Chapter 16
Annie jumped away from Marti, rushing to find her clothes and pull them back on. “Tommy! What about work, I thought—”
“Fuck work; is this what you do while I’m gone? Fuck a girl? What? You don’t like dick? You lesbian or something? What the hell is wrong with you?” Tommy shouted, his voice trembling as he watched his fiancée stand up, naked and shaky, while the girl he used to love looked on. He shook his head; he thought he was going to throw up. He walked out into the hall, then turned back into the room. “How long has this been happening? You and her? Like this?”
Annie just stared at him, not knowing what to say.
It was Marti, wrapped up in the sheet, who finally had an answer for him. “As long as she’s been here, asshole.”
Tommy looked at Annie, who was tugging her pants on. He could feel his heart beating in his head. Breaking in two.
She looked up at Tommy, her face red, her heart pounding. “Honey, I—” she started, finally getting her zipper up.
He looked at her coldly. “Don’t you fuckin’ honey me! This is ridiculous! Annie, what are you thinking? Aren’t I enough for you? Shit! This is fucking incredible. I give you everything you want, all of me, and you’re over here while I’m out working my ass off, screwing some girl? Damn! I’m a fuckin moron!” He was out of breath.
“Is this another game? Tommy the fuckin’ moron? Let’s see…” He counted on his fingers. “I work my ass off so we can have a little extra; I take you to nice places to eat so you can have a little fun. I watch those stupid ass chick flicks, rub your feet when you’re tired, give you some lovin’, which apparently isn’t what you really want.” He paused. “Hired those fucking construction guys. You fucking them, too? Oh, no, I forgot...you eat pussy! You don’t want dick! And what does Princess Annie do while I am trying to build a life for us? Does she stand beside me, encourage me and act like my lady? No! She comes home from work and has hot pussy sex with a girl!”
Annie was in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. “Tommy, stop! Don’t say that! I love you. I have loved you since the day we met.”
“Screw you, Annie!” He slammed the door and stomped down the stairs, not knowing what to do next. He knew he had to calm down. He stepped outside on the porch, grabbed the rail to steady himself and the tears came streaming down his face.
Upstairs, Marti reached over to give her friend a hug and Annie pushed her away. “Not now, Marti,” she gasped between the sobs. “What am I gonna do? I love him. I knew this was gonna happen. I knew we should have stopped this shit a long time ago.”
Marti just sat there, silent, biting her lip. She knew if Tommy left, Annie would blame it on her and if he stayed, she would have to leave. She felt like she had already lost her best friend. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Annie walked over to the window and pushed back the curtain to see if Tommy’s truck was still in the drive. Her eyes hurt.
Marti whispered, “Go to him, Annie.”
Annie turned and looked at her. Marti was her best friend, but Tommy was the love of her life. She sighed heavily and ran down the stairs and out to the porch where he was standing. She realized he had been crying. They were both silent for a moment, both speechless, not knowing where to start, what to say.
When he spoke again, there was a slight quiver in his voice, and Annie could see tears welling up again. “I thought we had something special, you know? I thought I mattered to you.”
Annie leaned forward to rest a hand on his arm, but he jerked back, and she let her hand fall. “We do have something special, Tommy. You mean the world to me. I love you.”
He bent down just a touch and met Annie’s eyes. Through gritted teeth he hissed, “But you’re fucking her.”
Annie glanced back to the house, as he continued sticking his finger in her face. “You chose HER over me. How could you do that and have the fucking audacity to tell me you love me?” He let out a long sigh as his head fell to his chest.
This time when Annie rested her hand on his arm, he didn’t jerk away, and she leaned in to hold him. “Tommy, honey, I do love you. You’re amazing.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “And Marti is… well…she’s my best friend.”
He pulled back a little to glare at her. “Marti? Your best friend? How can you say that? Is she your best friend or your girlfriend? What about us? What the hell am I? What about our engagement? Our life together?”
Annie started to talk, but Marti rushed out the door. “See y’all later!” she said, sniffling, her voice cracking as she ran down the drive to her car. She didn’t know if they heard her, and at that moment, she didn’t care. It was late and she wanted to be alone. This was way more drama than she had bargained for.
“Well, Annie, what about us?” Tommy asked again, glaring at Annie, who was watching Marti leave.
She looked up at him. “What?” She raised her voice a little. “What, Tommy, what about us? I’m sorry. I love you, what do you want me to do? Get on my knees and beg?”
“No, honey, I just—” He put his arms out and she moved into them, shivering against his hard chest. He hugged her and bent down to kiss her head. Tears fell down his face. “Annie, oh, Annie, how could you do this? What would I do if I lost you? “
He was so big next to her and she wanted that safe feeling again, the warm feeling she had every time he held her. The feeling she would never have again if he didn’t forgive her.
Annie hugged him back, her whole inside cold. Clutching him to her, Annie pressed her face to Tommy’s chest and began to cry. She would do this. She would be with him. She loved him.
Annie guiltily thought of Marti as he held her in his arms. She would let Marti go. She would talk to her tomorrow. She wanted to be the best wife for Tommy. He wouldn’t have to work. The house was almost finished. They could spend their days in marital bliss. She would show him what a good girl she was.
Tommy placed his hand on her back and gently eased her through the door. “Go shower and wash that girl off of you. I’m tired.”
She was shivering from the night air and her nipples were poking through her shirt. She quickly crossed her arms and covered them. She didn’t want Tommy to think she was still turned on by Marti. Marti? Shit! Where’s Marti? She was too afraid to ask.
Tommy headed toward the kitchen as she ascended the stairs. He grabbed a beer and chugged it down with a shot of whiskey. He got on one knee and looking up, he prayed out loud, ”God, I love her, please forgive her, I will, and Lord, I pray for your blessings for my future wife, our children, our home and our marriage. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.” He drank another shot of whiskey and then another. He turned and went upstairs.