Succeeding Love

Wrong Snake

Arlene

How dare he. How dare he treat me this way?

“ Like that would have stopped you…”

How fucking dare he.

I thought it was bad enough that he was ignoring me and choosing to end things the way he did. I thought this was a minor tiff. Something that would blow over once he got over whatever caused him to become the malcontent ass he was being.

He left his wife for me. I didn’t tell him to. He did that on his own. To think he has been holding such odious thoughts towards me because of the action he chose took me by surprise.

No one held a gun to his head and told him to cheat on his wife. I didn’t have to do much at all. His discontent in that life drew him to me, not any effort I made. To think he was now holding me in such contempt for his own misdeeds….

It disgusts me.

I almost got my hopes up for a second, too. When he got all crazed in the eyes and demanded to know how I knew that barbaric man in the courtroom, I mistook it for jealousy. I thought he was finally coming around and just needed an extra push.

Yes, the giant gentleman that intervened in the chaos would normally be any woman’s wet dream, but I held no genuine interest in the man. He may be fun from a toss around in bed, as our client said, but my interest was still set on Nick.

That was until he made that comment.

I’ve been getting more and more frustrated with each passing day, refusing to be the joke of the office because of that fickle man. I loved him. I truly did, but that man I fell for was a decisive, tenacious man that knew what he wanted in life, and wasn’t afraid to take it. He once seemed so unyielding and strong.

Now, I can finally see that I was projecting my desire onto him. I saw what I wanted to see. The person I thought he was is far from the man who sat in that courtroom with me today.

I thought I had found a family in him. Not just him, but his daughter. Jessie was the loveliest child I had ever met, and I thought that reflected her adoring father. Maybe it wasn’t his influence, but her other parent that made her the sweet and sensitive girl she was. I definitely do not see any of those traits in Nicholas.

I was done. As much as I wanted a family and someone to chase the loneliness away with, I was losing myself in my attempts to secure a man that was truly not worth my time.

Walking into my apartment, I dropped my keys and bag on my table and fished out the printed email I had been holding on to for the last few days.

A friend from college was opening her own firm in Chicago. She heard of my divorce and reached out to me a few months ago, but back then, I was with Nick, still dreaming of a future together.

I now realize that the future I imagined will never come to be.

My eyes scanned over the offer of partnership from my friend, and my heart clenched with fear and excitement of a new future I could face head on soon.

Then, my heart sank thinking about one person I wasn’t truly ready to run away from just yet.

Jessie.

I really love that girl. Truly and fully. I know now seeing her again might be impossible through Nick. I don’t want to lower myself to ask him for that closure.

There was one other person I could ask.

A knot formed in my stomach at the thought of asking Feighlynn for this favor after the part I played in the end of her marriage. But also, there was this small part of me that was hopeful she would be gracious like she had always been in every other aspect pertaining to my relationship with her ex.

Jessie had to have gotten her golden personality from someone. Feighlynn might just give my undeserving self a chance to tell her daughter goodbye.

~

Feighlynn

One Month Later…

“Look at you, all smiling and happy,” my sister smirked, tossing a peel from the orange she was eating at me. “Makes me want to vomit.”

I huffed, tossing the peel back at her face. I tried to act sour, but the smile just wouldn’t leave me. “Vomit at your house, then. Quit raining on my parade.”

“I’ll vomit on your parade,” she laughed. “Even after a month, you’re still all squeals and giggles, you freak. It should be illegal to be as happy as you.”

“That’s rude,” I scoffed.

“It is rude! Rude of you to act all perky around your sister who came over to hide from her husband and kids. Wipe that smile off your face and complain with me!”

I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh. Kate came over after finding out her husband signed her up to host a luncheon for his work on the same weekend their oldest was going to have his first t-ball game. She wanted to vent and complain, but I’ve done her the injustice of not having any complaints of my own to add to the mix.

“What can I say?” I murmured, taking extra care in cutting her caesar wrap in half at an angle, so I could rearrange the two pieces to form a heart. “For once, my only complaints will just sound like I’m bragging, so I’m choosing to keep my lips sealed.”

Kate stared begrudgingly at her plate as I slid it in front of her, glaring at the heart-shaped food before ripping the two halves apart.

“Bragging? Like what? His snake is too big or something?”

“Why do you always have to refer to naughty bits as animals?” I stifled my laughter.

“Quit avoiding my questions,” she growled, taking an angry bite of the wrap.

I pressed my lips together, then shrugged. “It is hard to get moving on Mondays.”

“Wo-ha-how. That big, huh? Are you walking around bow-legged after your kitty takes a beating all weekend?”

“Shut it,” I said before taking a bite of my lunch.

