Chapter 11
Elena
THE TRIP BACK HOME WAS UNEVENTFUL FOR THE MOST PART.
WE DIDN’T take much with us in the first place so there wasn’t much to unpack.
The meeting with Mr. Marino, I mean Lorenzo went off without a hitch.
Evie wasn’t kidding when she said the man was beautiful because holy fucking hell, he’s gorgeous.
So much so that I had to take a minute to snap myself out of daydreaming about him while standing right in front of him.
Thank God he won’t be home for the most part.
I don’t know how I would keep my underused libido in check around him, because holy stimulation!
So now, I’m home… Actually, I’m in Evie’s home, trying to navigate this situation. I have a fiancé to dump, a life to pack up and a city to leave. I actually feel a little bad for Matt; poor guy has no idea of the catapult I’m going to hit him with. I’m nervous thinking about it.
“You better not feel sorry for that dick!” I almost jump at the sound of Evie’s voice booming at me.
“How do you even know that I was thinking about him?”
“Because I know you. He deserves everything he’s got coming his way. Did he even bother to check on you after the signing?”
“As a matter of fact, yes, he has. In fact, he’s been blowing up my phone since last night. I think he’s worried.”
“Fuck that! I think he wants you to tell him where you are so he has enough time to hide the evidence of his nasty infidelity and get raggedy Anne bouncing out the door before you show up. That’s what I think.
” And of course she could be right. He probably wants me to check in so he can keep tabs on me and arrange his indiscretions accordingly.
“So, when are we doing this then?”
“We are not doing anything; I am going there now. Best to rip the band aid off now. Then I can concentrate on the move. You can stay here and wait for me. This is something I need to do on my own.”
“There is no way I’m letting you go alone. If you don’t want me inside then fine, but a wounded animal is unpredictable. I’ll wait outside.”
“Seriously? Matt couldn’t hurt a fly. He would probably be glad to get rid of me so he can have his way with Heather. I think I’m actually doing him a favour.”
“I don’t know about that Ellie; he may be flouncing around with her but you’re the one with the ring and men don’t take kindly to their woman leaving. Not unless they say so. It’s a primal thing. You best be careful.”
“Alright, you can come, but it’ll be fine. You wait outside though.”
Twenty minutes later we’re outside the house.
Evie stays in the car as promised. “Good luck bestie. Scream if you need help.” I roll my eyes at her before shutting the car door and make my way up the pathway leading to the front door.
I fish my keys out of my bag, open the door and go inside.
This is it, I hope I don’t lose my nerve.
“Ellie? Is that you?” Matt’s voice comes from upstairs. He sounds the same, unconcerned and detached.
“Yeah, I just got back this morning.” I respond while making my way upstairs. I can already hear the sound of explosions, guns and the fast clicking and tapping of the keyboard or controllers. Of course he’s playing his games.
Leaning against the doorframe I look at him and I can’t help but wonder.
Is this what I was willing to settle for?
I’m not even so mad about the whole Heather situation, and I should be.
I should be furious, but all I feel now is relief.
It’s not even worth getting upset over. I’ll just tell him that I know, that it’s over, I’m leaving and he is free to pursue a future with Heather, with no interference from me. Easy.
“Hey Matt.” He pauses his game to look at me.
“Hey babe, how was your trip?”
“It was good, great actually. Listen, Matt there’s something I need…”
“No, wait! There’s something I need to tell you first.” The man goes off a hundred miles an hour and I have no idea what brought this on and honestly, I couldn’t give a flying fuck right now. The wheels have been set in motion and there’s no going back now.
“Since you’ve been away, I’ve had some time to think. I’ve had a lot of time to think and I think we need to spend more time together. With the wedding coming up in a few months, I realise that I’ve left everything to you and that was unfair.” He pauses to take a breath.
God where is all this coming from? And why now?
“Look, Matt, it doesn’t matter now because…”
“It does matter!” He’s shouting now. Why is he shouting?
“I tried to call you, I texted, I left you voice notes and voicemail. You never returned my calls. You never got back to me.” I take a deep breath.
“Matt, I was busy. We had a great turnout and something came up in the middle of all that, which is why we need to…”
“We don’t need anything.” He cuts me off…. again! Seems like not everything has changed.
“It’s just that, since I couldn’t get a hold of you, I’ve had time to think.
I know I haven’t given you the attention you deserve.
While you were there, I just felt like something was…
off… you know? Like something wasn’t right.
I called Evie too and she just told me you were busy.
But she’s your editor so wouldn’t she be busy with you?
I mean you went for the book signing so if you weren’t available then surely, she wouldn’t be available too? Unless you were avoiding me?”
Wait what? He called Evie? When was this? She hadn’t mentioned anything to me.
“You called Evie?”
“Yeah, twice. Tell me the truth Ellie. Did something happen in Chicago? Did you meet someone?”
You have got to be kidding me. No way this is turning around on me.
“You can be honest with me. I love you, if something happened, it’s ok, we can work through it. I love…”
That’s it. I’ve had enough.
“Stop!”
I scream it out and he has the audacity to actually look shocked. He wakes up from the seat he’s been stuck on all the while proclaiming his fucking love for me. The fucking nerve. I lose it. All sense of calm and rationality has gone out the window. I’m done!
“Just Stop!”
I say again with my hand extended, palm out in a halt right there buddy gesture. He freezes. That’s better. It’s my turn now.
