“I told you that I’ll be sharing custody in the divorce,” he shot back. “Which is why I’m calling.”
“Believe me, I want nothing more than to be divorced from you too. As soon as I hear from my lawyers, it’s done!”
“Good because I’m getting married as soon as that happens.”
It felt as though all of the wind had been knocked out of me. I felt lightheaded and a bit dizzy, as though I couldn’t think or even walk straight.
“Excuse me? You’re getting married? To who?” Of course, I knew it’d be to Lydia. They were just the first words out of my mouth.
“You gotta be kidding me,” he replied. “Who else?”
Lydia snickered in the background. I fought every urge to yell at her through the phone. No, I told myself. I will not stoop to her level. “Just wondering, since you’ve already shown that you’re not the monogamous type.”
I knew that comment would get under her skin. Oh well, bitch.
How you got him is how you’ll lose him.
“Lydia and I are in love,” Cam said. “So, how much longer? Or are you doing this to me on purpose because you’re unhappy with your own life?”
I wanted to throw my phone out the window, run over it with my car, and drive off.
“Believe me,” I said. “I doubt you’re nearly as happy with yours as I am with mine. And we’ll be divorced just as soon as I hear from my lawyer.”
I hung up on him and tried to calm myself down.
I had never been more convinced that all men were assholes who always left.
As I sat in front of the ice cream parlor, I contemplated what I would even say to Jake when I called him. There was just no way that I could compose myself long enough to actually have a conversation with him.
I opened up his contact information and decided to send him a text.
“I thought it’d be better if I texted instead of calling. Please don’t feel guilty. I knew all along that you’d eventually go back to San Diego. I want you to know that I really am happy for you. Global expansion is something that so many guys like you dream about, but very few actually get to do it. Congratulations!! You should be proud of such a big accomplishment.”
Tears were running down my face so fast that I couldn’t even see what I was texting. I tried drying them with some tissues out of my purse, but they just kept flowing.
“Please don’t come back to the house,” I continued. “Caley loves you so much, and it’ll be too hard for her to see you again. I’ll find a way to explain everything to her. Good luck, and thank you for an amazing few months.”
My hands shook as I hit the ‘send’ button, and as soon as I let go, I burst out crying. I didn’t care that anyone walking by could see or hear. I just couldn’t hold it together anymore. Saying goodbye to Jake was harder than anything I’d ever gone through. Deep down, I knew he was my soul mate.
After a few minutes of sobbing in my car, I finally pulled myself together enough to drive home. I’d said what needed to be said. It was over. I wouldn’t tell Caley tonight, though. Sometime this weekend, I’d simply sit her down and find a way to explain why her Jakey would never be seeing her again.
By the time I put the car in drive and headed for home, it had started to downpour.
Great. I don’t even have an umbrella in here.
I went through my purse and pulled my phone out while looking for my collapsible one, then saw that Jake had called me.
I contemplated calling him back, but I was too drained. It was over, and that was it. Hearing his voice would only make it worse.
Before I pulled into the driveway, I noticed Annie’s Jeep was parked in front of my house. I got out and ran to the porch, where I could see Annie and Caley in the dining room. They were walking toward the foyer headed upstairs. I waited a few minutes and then sat on one of the front porch chairs hoping Annie was putting Caley to bed, and I wouldn’t have to see her until morning.
Annie must have seen me because the next thing I knew, the door opened and she was staring in my direction.
“Oh my God,” she said while coming toward me. “What happened?”
I broke down crying yet again, my sopping wet hair leaving puddles all over the front porch. Through gasps of air, as I sobbed, I told Annie everything. How Jake’s company was expanding globally, that he had to go back to San Diego, and that it was over.
“The worst part,” I said, “is that I have to find a way to tell Caley. And Annie, I don’t think that I can. After what Cam has done to her, it’s just cruel. Why, Annie? Why do men always leave us?”
