Chapter 23
COLE
CodeBreaker
Can I ask you something?
Flyguy
More questions? You’re exhausting… *rolling eyes emoji*
You know I’m kidding, right?
CodeBreaker
Absolutely. I know you well enough to know when you’re trying to be funny.
Flyguy
Trying? I am funny.
CodeBreaker
I’ll agree to disagree.
Flyguy
Wow, that stings. Anyway, what do you want to ask me?
CodeBreaker
It’s about your ex.
Flyguy
What about her?
CodeBreaker
You mentioned on one of our earlier chats that she cheated on you. I just wanted to know if you still have feelings for her?
Flyguy
Absolutely not.
CodeBreaker
Are you sure?
Flyguy
I can, hand on heart, tell you right now, I do not love her. It took me a while to figure it out but looking back I can see how wrong she was for me.
CodeBreaker
How did you meet?
Flyguy
At college. We started the same year. But it became very clear early on that her father had bought her way into college.
She dropped out in her third year because she just couldn’t keep up with the classes.
Her father bankrolled her yet again and he was so wealthy she decided she wouldn’t get a job and threw herself into charity work instead.
CodeBreaker
So she had a good heart?
Flyguy
No. Not at all. It was all for show. She would go to her father’s country club and sit and drink cocktails all day or go along to charity events and donate her father’s money, but she didn’t actually do anything as such. It was all just smoke and mirrors.
CodeBreaker
Wow.
Flyguy
She was very selfish, entitled, and impatient. She cared more about brands, money, and status than people or people’s feelings.
CodeBreaker
She sounds like a lot of fun.
Flyguy
When she threw tantrums, she was quite something, let me tell you that for sure.
She had this way about her that when people met her for the first time, she always came across as nice and good-hearted, but when you really got to know her, the mask would drop, and she looked down on people, expecting them to do things for her and if she didn’t like someone she would start rumors about them. Drama followed her everywhere.
CodeBreaker
What made you stay with her?
Flyguy
Honestly? I think I was young and stupid. Busy with work and thought she would grow out of her brattish behavior eventually.
CodeBreaker
But she never did?
Flyguy
No and I guess, with hindsight and age and maturity, I can see now that maybe I liked the idea of her more than actually being with her. She was exhausting at times, and nothing was ever easy. Then she threw herself into the arms of my best friend.
CodeBreaker
No way?
Flyguy
Oh yeah. And later I learned others too.
CodeBreaker
That’s… I have no words.
Flyguy
You know what though? It didn’t feel like it at the time, but it’s the best thing she ever did in our relationship.
It slapped me awake, and it pulled my head out of my ass.
It made me see what everyone else could.
My family hated her and only put up with her for my sake.
But when we split up, they told me about everything she’d said and done throughout our relationship.
None of which was nice. She told my eldest brother he was fat, when he’s the leanest person I know, and she told my mom that when we got married, I would have a very difficult life with her and that she was responsible for my success, not my mother or father.
CodeBreaker
I want to punch her in the face.
Flyguy
So did my mom when my ex told her that I wouldn’t be visiting her once we got married because my family didn’t belong in my future.
CodeBreaker
If I ever meet her, can I punch her a lot?
Flyguy
I wouldn’t let you lower yourself to her standards.
CodeBreaker
How did you find out about her and your best friend?
Flyguy
I caught them in bed together. In my apartment.
CodeBreaker
That’s disgusting.
Flyguy
Actually, it’s fine. Everything worked out for the best. She wasn’t the love of my life.
There were too many red flags, and I guess that’s why I never put a ring on it.
I felt controlled by her and could never fully be myself around her or her family.
It always seemed like she wanted to own me rather than love me.
The truth is, I could never, not once, imagine myself growing old with her.
I kept waiting to feel sure about us, but it never happened.
Then she made the decision about us when she decided to sleep with my best friend, and when I kicked her and him out of my apartment, for the first time in years, I actually felt like I could breathe again.
CodeBreaker
She ultimately did you a favor.
Flyguy
Yeah.
CodeBreaker
But she hurt you.
Flyguy
I’m not ashamed to admit that she did. I didn’t struggle to date again because I was still in love with her, it was because any piece of trust I had was blown to pieces.
My ego was dented too. I couldn’t believe it at first, and she made me doubt every conversation I ever had with my best friend.
I went through all the emotions, mainly feeling betrayed and humiliated.
Because how could I not have known? And were people laughing at me behind my back?
I mean, I introduced them to each other at college, and had it been going on for a decade?
Did people think I wasn’t giving her what she needed?
Was he better than me? I questioned everything.
CodeBreaker
Did you ever find out how long it had been going on for?
Flyguy
She said it was new and had only been going on for a few months, but I will never know if that’s true.
CodeBreaker
Maybe it’s best that you don’t.
Flyguy
It took me a while to move on.
CodeBreaker
Are you sure you have?
Flyguy
I know I have, and I had confirmation of that a few weeks ago.
CodeBreaker
Yeah, how so?
Flyguy
I met someone, and we had this crazy instant connection I can’t even begin to describe.
But it didn’t work out. I guess it wasn’t meant to be as I lost her number.
I hope you don’t mind me telling you that.
It was different and kind of threw me a little.
It’s weird but the way we’ve hit it off feels similar.
I like how easy it is to talk to you. It never felt like that with my ex.
CodeBreaker
I don’t mind at all. I appreciate your honesty. And it’s the same for me, I feel like we’ve had an instant connection from the beginning too.
Flyguy
Tell me about your ex. You said he betrayed you but didn’t cheat on you. What did he do exactly?
CodeBreaker
He stole my idea at work and claimed it as his own during a client presentation.
Flyguy
That’s low.
CodeBreaker
And he went on to make lots of money from it too.
Flyguy
Did you ever think about taking him to court? You’d have proof on your computer; digital data is king and would have given you solid evidence to back your claim.
CodeBreaker
I didn’t have the money at the time to do it.
I guess I was a bit like you back then: young, naive, and wet behind the ears.
It took me some time to learn my way around the industry I work in.
Now I don’t take any shit from anyone. The last I heard from my ex was when he reached out to me, asking for my help on a project because he couldn’t fulfill it.
You see, I’m better than him at what I do.
I said no, of course, then I approached the client myself and secured the contract for the company I work for.
Flyguy
She rose from the ashes like a phoenix.
CodeBreaker
Yes, I did.
Flyguy
I like you.
CodeBreaker
I like you too.
Flyguy
Do you think you’ll like my face when we eventually meet in person?
CodeBreaker
I like your heart, and that’s all that matters.
“Holy shit,” I mutter to myself, staring at the words CodeBreaker wrote.
I like your heart, and that’s all that matters.
When I joined the Wildcard app to move on from Mina, I didn’t think that was actually going to happen. I was hopeful but not fully committed, and now it seems like what I wanted to happen is happening and I’m building a deep and meaningful connection with someone amazing.
Then why do I feel like I’m cheating on Mina emotionally, even though nothing physical has occurred?
Screw it. I have to forget Mina entirely. I deserve happiness, and I can’t keep dwelling on the past.