“I know.” Is all I say at first. He looks confused so I clarify. I repeat.
“I know.” He stares at me, arms hanging limp at his sides, shaking his head in denial.
“Don’t believe me Matt? Let me make it perspicuous for you. Do you know what that means Matt?” I’m stalking towards him slowly, painfully slow, for each step I take forward, he’s backing up a step.
“It means crystal clear. Bet they don’t teach you that in your dumbass games huh?”
“I, d- don’t understand.”
“I didn’t think you would. I saw you and Heather the night I left. My flight was postponed on account of the weather so I texted you and Heather to meet for drinks at Joeys. Only, when we got there, we were met with a rather cosy scene. Can you guess what we saw Matt?”
I’m not yelling, my voice is perfectly calm and cold as ice. I’m still walking towards him and he’s still backing up, face pale, sweat beading on his brow. Yeah, you dumb fuck.
“Did either of you even check your phones? Because if you did, then you would know that I was there. You would know that there is a possibility that I saw you both-together. You would know that the reason I’ve been dodging your calls and avoiding your messages is because I know.
You love your games, don’t you Matt? Well, guess what?
Game over baby. I’m done. So, in answer to your question, No!
I did not meet anyone, not in the Heather and Matt sense of the word.
But I did stumble across a golden opportunity. The wedding is off.”
I take the ring out of my pocket and throw it at him. He winces as if the act had caused him physical pain.
“I’m leaving. I’ll have a moving company come out in the next few days to gather my stuff.
For now, I’m just here to get some of my clothes.
You can tell your family whatever you want, I don’t care.
They won’t hear it from me. You can start your new life with Heather, just tell that bitch to lose my number. ”
“You can’t leave me!” It comes out in a hoarse whisper. His voice laced with shock and disbelief.
“Watch me!”
I spin on my heel and head to the bedroom to gather my stuff.
I’m busy pulling out clothing from the hangers and stuffing them into a suitcase when I’m yanked back.
The force of the act sends me reeling. Before I can get a grasp on exactly what’s going on, I’m on the floor, on my back with Matt straddling me.
His hands have each of mine in a death grip, holding tight above my head.
I try in vain to lift my hips in an effort to shove him off me. He’s heavy.
“Get off me you psycho!”
“You’re not leaving this house Ellie; you belong with me. Heather is nothing. She was just a warm cunt to fuck when you weren’t around. She means nothing.”
“Gee, thanks. Did you tell her that? You lousy son of a bitch.”
“I ended it with her, the day of your book signing when I tried to get a hold of you. I told her we were done. I love you, Ellie. Don’t you see? YOU. BELONG. WITH. ME.”
I try to struggle out of his grasp but he tightens his grip on my wrists and it burns. I can feel the skin begin to rub off from the friction.
“Let me go Matt. This is insane. You cheated on me. I will never forgive you for that. I will not be second best to anyone. It’s over.”
“You’re not Elena. You’ve never been second best. You’ve always been the one.
” He lowers his head to kiss me. My eyes open so wide I’m sure they look as though they might pop out of my head.
Oh my God! He’s lost it. The man is certifiable.
I turn away from him, he misses my lips, getting my jaw instead and lowers down to my neck, biting the sensitive spot between my neck and shoulder and I wince at the sting.
“Get off me Matt, this is wrong. What the fuck are you doing?” I buck my hips and shove him off me.
Rolling over onto my stomach I shuffle around on the carpet trying to gain traction as I scramble to reach my phone on the bed.
Just as I’m about to grab it, a hard tug on my ankle sends me crashing back to the floor, knocking my face into the carpet.
Kicking and screaming with limbs flailing around I hear a crash and the sound of shattered glass.
Looking around helplessly while Matt pins me down again, I see that the bedside table has been knocked over in the commotion and my favourite vase lies in pieces on the floor.
“That was a gift from my grandmother you piece of shit.”
I scream while kicking my legs around like a wild animal.
I kick out aimlessly, a feeble attempt to get free and I finally make contact with something.
I’m on my stomach so I can’t see which part of him I kicked but judging by the loud groan coming from him, it hurt.
Serves you right jackass. I use the opportunity to scramble up to my feet and get ready to make a run for it.
At the same time, Matt recovers enough to get up and stands in the doorway, blocking my exit.
Blood is streaming down the side of his face from a cut above his eyebrow.
There’s a smidge of blood on his nose and he has a split lip.
Damn, I did good.
“I said you’re not leaving me Elena. I’ll tie you to this bed if I have to.” He’s about to lunge at me and I block my face with my hands anticipating the attack, when I hear a crash and more glass shattering.
“The fuck you will, asshole.”
I let out a gasp of relief and look up from where Matt lay on the floor unconscious, to see Evie standing over him with, is that a bottle neck in her hand?
“I’m not much of a whiskey drinker myself but I have to admit having a bottle of the stuff lying around has its perks.”
She knocked him out with a fucking whiskey bottle.
“You okay babe, I heard the noise and came in. I told you. It’s always the quiet one’s.” She says shaking her head.
“Ellie? We have to call the police and you need to get to the hospital. I’m so sorry, I should have come in with you.”
“It’s not your fault, I honestly never expected him to be so… so, I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this. I thought he’d be relieved.”
“I told you, primal! They’re all insane.”