Mark
It’s been two days since I decided that I was going to call off the wedding. I’ve picked up my phone no less than fifty times to call my girlfriend and break up, but I’ve chickened out every time. I know it’s the right thing to do, but I just can’t do it over the phone. I feel like Amber at least needs a face to face conversation. Not that I want to see her reaction when I talk to her, but I feel like she deserves it. I’ve only got another nine days before she comes home. I know I can make it that long. I don’t want to jump into anything new right away anyway.
Since we closed the case yesterday, I took today off. I’ve turned over everything to the DA and unless they want me to testify, I’m done. Toni and I will be back in our district tomorrow, but today I’m relaxing at home. I may stop by Ford Stevenson Security later to see what those assholes are up to, but for now I’m enjoying the baseball game on TV.
I was just about to get up and grab another beer when my phone started vibrating on the table. When I picked it up, I didn’t recognize the name on the caller ID.
“Detective Colby,” I began, shuffling to the fridge.
“Mark?” Amber’s soft voice came through the line.
“Hi,” I sighed. I felt bad hiding from her what I really wanted to talk about, but I was not apologizing for our argument the other night.
“I’m sorry, I” her voice trailed off as she sniffled.
“What’s wrong? Are you ok?” my instincts took over as I brushed my feelings aside.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffed again. “I can’t do this.”
The line went quiet as I stopped what I was doing and stumbled over to the couch. I sat down as a chill ran through my body. I had no idea what she was talking about. “Sorry about what? I don’t understand,” I fired off questions in rapid succession.
“Last night. I was drinking. I was drinking and I did something. Mark, I’m so sorry,” she began to sob, and that’s when I heard it. There was a muffling in the background as she started to cry harder.
“What are you saying?” I leaned forward from where I was sitting as reality started to crash down around me. “Are you with him right now? Is he there while we’re talking?” my voice rose as anger brewed. How dare she get upset with me going out with my friends when she was away with another man.
“I’m so sorry,” she cried before the line went dead.
I sat there for a few moments letting it all sink in before standing up and heaving my phone at the opposite wall. It crashed to the ground but not before knocking a picture of Amber and I down with it. The glass in the frame splintered across the center of our smiling faces, proving what I’d decided the night before; we were over. I didn’t think I’d be this upset over it, but after what she’d done I couldn’t even stomach looking at her picture. I quickly grabbed my keys and jacket before storming out of the apartment, leaving my phone where it had fallen.
I was a few steps away from my door when I heard it start ringing again, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to talk to her tonight, and with the way I was feeling, I didn’t know if that would ever change.
ooooooooo
When I walked into The Rusty Nail, Dev was sitting at the end of the bar scrolling through something on his phone. I sighed as I went over beside him and yanked out a stool. I was angry still, but more than that I was hurt. I thought we meant something to one another, and even though I was going to end things, I couldn’t believe she cheated. She didn’t say who was there, but I think I already know.
“What’s up?” Dev’s eyes lifted to meet mine as I sat down. I grunted in response before Tiff stopped in front of me.
“Whiskey, neat, make it a double,” I barked out.
“That good, huh?” Dev chuckled.
“What are you laughing at?” my head swung in his direction.
His hands lifted in front of him as he shook his head, “Sorry I asked.”
When Tiff brought my drink over, I downed it before shoving the glass back in her direction. “Another please.” She poured it and I tossed it back as well. I sat there stewing in my anger until I’d tossed back another three drinks. When the alcohol had finally made me pleasantly fuzzy, I slowed down. I wasn’t as pissed off as I had been, and the crowd was thinning out.
“Wanna play a game?” Dev’s head leaned toward where an empty pool table was sitting in the back.
“Sure. What the hell,” I shrugged. I knew what he was doing, but I didn’t care. I’m sure he thought if he could get me somewhere more private, I’d tell him what was going on. What he didn’t know was, I was drunk enough that I’d spill my guts anywhere if he asked the right questions.
“Rough day?” he pulled the balls out of the pockets and began gathering them at the end of the table. I turned to grab a cue stick off the wall while he racked them.
