Duane: Forever.
Lord have mercy.
How can one simple word keep bringing new optimism into my life every time he says it? With a smile plastered on my face, I finish my morning duties as hostess in a haze.
It’s about closing time when a tall, dare I say, gorgeous blonde and another shorter, just as pretty, redhead walk in. Dressed in an overly tight black pencil skirt and white top, the blonde looks at me in disgust.
That’s odd.
The redhead grabs Blondie’s elbow, and whispers harshly into ear. Blondie roughly yanks her elbow away and stalks toward me.
The menacing look in her eyes makes me take a step forward. My hackles are up. For some reason, I’m prepared for a fight.
“Can I help you?” I say with a little bit more snark than intended.
Blondie puffs her small chest out like a damn peacock and sets her hands on my counter, leaving greasy fingerprints. She licks her too-red-lipstick-stained lips and sneers at me.
“There is a way you can help me.” She tosses a look behind her to the redhead. “Stay away from Duane. As a matter of fact, don’t talk to him again. He is mine. Got it?”
The desperation in the air is palpable, and I scoff at her. Bitch is seriously out of her mind if she thinks I’m going to believe her over Duane. I peek over her pointy shoulder to raise my eyebrows at the redhead, as if to say, ‘is she for real?’ The redhead rolls her eyes at Blondie.
Looking back at the face of desperation in front of me, I realize she’s more like a Monet.
From far away, the painting looks magnificent and beautiful, but as you get closer, you come to find out it’s really quite hideous. The colors are splashed together, making a huge mess.
I’m not one to judge, really, I’m not. I genuinely think there are no ugly people, just ugly personalities, and this woman’s attitude has made her one of the ugliest people I’ve ever met. She’s bringing out my inner bitch, and I’m only seeing her flaws. Ridiculously thin eyebrows, her nose is too pointy, and her neck? Friggin’ giraffe.
Okay—maybe that was a little harsh? But, at this very second, I’m kind of doing a happy dance in my mind. That was damn funny. I’m hilarious.
The side of my mouth turns up. “Interesting,” I volunteer.
Blondie scoffs. “Interesting? Interesting!” She practically screams. “Where was he today?” She challenges.
I cross my arms under my breasts and roll my eyes so far into my forehead it actually kind of hurts. “Work. Get over yourself, and if you could, please let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.” I point to the exit.
The redhead begins to slowly work her way to Blondie. “Let’s just go,” she begs.
“No,” Blondie insists. “I’m sure she wants to know where her precious Duane was today.”
I’m not going to believe her. I’m not going to believe her.
I chant in my head.
Sure you’re not.
I bring my hands out in front of me, gesturing at her. “Please, by all means, enlighten me.”
She straightens her back, and puts her hands on her small, boyish hips. Yeah, I said it. The chick has no hips. Suck on that egg, Blondie.
“He was with me, in his office…fucking,” she hisses.
Slimy snake.
“While you were here in your dreary little bakery, Duane was deep inside me, moaning my name. Mine!” She barks, angrily slapping her chest. “My name!”
Jesus, she’s crass.
Yet, my idiotic inner self is shrugging down into an uptight turtleneck sweater and contemplating the possibility.
Shoo off, bitch.
My inner strength comes back, reminding me I need to stand my ground.
I slowly walk around the counter to face the blonde bitch.
She’s much taller than me in her slutty stilettos, but my Converse hit her peep toe and she stumbles back. Pointing my finger at her chest, I summon the courage and fight for my man. I am not going to believe this crazy woman’s bullshit. She reeks of desperation.
“You will,” I stress, “leave now. If you don’t, I’ll throw your skinny ass out on that street quicker than you can say Michael Kors. You got me? Now go.” I once again point to the door.
The redhead pulls on Blondie’s elbow, encouraging her to move.
Blondie huffs and puffs, thinking about her next move. I think we might be having a staring contest. I haven’t done this in a very long time, but I sure as hell am not going to back down first.
Blink bitch!
If she doesn’t get herself together in a few seconds, I am going to knock her feet out from under her and drag her out by her extensions.
Yeah. That little morsel added a bit of extra satisfaction. Fake hair. Really?
Assessing me carefully, she raises her drawn-on eyebrows.
I’m quickly losing my patience. She won’t have time to make a decision for herself. I’ll make it for her.
A couple beats later, she immaturely screeches and turns for the door. Guess she didn’t think she could take me.
At least she has some brain cells
.
I’ve got a good thirty pounds on her. I’d probably break her in half.
She’s almost out the door when she pivots in my direction. “Do yourself a favor,” she snarls, “just ask him where he was during lunch. That’ll tell you all you need to know.”
With that little bomb planted, the blonde bitch walks out, slamming my door in the process.
Oh sweet Jesus, please break my glass door, I’d love to take some of your money.
I grit my teeth and walk to the front door to lock it. I really don’t need her to come back here tonight—or ever, for that matter. She’s lucky I don’t go out there and pound her to the ground. I’ve never been a violent person, but I want to forcefully hit her in the face—with a freaking rolling pin.
Gah!
I do a couple of lip trills, and shake my entire body.
I know better than to believe her. Really I do. She is obviously in love with Duane. Who wouldn’t be? I can’t blame her, but what really gave her away was the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes when she thought I wasn’t going to buy her shit. Acting is not in that woman’s future.
Rule number one of performing. Got to commit, bitch.
Turning out the lights, I walk up to the loft. Liv and Mia are sitting on the couch watching TV when I walk in the door.
“Hi, Annie,” Mia exclaims as she jumps over the couch and into my arms.
Her tight hug reaffirms I have fantastic friends. I giggle and wrap my arms around her.
