1. Bree #3
“There’s nothing to explain. If you’ve already decided how you feel about me and Wren, there’s nothing I can say that’s going to change your mind. Especially not now that you’ve been through my messages.”
“So I finally caught you.”
“Caught me, Bree? Caught me doing what, exactly?”
“Caught you encouraging your ex and flirting with her. And you’re not even sorry about it.”
“I’m still waiting for a sorry from you, for checking my phone. You’ve reached a new low today, Bree. You should be the one apologizing. Not me. I’m getting tired of this. I have a walkthrough tomorrow.”
“I’m standing here asking if you were flirting with your ex, who clearly has feelings for you — on our anniversary — and you’re stuck on the phone thing? You’re the one who hit a new low tonight, Gavin. Not me.”
I threw his phone on the bed, snatched up my crumpled panties and pajamas from the floor, and headed to the bathroom.
“Listen to me, Bree. You cannot walk away like that.”
I didn’t listen. I went into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and cried as the hot water streamed down my body. I could hear Gavin outside the door the whole time. “Bree, let me in. Bree,” he said, and knocked very gently. Then he stopped knocking.
When I came out, he was still standing there like he’d never moved. He stepped aside to let me pass and followed me into the closet, where I pulled my duffel bag off the shelf and started shoving clothes into it.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m packing a bag,” I said.
“I can see that. But why?” he asked.
“I want to stay a few days with my parents. You’ll be busy with the game next week anyway.”
“What does that have to do with me being busy?”
I silently packed my bag.
“Bree. Bree. Talk to me. You cannot just pack your bags and leave.”
“I can,” I shouted back.
“Please, Bree. Let’s talk it out.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Gavin. You think I’m the problem here. So I’ll just let you be with the woman who’s clearly not the problem, so the two of you can revisit some of your memories together.”
“How many times do I have to tell you there is nothing between us, huh, Bree? I don’t want her.
You’re being paranoid, and completely insecure.
She has always been nothing but nice to you.
You’re the one who’s been putting her down, embarrassing her, after everything she’s been through.
She’s a friend. And as a friend, I should be by her side.
I thought you’d be by her side too. But clearly you’re not. Because of your petty jealousy.”
“Okay. I’m just being jealous. I’m being insecure and completely immature. But I’ve told you a million times how she behaves with me behind your back, Gavin. And you still think I’m imagining things?”
“I never said you’re imagining things,” Gavin said. “I just said she’s a different kind of person. She may come across as rude and curt sometimes. Her jokes can be dry, and sometimes even dirty. But she’s always been like that. She means well, Bree. You have to understand.”
“I don’t have to understand anything, Gavin,” I said. “You have to understand now. Your ‘paranoid’ wife wants you to cut off all ties with your ex-girlfriend, or she leaves. Make your choice, and make it right now.”
Gavin was quiet for a long moment, shaking his head.
“The documentary is almost seventy percent done, Bree. How can I stop it now?”
“You can ask the agency to replace her.”
“There’s no one there as good as her. She’s the most senior documentary maker they have. She’s the best they’ve got.”
“So you’re telling me replacing her with the second-best person for the remaining thirty percent isn’t worth the risk of losing your wife?”
Gavin reached for me. “You don’t understand, Bree. There are copyright clauses that can’t be broken. She might not even hand over the footage she’s captured.”
I looked at him. I didn’t know this version of Gavin standing in front of me. I’d never met him before. I zipped my bag with unnecessary force and picked it up.
“I got my answer, Gavin.”
“Wait — wait, Bree. Listen to me, listen to me, Bree,” he said, trying to hold my hand.
I snapped and jerked my hand back. “Don’t touch me!” I shouted.
“Please, please, Bree, don’t do this. Please don’t go, Bree. We can sort this misunderstanding out, okay? You’re tired. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?” He embraced me slightly, but I stayed stiff.
I set my bag down and went to the guest bedroom and shut the door. He stood outside it. “Bree, why are you doing this? Why are you sleeping alone? Okay — okay, Bree. You can take the bedroom. I’ll sleep here.”
I was silent.
“Bree?” Gavin said.
“I’m fine here, Gavin. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“Okay, Bree. Goodnight, then.”
He gave up, and I heard his footsteps go down the hall back to our bedroom. And as I heard it, I fell asleep.
I jolted awake three hours later, disoriented, my heart going like I’d been running.
I got up, padded down the hall, and looked in — Gavin was asleep, chest rising and falling in that steady rhythm I used to fall asleep to for seven years.
I picked up the bag from where I had left it, and went to the closet.
I unpacked all my clothes and put them back on the shelves.