“Something like that,” I grumbled.
“Oookay,” Dev rolled his eyes.
“What?” I spun and flung my arms out to the side. “You want me to be like a girl and talk about it,” my voice rose as the anger bubbled up. I was pissed, and other than throwing my phone, I really hadn’t released any of it yet. “You wanna hear how my girlfriend called me late this morning to tell me how sorry,” I used air quotes, “she was about sleeping with another man. She had him in the fucking bed with her when she was apologizing to me,” I snarled.
Dev’s eyes widened as he stared at me. “Fuck,” he hissed under his breath. “I’m sorry man.”
“Yeah, me too,” I leaned over the table and with a swift snap of the cue stick, I broke and sent balls flying in every direction across the table. “I was going to fucking wait until she came home to do this. I thought she deserved a face to face discussion. Apparently, I was wrong,” I huffed as I stood back and observed my work.
“I hear ya,” Dev nodded before taking a shot. He lined up a solid but managed to knock one of mine in with it.
“I thought I meant more to her, but I knew,” I stabbed at the air with my finger. “I knew that asshole had a thing for her. I knew he was waiting to get her away from me. I just didn’t think she’d be stupid enough to fall for it.”
“Forgetting the fact that this is inexcusable. Try to see the bright side in all of it… she did the breaking for you. You can move on with whomever you want, and you don’t have anything holding you back. Whether it’s Rossi or anyone else… you’re a free man.” Dev shrugged a shoulder as I leaned forward to take another shot. I nodded as I took my shot and ended the conversation. I knew what he was saying was right, but that didn’t mean that it was any less painful to deal with.
We played several games as our conversation turned to lighter topics. We shared a pitcher, and when the sun started setting, Dev cut out. I’d moved back to a spot at the bar, and was currently nursing a beer as I stared at nothing in particular. I was just getting ready to leave when she showed up.
Toni came through the door, causing me to stay rooted on my stool. Her eyes connected with mine almost immediately as she made her way in my direction. It seemed like no matter where I went, she managed to find me. “You stalking me or something?” I teased as she climbed onto the stool beside me.
“Maybe,” she smiled as she lifted a shoulder. “I didn’t know I’d find you here, but I was going to call you today. I wanted to ask you something.”
“Ok,” I turned to face her. “What’s up?”
“Do you like baseball?” she nibbled her lip as she picked at the coaster that was sitting on the bar in front of her.
“Sure,” I didn’t give her any more as I stared at her. I wasn’t sure where she was going with this and I knew that we had to keep this in the friend’s zone. Partners couldn’t date. Hell, one of us would be sent to another station if the department even thought we were considering it.
“Are you by any chance a Cubs fan?” she cringed like she was insulting me as she waited for me to answer.
“You’re kidding, right?” I gave her the look, you know. The one where I tell her she’s an idiot for even asking.
“I take that as a yes,” she laughed. “Well, my brother is coming to visit me this weekend, and he wants to go to a game. I had a friend that was supposed to join us, but she backed out. I have an extra ticket. I thought maybe you’d like to come.” She blushed as she stared at me. “You don’t have to, I just thought…”
I lifted my hand to stop her. “I’d love to,” I grinned. “A day watching baseball and away from the station sounds like just what I need.”
“Really?” she grinned in return.
“Really,” I returned.
“As friends,” her eyes narrowed as she scanned my face.
“Of course. We can’t be anything else, Toni. The boss won’t allow it,” I sighed.
“I know,” her smile faltered before she covered it up while ordering a drink.
“It’s on me,” I nudged her before directing Lena to put it on my tab.
“Thanks,” she smiled.
We sat there together not really talking to each other, but not really talking to anyone else either. It was comfortable, and thoughts of a day away from the office with her were intriguing. I wondered what Toni was like when she was away from it all. What was her family like? And how long would I be able to resist her. It was a good thing that it wasn’t hot yet because I didn’t think I’d survive Toni in a pair tiny shorts. Imagining her in a snug Cubs tee was already getting me hard.