“Hi, Mia Pia. How’s it going?” All thoughts of the Blondie bitch push to the corners of my mind.
“I’m good. Missed you. I brought dinner.” She points to the mounds of Chinese on the coffee table. My stomach grumbles and I slap her ass, moving toward the food.
“Thank you, I’m starving.” I probably sound more excited than I should over food, but they don’t care.
Liv chuckles from the couch. “Oh, how I’ve missed our trio ass slaps, Ann.”
I pile my plate with greasy goodness and mumble, “I know, right?”
I’m about to dig into my garlic noodles when Mia sits next to me. “Who the hell slammed the door down there?”
My smile falters. I set my plate down, and take a drink of water, feeling parched. How do I tell them about the woman who claims to be having sex with Duane right under my nose? I don’t want them to have any doubts about Duane. Their trust in him means the world to me.
I might have believed her if she didn’t sound so anxious for me to get angry and riled up. She wants me to dump Duane out of anger. She wants him. I could smell her a mile away. She isn’t fooling me. Plus, little did Blondie know, the redhead was unintentionally giving her away.
“This crazy woman came into the shop right before closing. She claimed to be fucking,” air quotes accompany the word, “Duane.”
Both Liv and Mia’s mouths pop open and the look at me expectantly, waiting.
When I hear myself say it out loud, my inner voice is throwing her hands in the air at both of the girls, saying, “See? This isn’t something you can brush off.”
The three of us are looking at each other.
It’s obvious I need to say more, explain, but I can’t bring myself to tell them what happened.
“Don’t stop now, you noob. What the hell happened?” Liv pipes in.
Mia chews on her thumbnail and bobs her head. “Why would she say that?”
I comb my fingers through my straightened hair. “Because she’s lost her damn mind. She walks in, tells me to stay away from Duane. Says she was having sex with him today. I don’t believe her. She was so insistent that it makes me question her motives. She seemed hell bent on making me pissed off at Duane.”
Liv tucks her feet under her butt and pulls the throw blanket over her legs. She huffs.
“Listen woman,” she starts, “I’m not saying you should believe her, but I wouldn’t completely dismiss the accusation either. You’ve only just met Duane. Do you really know him?”
I shoot her a glare that makes her retreat further into the sofa, attempting to slither away. I’m about to spit fire when she puts her hands up in submission.
“I’m just trying to be the devil’s advocate, alright? I don’t want you to get hurt,” Liv pleads.
Mia lays her hand on my leg. “We aren’t agreeing with the woman. We’ve always said you can read people, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore her. Maybe there is some truth in what she is saying. Maybe Duane is
too
nice to her. He might need to set some boundaries. How do they even know each other?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I have no idea. She said she was in his office today. That’s all I know.”
Liv gets up from her side of the couch, and sits next to me. “I love you, you know that, but he is the first guy I’ve ever seen you date. In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never once given a man a second glance. I’ve always given you your space. I’ve never asked, but I think he is different. Duane is a good guy; I see the way he looks at you, but I want to make sure that you are safeguarding your heart.”
Neither of them really pressed me about my past. They’d ask and I’d shut them down right away, or change the subject.
It’s so unlike me to tell Duane about Kyle. There’s a reason why I let him break down those walls.
He is healing me.
Tears pool in my eyes and Mia wraps her arm around my shoulder, while Liv coils her hands around my arm. Laying my head on Liv’s shoulder, I struggle with myself, debating if I should tell them or not. They deserve to know, they’re my best friends for Christ sake. Maybe it’s time I stop shutting them out of that part of my life.
“Guys, I have something to tell you,” I start as the tears start rolling down my face uncontrollably.
They both look at me, immediately more concerned than before.
By the time I’m done with my story, both girls have tears in their eyes and we’re holding hands. It would look funny to an outsider, but I couldn’t imagine a better way to tell them. We’re connected even more now. They know everything.
“Jesus, Ann. I’m so sorry,” Liv says.
Mia sniffles. “Annie, you kept this all to yourself this whole time?”
I grab another tissue and snort a humorless laugh. “Yep. How could I tell you guys? I was ashamed and devastated. I lost my whole world that day. I didn’t want to bring you into my darkness.”
“What changed your mind?” Liv asks with thick concern. “Why tell us now?” Her confusion lingers in the air. She still doesn’t fully understand.
Duane’s hazel eyes flash into my mind. I pause, waiting to admit to them the real reason.
“Duane,” I say. It’s the simplest and most honest answer I can give.
Mia, confused, says, “Duane? What do you mean?”
I dreamily sigh and picture his arms wrapped around my waist, comforting me with his soothing words and loving presence.
“He showed me love when I didn’t think I would ever find it again. I’m able to open up because he gave me the strength.” I look at them both, hoping the relief I feel in that fact is clear as day.
Liv looks down. “Well, shit.”
I look at her. “What?”
“All I have to say is the fucker better not be cheating on you, because I will beat his ass within an inch of his life,” she threatens.
I unclasp our hands and giggle a bit at the first humor I’ve felt since we began the conversation. I know him. I’ve seen his heart. I’m safe.
“I don’t think that’ll be an issue, but thank you,” I reply, “I’ll see him on Wednesday and we’ll talk things out.”
“You really think you can wait that long?” Mia asks.
Shit, probably not.
“No,” I admit.
Liv straightens up, hops into the kitchen and retrieves a bottle of wine. “Good,” she shouts. “You are going to go see him tomorrow.”
I give her a confused look. “I’ve been back one day. I can’t take another day off.”
“Oh, yeah?” Liv challenges. “Who is the boss around here? It sure as hell isn’t me. Mia?” She asks. “Are you in charge?”