Lynne
It had been two months. Two. She chewed on her thumb nail as she paced the floor terrified. Everything had been perfect the first time, and then she had vowed to stay away from Jessie Randolph altogether. The truth was neither of them stood a chance. They met for lunch, and made love regularly, something neither of them talked about, but yet it never stopped. For hours they talked and laughed about everything and she found herself feeling more for him than she should.
Now everything was falling apart, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Brad, who she now realized never gave much thought to her in the first place, knew something wasn’t right and she had finally decided to end it with him. That, and the other situation she had going on. She was frozen to the spot but ready to answer when he came into the room to face her once more.
“Tell me Lynne, what do you have going on that could possibly make you walk away from me, and hurry up I have to get in there.” He gave her a half glance as she decided to put it off once more. The banquet room was quickly filling up with people, and she knew that she would fare better later.
“Later, for now go enjoy the event.” She waited for a response from him, but instead he left her standing there as always.
She sighed, gently running a hand over her stomach. Everything was different now, and she needed to think about more than just herself. She knew Brad wouldn’t miss her, he was always gone now with new friends and she didn’t quite ever get invited. She pushed through the heavy curtain and made her way towards the table reserved for them. She saw him then, standing along the far wall.
He watched her, and she loved it. If she were honest she would go so far as to say that she loved him. Even now he was surrounded by two beautiful women, much like Brad in the other room. She did her best to lift her chin up, avoiding him entirely. He would miss her probably at first, but then he would replace her with someone better, more suited for him. Someone he could bring to these events and be proud of.
She felt the pain of it all at once, the neglect from Brad, and the beauty of what she had with Jessie. The commonality was the same between them, neither wanting to give an inch of the real world up for her. She knew it was time to go, once and for all. She stood then, glancing at him once so that she could remember the way he looked at her. She smiled and turned to leave.
Everything happened at once then. She walked along the long hall towards the front of the building and yet she felt him there before he even said a word. She knew he wanted to ask her why she had been avoiding him, and why she never made time for him anymore.
Turning she faced him, his gaze looking at her intently. “What are you doing Lynne, and don’t give me some BS story because I’ll know it, I always know it?”
“I ended it with Brad, and I am leaving. It’s for the best for all of us.” She touched her hand to his face, taking him in all at once.
He pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. “No you’re not. I’ve been trying to get you to face this between us and now you are running from me.”
“Really Lynne… so you are cheating on me with this piece of shit?” Brad moved down the stairs to grab her arm, yanking on her fiercely.
“Brad let me go.” She tried to pull back but he held her tight.
“Let me guess Jessie, you saw her and thought it was as good an opportunity as any to get back at me huh?” Brad pulled her closer to him.
“Listen Brad, I’m only going to tell you this once and once only. You let her go your sonofabitch, and I mean now.”
She noticed the deadly calm that surrounded him and she knew he meant it.
“Or what Jessie, you can’t do a damn thing and you know it. You touch me and that’s your career right down the drain.”
She frowned looking at Jessie.
“I don’t give two shits about that Brad, what I care about is Lynne.” She felt her heart swell.
“Hmm so this has nothing to do with Rachel does it?” She looked at Brad who sneered at her. “Yes sweetheart see I stole a girl away from Jessie once, and he vowed he would take one from me. So I hope you didn’t place any high hopes in your love life with him.” Brad laughed.
She felt her heart breaking in little pieces when she looked at Jessie and saw his crestfallen look. “Once I did say that, but it was a long time ago, and long before you.” He spoke directly to her.
Brad gripped her tighter. Looking down on her as she smiled at Jessie. She felt the sting of his hand as he slapped her hard. Her knees hit the floor with such force she felt the wind being knocked out of her. She knew Jessie would go for him now, just like he wanted.
“Jessie don’t.” She stopped him before he could move. “He’s not worth it Jessie let it go.”
“Tell her the rest of it Brad, tell her why.” She noticed the white knuckles Jessie had clenched at his side.
Brad laughed loudly. “Same bitch different day. She was good for a ride; unlike the dead fish I get with you.” He gestured towards her. “You know I don’t get it anyway Jessie. I see you leave every field party and every even with a new girl on your arm. All of which are way better looking than her. What gives, why did you come back for more?”
Jessie let his hands relax and Lynne finally stood once more, wiping a slight trickle of blood from the corners of her mouth.
“It doesn’t matter Jessie, don’t give up your career for this.” She moved to walk towards him but Brad pulled her back once more.
“Brad stop… listen to me ok.” She was scared and yet she had to calm the situation down. She had no choice… “Listen, if you like your career you need to let me go, let me go from here and let me go out of your life. If you hurt one hair on my head, I am going to the campus and telling everyone who will listen to the fact that you beat up a pregnant lady.”
Both men stopped in their tracks, neither wanting to move. “Well the bastard isn’t mine, I haven’t touched her in months.” Brad let her go then and she moved away from him.
Jessie was still looking at her, surprise on his face. She knew he had a lot of questions, most of which she would answer later.
“You know what Jessie; you can have her. She can never quite seem to get herself together. No matter what I do she won’t lose weight or give a shit about me.” He started to leave.
“You were lucky to have me Brad.” She didn’t turn or say another word instead she left into the night to find her car.
The police were there suddenly, easily placing the blame on Jessie. They cuffed him, and took him. Throwing him into a car as he was violently cursing about everything under the sun. She knew he had done nothing wrong, and he would be out in no time.
“Lynne, go make sure everything is fine.” He glanced down at her stomach and back up to meet her eyes. She never responded, she had chance to as they started asking her questions. It was the least she could do for him. She looked over, not surprised to see Brad laughing with one of the officers.
For now, she just wanted to go home. She moved shakily taking a step away from him, and closer to her car… and freedom.