CAITLYN
Ifeel terrible rushing away from Joshua after we spent the night together, and then he went to all the trouble of making breakfast for us, too. But my head is a swirling mess of thoughts.
I’m still reeling from the shock that David cheated on me. And am I really any better? I was in another man’s bed only a few hours later, but God, it felt so good. No one has ever made me feel like Joshua does. And all this time, I had no idea he had feelings for me.
When I reach home, I shower and then decide I can’t process this alone. I need to call in reinforcements, and knowing my best friend/work partner, Amber, will be running the kennels today, I head over there.
On my way to the kennels, I realize I haven’t eaten properly since yesterday evening, and knowing Amber will appreciate me bringing her some lunch, I stop off at our favorite coffee shop to buy some food and drinks.
When I enter the kennels, I find Amber feeding the dogs we have there. Currently we only have one pug bitch and her puppies, who we will sell on once the puppies are old enough to leave their mother.
Sensing my presence, my friend turns to me, eyes wide. “It's your day off. What are you doing here?”
“I bought you lunch,” I say, holding up the coffee shop bag.
Amber grins. “While I appreciate it, you wouldn’t just bring me lunch for no reason,” she says, making sure the pug and her pups are secure in their room, and heading down the corridor to the break room. “What gives?”
I settle on the break room couch and sigh. “I caught David cheating.”
Amber’s eyes glow with anger, and she turns away from the sink where she was cleaning up before lunch, her fists clenched. “Forget lunch. I’m going to track David down and kill him.”
Before my friend can reach the door, I call out, “Wait. That’s not all. I slept with Josh.”
Amber turns to me, her eyes wide. “As in Joshua Braddock?”
“The one and only.”
Amber settles on the couch next to me, and as we eat, I tell her everything that happened.
“You should have come to me sooner,” Amber says, sympathetically.
“I did think about it, but I knew you had to be here early today, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“I wouldn’t have minded. You know I’m always here for you,” Amber says, squeezing my hand. “But I suppose I don’t compare to Joshua Braddock. God, Cait, good on you.”
I feel myself blush, and heat surges through my body as I think about Josh and the things we did. “I didn’t plan on sleeping with him. It just sorts of happened. I didn’t even know he felt that way about me.”
Amber rolls her eyes. “Are you blind? Well, actually, we already know the answer to that. Cait, I love you, but you’re not great when it comes to men. Everyone knew David was no good, and anyone who has seen you and Joshua together knows he’s crazy about you.”
“I honestly had no idea. I just thought he was a good friend, but last night. God, Amber. He called me beautiful, and I could see in his eyes he really meant it. David never called me beautiful. And I told you how stale our sex life had gotten--”
“Yeah, because he was screwing someone else,” Amber says, her anger rising again. “God, when I see him, I’m going to knock his teeth out.”
I laugh. “Joshua said something similar. And while I appreciate the gesture, it’s not worth it. You know how powerful David’s family is. Antagonizing him will only lead to more trouble. Besides, I’m done with him. I’m going to get my stuff and cut contact.”
“Good. I’ll come with you as back up,” Amber says, and I’m glad to have my best friend’s support. “But what are you going to do about Josh?”
I bite my bottom lip. “That’s the part I don’t know. He made breakfast for us, and wanted us to spend the day together, and I just rushed out of there.”
“What did Joshua say?”
“He didn’t … I don’t know if that means he’s not interested or what?” I let out a sigh. I’d been kind of disappointed when Josh hadn’t said anything when I was leaving. Was it silly that part of me wanted him to chase after me?
“Maybe he’s just taking it slow, and giving you space because you’ve got so much to process. Perhaps he doesn’t want to overwhelm you.”
I frown. “Do you really think so?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know Joshua as well as you do, but he doesn’t seem as pushy as the other Braddock brothers.”
Something in my friend’s tone tells me there’s a story here, but I don’t press. Amber will tell me when she’s ready.
“He isn’t. That’s why I always liked him. He makes me feel safe. Even last night when we were in the midst of everything, he still cared about my feelings and what I wanted. He said he didn’t want to take advantage of me when I was drunk and vulnerable.”
Amber sighs, a soppy grin covering her face. “He sounds perfect. Why can’t I find a guy like that?”
“Give it time,” I tell my friend, hopeful one day she will find the perfect guy, too. “So, you think I should call Joshua?”
“Do you want to call Joshua?”
“Yes … no. I don’t know. I can’t think straight.”
“Okay, maybe give it a couple of days to think everything through first,” Amber suggests.
“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I want to get all my stuff from David first.”
“Where will you stay?”
“I still have a few weeks left on the lease of my apartment. David said he’d cover the rent if I moved in with him sooner. I’m going to tell him to screw his offer. I have savings, I can afford rent, and now I know what David is really like, I can renew my lease at my place instead.”
