Chapter 3
Emmy
A stampeding herd of elephants.
That is precisely how my brain feels this morning.
I came home last night instead of going with Hayleigh to her house.
After that dance, I couldn’t focus; there was something about him, and I felt so bad for feeling so good.
I was hoping Chad would be home when I got back, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Not wanting to make him even madder with me, I decided to shower and crawl into bed.
My head swims, and there’s an intense throbbing, clearly a result of mixing my drinks and taking shots.
Ugh, never again.
I swiped my phone from the bedside table and, unlocking it, I could see 20 missed calls from Hayleigh and a voicemail, but no texts or calls from Chad.
It's not like I was expecting a call or text from him.
Then that familiar guilty feeling comes back from last night.
I shouldn’t have accepted that dance; I’ll have to tell Chad and apologise, and I hope he forgives me.
Still feeling a little dizzy from last night, I turn on my shower and step under the scalding hot spray.
I love standing in the shower and letting my mind wander sometimes; it’s where I do my best thinking.
I think back to when I met Chad.
I had been working as an executive assistant for Mr Hooper for 3 weeks, and the only person I knew was my friend Hayleigh.
She worked in HR, and we had been friends for years.
Each lunchtime, we would eat together, laugh, and joke about everything and anything.
One day, she introduced me to Chad.
She had told me about her brother-in-law, how charming he was, and that he was interested in me, based on what she had told him.
He also worked with us at the same company, but he was on the sales team, and when I met him, I was instantly enamoured with him.
At first, he was amazing and charming.
Every weekend, he would shower me with date nights and gifts, plenty of cuddles and kisses, but then, about a year later, he became more withdrawn and snapped at me often.
Sometimes, it felt like I couldn’t do anything right; somehow, everything was always my fault.
I knew deep down that it wasn’t always my fault, but it was usually easier to accept that and apologise anyway.
No matter what I did, he would find some way to belittle me.
More often than not, lately, he would mention my weight and how lucky I was that he liked a bit of a bigger girl; otherwise, he would have to trade me in.
The only person I ever confided in was Hayleigh, and it's safe to say she now tells me at least twice a week to leave him.
Still feeling like utter crap, I get out of the shower and start to get ready.
Hayleigh wanted to go shopping later today, so we planned to leave her house.
Once I’m ready, I sit on my bed and scroll through the messages on my phone, laughing at how drunk Hayleigh must have gotten last night.
She sent me at least a dozen selfies of herself and some of Tanya, along with messages attached, telling me how much she misses me.
I get so lost in mindlessly scrolling my phone that I don’t realise the time.
I get up, ready to head downstairs, when a sound makes me freeze instantly.
Someone is in my apartment and is downstairs.
I can hear murmured voices and the sound of something falling to the floor.
I jump into action and unlock my phone; I dial the first number that pops up, and Hayleigh answers, “Good morning, beautiful lady, how…”
I cut her off and whispered, “Oh my god, Hayleigh, please come over right now. Someone is in my apartment. I’m upstairs in my bedroom, but can you please hurry?”
I can hear her shouting for Pete and rustling, and then she’s back on the phone. “Shit, ok! Sweetie, hide in your closet and wait for us; we'll be a few minutes. We were already on our way over and just stopped to fill up.”
I freeze again, my heart pounding as I hear thudding footsteps coming up the stairs, and wait, was that moaning? Oh god, they must be some kind of sexual predators. I quickly and quietly make my way to my closet and close the door, taking care not to click it shut, then look at my phone and see that the call is still connected. I bring the phone to my ear and whisper, “Are you almost here yet? I’m in the closet, but they’re right outside my bedroom door. Oh no, Hayleigh, they’re coming in! Hurry, please.”
With that, I clicked the call off by mistake as I fumbled to put it on silent.
I can hear my bedroom door open, and my heart feels like it will pound right out of my chest. I crack open the door to my closet just a bit, and what I see makes my whole world tilt. My heart drops right through my stomach, and I fling open the closet door, making the two people, locked together, freeze and stop what they’re doing.
Chad looks at me, his face paling, as he scrambles off the top of the very half-naked woman on my bed. Taking a closer look, I see it’s Grace from Sales. I see Chad walking towards me, his hands up, his palms showing outward. “Hun, this isn’t what you think it is. You said you wouldn’t be home this weekend, and I got lonely, so I brought Grace back to chat. Still, it doesn’t mean anything.”
From behind him, I hear Grace get off the bed and shout, “Yeah, like hell it doesn’t mean anything, Chad! I suppose it hasn’t meant anything for the past 6 months, you fucking prick!”
she looks at me with tears in her eyes and storms out and downstairs. I stand there still, unsure of what to do or say.
Chad reaches for me, and I jerk my arm from his grasp. I move around him to sit on the bed but then think better of it; as bile rises in my throat, I wonder just how many times they have been in this bed together. 6 months!?
