Pretty Hurts (Left 1.50)

I plop down onto the bed beside her and place my hands under my head.

“All right. You hosted last night, so you chill, shower, and by the time you come down breakfast should be close to being ready.” She slides out of bed, and I admire the way my shirt clings to her breasts and skims her upper thighs. I admire the bounce of her ass as she pads out of my room.

I follow a few seconds later, rising and walking into the adjoining bathroom. I strip down, toss my clothes into the hamper, and get into the warm shower. Closing my eyes, I enjoy the spray on my skin. I wasn’t sure I’d be here again with another woman, not after being ditched out of the blue.

Past

I unlock the door and freeze. There are boxes in the living room, the pictures have been taken down from the wall.

“Mar,” I call, walking inside. Closing the door behind me, I step farther into the house. “What’s going on?”

“I didn’t want to be here when you came home.”

I glance up and find her dressed in a pair of form-fitting, shiny, black Capri pants and a black T-shirt that says Barbie in curvy pink lettering. She looks good enough to eat.

“What are you doing? Where are our things?”

“They’re packed up. I’ll leave them in storage until I make more permanent arrangements.”

I run my hands through my hair, completely floored. “What are you talking about? Why are you leaving? I know we’ve had a rough time the past few months, but this is insanely rash.”

Pursing her pouty pink lips, she shakes her head. “No, staying together any longer would be a mistake. We don’t want the same things.”

“Since when? We’re engaged to be married for Pete’s sake! We’ve got a venue booked, a date set, and invitations being made.”

“Those things can be canceled, Edgar. A lifetime of unhappiness cannot be.”

“Where is this coming from?”

“You don’t want children, Edgar. I do.”

“Since when? I’m still trying to understand where this came from.”

“Does it matter? You aren’t willing to bend on that.”

“You know why.”

“I do. But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m not able to compromise on this. I thought I could. But now I see I was wrong. I love you. I wanted to be the woman you needed. It’s clear to me now, however, I can never be that.”

“Yes, you are.” I rush forward, desperate to get her to give us time so I can change her opinion. I grab her hands. “Haven’t we been happy the past five years?”

“Yes.”

“You agreed to marry me because you saw us being together forever. Why let a sudden desire that will probably fade ruin the life we’ve spent so many years building?”

“Because it won’t pass. I thought long and hard about it. I wouldn’t do something this drastic if I weren’t sure.”

“So you waited until I was gone?”

“I wanted to make it as painless as possible.”

“You failed,” I growl.

“You’re too good at convincing me to stay. This is best for both of us, trust me.”

“Marilyn, I refuse to believe that.” I clench my fists as I struggle to wade through the avalanche of emotions tumbling over me. “This is fucking bullshit. If you wanted to leave, you should have said so.”

“I didn’t … I wanted you to bend.”