“Thank god you didn’t give up your apartment.”
“Yeah. I never thought I’d need it, but well, here we are,” I say with a sigh.
In retrospect, I feel like a fool. As Amber said, everyone knew David wasn’t good for me, but I believed his lies.
I believed him when he said he’d changed.
I really thought he loved me… “Can we head over there now? I want to get this over with as quickly as possible.”
“Good thinking. Will he be there?” Amber asks.
I check the time. It’s almost 1:30 p.m., meaning David will probably be having lunch with his family, like he always does on a Sunday.
I don’t know what he will tell them about my absence.
Since catching him with that other woman, I haven’t even turned my phone on.
He could have left me a million messages for all I know.
It doesn’t matter though. I’m never going back to him.
“He should be at his parents’,” I tell Amber.
“Okay, let’s go quickly before he comes back.”
Amber and I get into our respective cars, and drive across the city to the townhouse David owns not far from the night club. Thankfully, when we arrive, his car isn’t in the drive, so I assume he’s still at lunch with his parents.
Using my key, I let myself in. The house smells just like him, and my chest tightens. I ache for how things could have been if David had been faithful from the start. But then, the memory of him having sex with another woman floods my mind, and anger burns away any love I ever had for David.
Inside the house, nothing has changed. Nothing is out of place. It’s almost as if David expects me to return to him or something. I wonder where he thinks I was last night. I bet he assumes I stopped at Amber’s.
As quickly as possible, Amber and I start packing up my things. Not caring if we crease anything, we shove clothes into garbage bags and carry everything down to our cars.
“When I get back to my apartment, I’m going to call the landlord, pay what rent is owed, and ask about extending my lease,” I say, shoving a bag into the trunk of my car.
“I’d ask him to change the locks too. You don’t want David showing up randomly. In fact, I’d maybe have the cops on speed dial or something,” Amber says, her brows drawing together.
“Hm … yeah. Maybe.”
Once all of my belongings are packed into mine and Amber's cars, all that’s left is my engagement ring, which I took off and threw in the bottom of my purse last night.
I retrieve the ring, and place it on the dining table, along with a note that simply reads:
‘David, it’s over. Don’t contact me again. Caitlyn.”
I’m standing from the couch, when I hear Amber making a yelping noise from outside. I rush out to see what’s wrong and see David pulling into the driveway.
The moment he steps out of the car, Amber is rushing towards him, her fists raised.
“Amber! Stop!” I call out, not wanting my friend to get into trouble on my account.
Amber lowers her fists, but she doesn’t move, blocking David’s pathway to me.
Holding my head high, I stare steadily at my ex.
“I’m leaving David. I left the ring in the living room. Don’t contact me again,” I say firmly.
David’s face morphs into a softer, apologetic expression, and if I hadn’t seen this bull shit a million times before, I might have been sucked in by it. But I’m wise to him now.
“Please, Caitlyn. Just come inside and I can explain everything. I love you,” he pleads.
“No, you don’t,” I bite back. “And there’s nothing to explain. You cheated and you lied, and I’m not falling for your bull shit anymore. It’s over.”
David opens his mouth to speak, but I don’t give him a chance. I nod to Amber, and then both of us rush to our cars. We’re safely behind the driver’s seats, with the doors locked, before David even realizes what’s going on.
“This isn’t over!” He yells, as Amber and I drive away.
-----
Back home, Amber starts unpacking my belongings, and packing them away, while I call my landlord.
After much explaining, I make it clear I want to continue renting my apartment long-term, and that David Morgan is no longer part of my life.
Thankfully, my landlord is understanding -- I’m sure the advance rent payment helps too -- and he promises that he won’t accept anything from David and that a locksmith will be sent over ASAP to change the locks.
“I really hate leaving you like this,” Amber says, once everything is unpacked.
“But you need to get back to the dogs. I understand. Speaking off--”
Amber sighs, her shoulders slumping. “You want Bella back, don’t you?”
Bella is a chow-chow that’s been in our care for years. Until recently, Bella lived with me, but when David asked me to move in with him, he didn’t want me bringing the dog along, and so, Amber offered to have her instead.
“Would you mind?”
“You know I love that dog, but I won’t take her away from you. I’ll bring her to work tomorrow, and you can take her home,” Amber says, and I pull my friend into a tight embrace.
“Thank you. And thank you for everything you’ve done for me today,” I say, then pull back to stare at Amber steadily. “And don’t worry about me. I’m going to take a long, hot bath and then I’m going to call Josh.”
Amber’s eyes widen. “Are you?”
“I am. I know this is fast, but I want to see how things go.”
My best friend grins. “I’m so happy for you.”