I whirl on Chad, who is still shirtless “6 months, Chad? Really? I bet you both had a good laugh at me. I wonder, what did I do that was so wrong that made you want someone else? Couldn’t you have just left me, instead you rip my heart out?”
tears spring to my eyes and that feeling of sickness doesn’t go away.
He puts his hands down, slapping them at his sides, and huffs a frustrated breath. “Fine. Ok, yeah. For the past 6 months, I have been seeing Grace, but that’s because you drove me to it, Emily. You’re always so down and miserable; honestly, I just got sick of all the arguing and fighting. Even at work, you’re constantly there; I don’t get a minute to breathe. You used to be fun; you used to be there whenever I needed you, but lately? No, lately, you haven’t been there at all. We have sex, if I’m lucky, only once a week. Every other time, you tell me you have a headache or you’re feeling down. Do you realise how draining you can be? This is your fault, Emily!”
I sit there in shock while Chad looms over me, getting angrier by the minute. Every single time I didn’t want sex, he was the one who flew into a rage or went moody and withdrawn, calling me names and making me feel bad for not wanting anything.
I square my shoulders and look at him. “No. That isn’t right, and you know it, Chad. Every time I said no, that was because you had just caused an argument or were unhappy with me because I had done something you didn’t like. That is no excuse to go off and cheat on me”
My voice breaks, and I wrap my arms around myself and sob.
His arms go around me, and I feel cold and indifferent instead of the warmth I once felt. I shrug him off, and he grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “Hun, I’m willing to forgive you and forget what happened. I told you she didn’t mean anything to me; you’re the love of my life, and I want to spend the rest of it with you, not her. So come on, stop being silly and let's make up. Don’t throw all these years away.”
I don’t even get the chance to respond to him because the next thing I hear is Hayleigh screaming, “You motherfucker!!! How dare you treat her like that! You.good.for.nothing.PRICK!”
with each word she spews, she hits the back of Chad's head with her flip flop. If I weren’t so heartbroken, I’d be crying from laughing.
Pete storms into the room and picks Hayleigh up, wrapping his hands around her waist and moving her away from Chad. He turns to look back at his brother and grabs him by his arm; his look is murderous. “Get the fuck downstairs now, Chad!”
with that, Chad goes slinking downstairs like the venomous snake he is.
Pete finally puts down, kicking and screaming Hayleigh and turns to me, “Emmy, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry my brother is such a dick head.”
I manage a small smile at him. “It’s not your fault, Pete. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
he nods, gives Hayleigh a quick kiss on her cheek, and then walks out of the room. I can’t look Hayleigh in the eyes; I feel so ashamed that I was so stupid not to have seen how bad Chad was. I look at the floor and hug myself tighter; I feel Hayleigh’s arms wrap around me, and I break down. She hugs me till we both sink to the floor.
She wipes the hair from my face and the tears from my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Emmy. I had no idea he was cheating on you. You know that if I did, I would have told you and then kicked his sorry arse”
I chuckle, remembering how crazy she looked, screaming and hitting Chad over the head with her flip flop.
“You really are the best kind of friend, Hayleigh. I feel so stupid.”
My voice breaks again, and I hate feeling so weak.
Hayleigh looks at me and shakes her head slightly. “Don’t you dare apologise for anything! Now, I want you to get up, pack your shit up, and I mean all of it. I want you to come and live with me and Pete for a while.”
I started to protest. She covers my mouth with both her hands, shaking her head, “Don’t even think of bullshitting me and telling me you will stay in a hotel, or that you don’t want to impose or that you’re even going to work it out with that giant dickless prick face. You will come and stay with us, and if it makes you feel better, I will help you search for another place.”
My shoulders sag a little; I know she's right. There's no way I want to stay in this apartment with Chad now, and most definitely not in that bed. I can’t legally kick him out because I put his name on the lease, but what I can do is take my name off. The landlord is a kind old lady called Pat, and I’m sure when I tell her what happened, she will be ok with me moving out. I nod at Hayleigh, and we silently pack my things away. I don’t want anything from Chad, so I will only take my clothes, and he can have the rest.
When we have my things packed away, Hayleigh calls to Pete, “Hey, babe! Can you please come up here and help me shift these bags?”
Pete comes bounding up the stairs.
“I take it Hayleigh got her way, and you’re coming to stay with us a while?”
Pete smiles, but I feel a sense of panic.
“Only if that's okay with you. Please tell me if I’m imposing, and I can find somewhere else. This must be difficult for you, given that Chad is your brother.”
