks though. I’m going with my daughter to pick out furniture for her room in my new condo.”

“Oh, you got it!” Albert Milton sat straighter in his chair. “What did the ex think? Was she touched?”

I sighed heavily, moving the documents back into my briefcase. “Not exactly.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he murmured.

“Yeah, me too.” I stood up from my chair, feeling exhausted already. “I’ll be in touch about the contract.”

“Sure, sure. Have fun with your daughter, Nicholas. I hope things turn around with the ex-wife soon.”

I nodded, exiting the meeting room. Damn, I’m glad Arlene didn’t come with me to this meeting. She was supposed to, but another client for a different case came into the office before I left. She had to stay and manage that.

I still haven’t told her I was moving out. I haven’t told her much of anything. Things have been pretty icy between us. This morning in the office was the first time I had seen her since I left Friday night to spend the weekend with my kids. She didn’t even look at me. She walked by my office multiple times, huffing loudly, wearing one of her shorter skirts and leaving her jacket behind. She was waiting for me to break the ice first, but I wasn’t ready for that headache just yet.

If she had been with me when Albert Milton asked about the condo and Feighlynn, she would have lost it on me already.

She knows something is up. She had to. She is a clever woman who does not easily give up. This is going to hurt her pride and make it awkward for some time at the office.

Honestly, I’m not sure if I should say anything until I know I can get Feighlynn back. I have to tell her I’m moving, but I’m thinking I need to keep the reasons to myself and let us fizzle out naturally. Arlene will get bored with me eventually if things stay as they are. She might take the leap and dump me before I have to reveal all my regrets.

I opened my trunk and tossed my suitcase inside, trying not to look at the bags of gifts Preston returned to me. I never got the nerve to see Fay again to give them back. The disappointment I felt from my son was enough to keep me at bay for the weekend. I’m surprised Preston didn’t return home after Friday night, but he stayed. The entire weekend. I was happy to have time with my son, but I knew he just stayed to monitor me. I can’t blame him. He’s just looking out for his mother, and after what I did to her, he doesn’t trust me or understand my regret.

It kills me. It really does. I lost my wife and my son by asking for a divorce. When I asked him to come with me and Jessie to pick out furniture for his room at my new place, he muttered to just get him whatever and said he was going home.

I groaned out loud when I pulled into the parking garage at work. Arlene was standing near the elevators, obviously waiting for me. She had her back rim-rod straight and that sour look on her face. The second my car was in park, she started walking in her over-priced heels towards me.

I steeled myself, readying for the inevitable confrontation.

“How was the meeting?” she asked coldly as I closed my driver’s side door.

“It went well. They signed the new terms with a few added clauses. I’ll send them to the client now, and I expect positive feedback.”

She nodded, like she expected that. I could tell she wasn’t here out of concern for the meeting.

I popped my truck, reaching for my briefcase, then nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard her gasp loudly.

“Nick?!”

I looked around frantically. “What? What happened?”

“Is this your way of an apology?!”

I followed her line of sight, then my stomach dropped. She was staring at the bags of presents meant for Feighlynn. She reached for the light brown designer purse gift box, but I pushed it away before she could touch it.

“Sorry, but no. These are for…. For someone else.”

Her eyes went wide, and her mouth gaped slightly. “Who?!”

‘None of your fucking business’ isn’t an appropriate response, given the circumstances, but it’s on the tip of my tongue.

“Preston left them in my trunk. They are for his mother.” It was close enough to the truth without being too incriminating for me.

“For your ex-wife?!” Arlene was still looking at me with disbelief. “You have presents for your ex-wife in your trunk?”

I narrowed my eyes at the irritating woman, slamming my trunk closed. “I have gifts for the mother of my children, yes. They’re for her birthday.”

“Don’t you think that is inappropriate?”

“How so?” I challenged.

“She’s your ex! Wouldn’t that cross boundaries that don’t need to be crossed?”

My anger was rising. It’s really none of her business, and she has some nerve in trying to shame me for having gifts for my wife in my trunk.

“I’m not arguing with you about something that is none of your business. I told you the reason, and if you don’t like it, that’s your own problem.”

She tapped her foot angrily as we waited for the elevator. The tension was so thick, but I would not be the one to break it.

We were in the elevator and almost up when she broke first. “Don’t you think you’re being disrespectful to me by keeping presents for your ex-wife in your car? Did that ever cross your mind?”

“No,” I snapped. “That woman is the mother of my children and the one who I cheated on with you . “No,” I snapped. “I think all the disrespect has been shown to her, and if I want to keep gifts in my car for the woman that gave me everything and I threw away like trash, I don’t expect the reason for my disrespect to have a damn opinion on the issue.”

I left her gaping in the elevator as I walked out, heading past the receptionist to my office. I’m tired, irritable from sleepless nights and not being able to drink heavily around my kids, and from the fear of my wife moving on with that tattooed hoodlum that just moved in across the street from her. Listening to my fucking mistress bitch about gifts I got my wife is not tolerable in my current state.

I might have to move out of Arlene’s place sooner than I expected. I can’t keep up this disillusion any longer.

~

Arlene

“That woman is the mother of my children and the one who I cheated on with you . I believe I have shown all the disrespect to her, and if I want to keep gifts in my car for the woman who gave me everything and whom I threw away like trash, I don’t expect the reason for my disrespect to have a damn opinion on the issue.”

The chill in the air was sucked into my lungs when he snapped at me. My blood ran cold. He said so much with that one statement. The woman that gave him everything was the one those gifts were for, and it’s not me. He just told me I was the reason he lost her, too.

I can’t cry. Not at work. I just stared in shock as Nick walked out of the elevator and towards his office. The receptionist stared after him, then looked at me curiously. I quickly got control of my face when she turned away from me, unable to meet my eyes. I don’t know what my expression looked like, but it surely must be horrendous for her to look so nervous.

I stomped towards my office, ignoring Nick’s as I strode past. Not that he would have noticed, anyway. I walked by him a dozen times today, and he never looked up at me once.

That bag alone would have had to be at least a few thousand dollars. Nick had several bags from stores just as expensive, too. His son doesn’t have the money to buy Feighlynn gifts that are expensive. That means it was Nick who bought them. He couldn’t even text me or call me the entire weekend, but he was out buying thousands of dollars’ worth of presents for his ex-wife?

He has some fucking nerve. He’s still living in my apartment. It’s he who left her for me. I did not make him. He thinks I’m just going to accept this kind of treatment, allowing for him to still treat me like the other woman?

“Maybe I’ve been too passive,” I murmured to myself as I sank down in my chair. I opened the top drawer of my desk, pulling out my old wedding band. I told myself after the disaster of my first marriage that I would never submit to a man again, and here I am, agonizing over a guy who hasn’t done a damn thing for me in too damn long.

I think Nick needs an ultimatum. I will not be his weekday convenience as he goes off every weekend and continues to play house with his kids without me. I deserve respect, too.