“Geez, it’s Friday. Is your kitty ready for the abuse?”

“My kitty is perfectly fine, thank you.”

“Speaking of your kitty, is it time for another trip to the groomers? By groomers, I mean your bathroom with my waxing kit?”

Lifting my chin, I said, “Nope. I’m taking care of my own kitty. Thank you very much.”

“ You’re waxing it?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I went to a salon two days ago. The naked mole rat is naked again.”

“Ah, I would have done it.”

“You just like hearing me scream,” I chuckled.

Vin and I have been going strong for the last few weeks. We’ve fallen into a routine of him walking Kevin with me every night, usually after eating dinner with me and the kids. It’s crazy to me how normal it feels.

His mother is set in her own routine, which rarely includes Vin. She almost forgets her son is living with her sometimes, but every once in a while, she gets total clarity and will make dinner for the both of them. Those evenings are the ones where he misses dinner with us, but he always rummages around for leftovers after our walk.

I’m not entirely sure Miss Velma understands we are dating. She still treats me the same as she always does when I see her outside, and never mentions her son to me. The poor woman doesn’t keep most thoughts about her these days.

Because of the kids, Vin doesn’t stay over during the week, but as soon as the weekend comes, he doesn’t leave. From Friday evening to Monday morning, he’s with me, hence the bow-legged bald kitty walks on Monday.

The past month has been amazing. I’m falling for Vin more and more every day. Every touch, every smile, every look had my chest tingling in the best of ways. I have no complaints.

“Speaking of wanting to inflict pain on someone, how’s Nick handling your anaconda wielding action star?”

“Action hero,” I corrected her. I shrugged. “Nick has said little lately. I actually haven’t talked to him in a few weeks.”

“Huh,” Kate stared at the contents of her wrap, like she was judging the lettuce for not being more chicken. She isn’t a fan of vegetables. Even lettuce. “I thought after declaring himself, he wouldn’t have given up so easily.”

“He did. I really haven’t seen him or talked to him. All communication goes through the kids.”

“That’s good, I guess.” Kate picked out a sizable chunk of lettuce, side-eyeing me like she was waiting for me to protest. I just snatched the chuck from her fingers and tossed it in my mouth. I don’t know why she hates eating green foods. They’re delicious.

Kate went back to complaining about her husband, saying she was going to sign him up for crossing guard duty and to referee every t-ball game he had off for the rest of the season as payback for volun-telling her to do an event so massive. I volunteered to help her with the luncheon so she could watch the game. Then I’d hold down Wes, so Kate could wax his animal parts after the party was over. She liked that idea a lot.

“Are you going to invite Mr. Anaconda too?” Kate asked me, wiggling her eyebrows.

I laughed, almost falling off my stool at her new nickname for him. “Please don’t call him that to his face.”

“I have to meet him first!” Kate laughed dryly. “Seriously. Invite him. I need to meet the action star.”

“Action hero.” I checked my watch. “He gets off early most Fridays. If you stick around long enough, you might get to meet him today.”

“Oh, goody,” she clapped her hands together. “Avoid all my motherly and wifely duties and I get to meet the Anaconda himself? My day suddenly got a lot better.”

“Did it not get better just from being in my presence?” I scoffed, acting offended.

“No. You give me a headache,” she smirked.

“How rude.”

We were giggling and teasing each other like we always did, carrying on in the kitchen, when I heard Kevin’s usual barking when someone got close to the house. He was pacing and jumping on the front window, showing whoever was out there was getting closer and closer.

Kate perked up, clapping her hands excitedly. “Yes! Mr. Anaconda is here!”

“Maybe?” I checked my watch again.

It wasn’t even two yet. Usually, if Vin was going to get off early, it would be at three when the courthouse building closed to the public. Then he would usually stop by his house first and get changed for the gym, then come ask me to join him.

I always join him, but only because he buys me the most unhealthy smoothie his gym’s cafe makes. Then I get to watch from the exercise bike as he lifts heavy weights. I sip my drink and smile to myself, watching his muscles work. It’s very rewarding, and now I can tell people I go to the gym.

Kate jumped up and beat me to the door, looking out the keyhole with an overjoyed smile. That smile slowly slipped off her face, causing me to become concerned.

“What? Who is it?”

“Heh,” Kate looked angry now. “A different snake.”

“Who?” I pushed her out of the way and got up on my tiptoes to peer out. Then I gasped softly.

Arlene was the one on the other side of my door. After Nick said they broke up, I never thought I would have to see her again.

“What the hell is she doing here?” Kate sounded ready for a fight.

Gosh, I hope I didn’t have to bail my sister out of jail today, because if Arlene came here to cause a fuss, my sister was not going to just sit back and watch.