Pete waves me off and shakes his head, “Emmy, you’re a big part of our lives and not because you were Chad’s girlfriend. You’re my future wife’s best friend, and honestly, Chad is a fucking idiot for what he’s done to you. For all I care, he can wallow in self-pity. Just wait till our mother finds out what a complete dirtbag he’s been; then, he’s in for a whole world of pain. Trust me, Emmy; you’re better off without him.”
With that, he grabs four of my bags and carries them downstairs like they weigh nothing. Hayleigh and I hold my last few bags, and both head downstairs. I feel sad that I’m leaving this place behind, but at the same time, I’m glad. I feel much freer than I have felt in a long time.
Chad is downstairs leaning against the wall in the hallway. He looks up as I approach and tries to speak, but Hayleigh steps in front of me before he can. “If you want anything to do with your brother anymore and the wedding, then you best keep your fucking dirty mouth shut. You don’t look at her; you don’t even so much as breathe in her general direction, let alone talk to her. Do I make myself clear, dick?”
Chad stiffly nods once, then pushes off from the wall and stalks away into the kitchen. I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding, and, saying one last goodbye to the apartment I once lovingly called home, I grabbed my bags tighter and walked out, letting the door slam shut behind me.
**********
3 weeks later
Perverts. The internet is full of perverts.
I have been looking for somewhere to rent for the past 2 weeks, and every single goddamn advert that responded to me was from some creep. Frustrated, I throw my head back and groan, “Why are all these adverts from creepy men?”
thinking I am alone in the house; I jump out of my skin when I hear Hayleigh cackle from the doorway. I glare at her. “It isn’t funny, Hayleigh! You won’t believe what these creeps are saying.”
This makes her cackle even more. She comes over, plops down on the sofa next to me, pulls the laptop off my lap, and scans through some of the messages I've received; her eyes go wide. “Jesus, Emmy! A naturist who says clothing is optional, but for him, he prefers being as naked as the day he was born, a guy who collects pot dolls and wants you to polish them, and last but not least, a guy who says he will give you discounted rent if you clean naked?!”
I groan again and drop my head to her shoulder. I say, “Don’t, I don’t know what I'll do, Hayleigh. I can’t stay here forever.”
She puts my laptop on the coffee table and turns to me. “Hey, don’t stress about this right now.”
How about tonight we order a pizza and drink some shitty box wine and finish off with ice-creams?”
I smile and nod my head; she looks at me and not so subtly asks, “So, how has it been at work? Have you seen or spoken to Count Dickless?”
I snort; over the past few weeks, we’ve taken to calling Chad Count Dickless instead of his name. “I saw him the other day; he was with Grace in the canteen, but I ignored them, got my food, and left. Oh, and I handed in my notice. Finally.”
Hayleigh squeals with delight. “No way! I am so proud of you! Does that mean you got that job you interviewed for?”
I nod my head. “Yeah, but I don’t start for another two weeks, which gives me plenty of time to find a new place to stay and move in”
Hayleigh starts to shake her head, but I cut her off. “Listen, Hayleigh, you and Pete have been amazing to me, and I am so grateful to both of you, but I need to do this. I can’t afford somewhere of my own just yet, but hopefully, I can find the perfect roommate - preferably a woman and not one of these creepy men.”
This sets Hayleigh off cackling again.
While she’s having a good time at my expense, my laptop pings with a notification from the website I’ve been using to find a place to stay. Hayleigh dives for my laptop before I can get to it. “Ooh, it’s another new listing, let’s see… Roommate required for a spacious four-bedroom house. You will have an en-suite bathroom attached to a generously sized bedroom, as well as a fully equipped kitchen, a gym, and a swimming pool in the backyard. You must be working, tidy, and willing to look after and walk my dog while I am at work. Only serious candidates need to apply; rent will be discussed in person.”
Hayleigh blows out a breath and shakes her head. “Wow! They have a pool! You have got to contact this person, Emmy; this place won’t be on there for long.”
I shake my head; there's no way this is for real. “Not a chance, Hayleigh; that just sounds too good to be true! Come on, who needs a roommate when they own a house? Also, a pool in the UK?”
Hayleigh starts clicking away at my laptop as she says, “Well, they said they need someone to look after their dog, and that’s why they need a roommate; you even said yourself this new job will mostly be working remotely, so you should be fine and don’t let the pool put you off, I know we have more rainy days, but we’re on the coast so at least we get some sunshine. Plus, I adore our little town. Roselake is the place to be,”
she starts tapping away furiously. “There! I’ve sent them a message, and the best part is that they’re a woman! See, it says the person who posted it's called Cas; that’s got to be short for Cassie.”
I grab my laptop back from Hayleigh and look at the message she has sent them. Before I know it, I receive a message from them, telling me that I can visit tomorrow at 5 pm to view the place, meet them and the dog, and discuss the rent. Hayleigh pumps her fist up and down and starts dancing in her seat, doing what she calls her happy dance; I laugh at her ridiculousness and hope that just maybe, this time, it isn’t too good to be true.
