Chapter 3 Broken

And now I gotta call Nash, her husband, and tell him everything that just happened. He’s my buddy and my lawyer, to help me outta the mess my life is… I know the moment I finish telling him, he will tell Anna. And then I’ll be having the talking to of the decade, telling me I should’ve listened to her in the first place… And she would be right… Then she would offer me her shoulder to cry on.

I could call my parent’s, but they are out in New York and I don’t wanna bother them. Maybe when divorce is through… Mom never did approve of Belle. Dad was… Indifferent. He just said he hoped I was happy with my choice and left it at that.

My family couldn’t be any more different from Belle’s. My father was a surgeon, now retired, and my mother worked for the district attorney’s office, also retired. They like to travel now and just got back from Rome about a week ago.

I huff as I zip up the bag and drag it away from my room. I don’t care if she keeps her fancy dresses. I don’t need them.

I march out to the banging on my door. I have no idea what the hell they are complaining about. If they really didn’t want to get caught, they should’ve stuck to Jack’s apartment. Now I’m gonna have to disinfect my whole damn house… If I don’t burn it down in disgust first.

I nearly rip the door from its hinges and toss Belle’s bag out to the street.

“Baby… I’m sorry… I love you… We can work this out… It was only this once… It didn’t mean anything…” She sobs, crawling over to me, trying to pull me to her cold body.

I step out of her grasp in revulsion. I don’t ever want to touch her ever again.

“Dude, Colt. Don’t do this to us. We’ve been friends forever… You can’t just end it because of this?” He grovels… At least he put his pants on… too bad Belle didn’t follow his example.

“What can’t I do to our friendship?” I sneer. “I didn’t do a damn thing, other than walk into my own house to find my best friend, balls deep in my wife… NOW, tell me what exactly I did wrong!” I demand, knowing he can’t answer.

“Colt, baby… you still love me! I know you do!” Bellows my still naked wife. Honestly this is not her strongest argument and it isn't gonna help her the way she thinks it will. She really isn’t gaining any favors by flashing her flesh around the neighborhood. I can see her shivering in the cold, and yet I have no pity for her.

And if I know our neighbors like I think I do, someone is taking a video of this whole fiasco and probably gonna upload it to our neighborhood group chat the moment I slam the door… Good for them. I guess it will give them something to talk about.

I look into Belle’s eyes and something in me shifts… A realization and what flows from my lips is the absolute truth.

“Belle, I haven’t loved you in a very long time. I’ve tolerated you. I’ve babied you. I’ve even spoiled you… But I haven’t loved you like a wife because you keep treating me like a slave and not your husband. Have fun with Jack,” I say then I turn around and…

Slam the door on their traitorous faces.