I made sure to get a good night’s sleep last night. I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day. I get myself ready and notice that my work dress is feeling a little loose on me; it looks like the stress of the last few weeks has worked in my favour. Downstairs, Hayleigh is waiting beside the coffee pot with a steaming cup, all for me, and hands it to me. She smiles. “So, do you need some help today to view this new place, or do you think you'll be okay?”
I take the coffee and one long gulp, sighing. I look at her. “No, I think I’ll be okay with this one. I’m pretty sure, as you said, I’ll be rooming with another woman, and hopefully, it’s not too good to be true. I’ve two more days left at work, and then I will be done with that place forever and can finally move on.”
Hayleigh looks uncomfortable. “Hey, Hayleigh, what’s wrong?”
She looks at me and smiles sadly. “I just feel shitty that I can’t ban Count Dickless from the ceremony, but Pete’s mother would have kittens if I did that. I want you to be my maid of honour still, but if you think it’s going to be too difficult to do that and walk down the aisle with the cock sucker, than I’d completely understand”
She looks down at her feet, and I can’t help but feel an immense surge of love for my best friend.
I chuckle, and she looks up at me. “Hayleigh, wild horses couldn’t keep me from being your maid of honour! I couldn’t care less about Count Dickless anymore. Does it still hurt? Yes. Do I want to see him again? Not really. Would I let you down and not be there on your special day? Not a chance in hell. It’s one walk down the aisle and then some pictures; I think I can handle that.”
She wraps her arms around me and sniffles. “Thanks, Emmy. I love you.”
I hugged her tighter. “I love you too. Now, let me go; I’ll be late. I’ll let you know how I get on with the house viewing tonight.”
At work, I’ve been finalising my handover and ensuring all of my processes are in order and ready for the next person to take my place; surprisingly, this takes up most of my day, and before I know it, I’m shutting down my laptop, ready to head out. It feels right somehow to be leaving, like I’m finally letting go of all the crappy things in my life and finally starting to do something I want to do. As I put my laptop in my drawer, some papers slam on my desk. I look up, scowling, and see it’s Chad. He looks furious with me, and for a moment, I cower, but then I remember I don’t owe him anything anymore.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Yes, Chad? What is it you want?”
he laughs without humour.
“So you’re leaving then? Why the fuck didn’t you tell me Emily?”
I can’t help but gape at him. Is he serious right now? I shake my head and move away from my desk. Standing up, I grab my things and turn around to walk out. I don’t get far before Chad wraps his hand around my arm and spins me. “Don’t you fucking dare walk away from me, Emily. I asked you a fucking question!”
his spittle hits my face, and I freeze. He senses my change and can probably see how scared he’s made me. His face softens, and he releases my arm. “God, hun, I’m so sorry! I can’t believe you’re leaving. You haven’t called me back. You won’t talk to me. I want a chance to explain, but you won’t let me. It’s bullshit!”
I muster up my courage and look him dead in the eyes. “Chad, it’s over. Leave me alone,”
and with that, I turn on my heels and walk out.
I’m still shaking when I pull up outside the address that Cas had given me. I wish I hadn’t seen Chad before I left the office. He somehow always ends up screwing with my mind. I look up at the house, and it’s so beautiful. It takes my breath away, and just like that, all thoughts of Chad have vanished. The house is white with a grey double door, grey shutters, and a wraparound porch with the most beautiful porch swing I have ever seen. I was 15 minutes early, so I decided to look around first.
I leave my car and walk past a truck on the driveway. There is a beautiful lawn outside the front of the house, and the most beautiful wild flowerbeds are swept around it. I can hear a dog yapping from the back garden; it makes me smile. I knock on the door, not wanting to appear as though I’m lurking. I wait for what seems like forever, and just as I’m about to head back to the car, the door opens, and my mouth drops open.
The most beautiful man stands before me, wearing a tiny white towel around his waist. He has the bluest eyes and a perfect mop of dark brown hair that’s wet through. I can’t help myself; my eyes roam from his perfect face to his very naked torso, and my god, it is just the best thing I have ever seen. My eyes travel further south to his white knuckle grip on the towel.
He clears his throat, and I know I’ve most definitely been caught ogling. My cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I stammer, “Oh my god, you’re a man. I. I…I’m Emmy. Emily Hart, but my friends call me Emmy. Shit. Oh, wow, sorry, I didn’t mean to swear! The house, that’s why I’m here...advert...me.”
I stop talking; I'm beyond mortified. I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. A deep chuckle has me opening my eyes. He’s enjoying himself at my expense. I go to turn away, but my heel gets caught in a gap in his porch, and everything happens in slow motion. I start to go down…he lunges forward…releasing both his hands to grab me…only he misses, and we both end up on the floor in a heap…minus his towel.