Falling in Love Again: A Valentine's Day Proposal

“Fucking hell, who cares?” I blurt out angrily. “Who gives a shit about them?”

I step into the shower and wash my hair, trying to wash away all thoughts of them at the same time, but of course, Anna and Daniel remain at the forefront of my mind. That’s been happening a lot recently, I’ve been thinking about the past which is really annoying. I don’t like it one bit. I have moved on now. Not into another relationship or anything, but I?

??m over it. I don’t know why I’m still thinking about them.

“Fuck off, Anna.” It’s almost as if I say it aloud, it will be more effective. “You’re done.”

As I head back into my room, I try to focus on work. That’s my happy place, where I’m most comfortable, where I know that my judgements can be trusted. My business brain has got me this far and I know that it will continue to do so. Relationships are a minefield, but my business, Lace Enterprises, is all good…

I wonder if that’s because I don’t have any women in the office. Not directly working with me anyway. That way, I don’t have to think about it. I don’t have to worry about being hurt again. I can just focus.

Some people might have a negative opinion of me because of that, but since no one has said anything to my face about it, I don’t care. I could explain it if they did, but if they just speak behind my back then so be it.

I pull my charcoal work suit on, thinking about the meetings I have today. Business is booming, my computer parts are selling like crazy, and its time to think about an expansion in one way or another. I want to make sure that I have all the market share in this area, whatever that takes. Yes, I’m ruthless, but I always do things in an ethical way.

Unlike Anna who absolutely trashed the ethics of our wedding vows. Not that I’m thinking about her.

Ring, ring…

Just as I’m about to head for the door, my cell phone grabs my focus.

Ring, ring…

I sigh as I pull it out and I see my mother’s name on the screen. I know that I’ll have to answer or she’ll worry, but she’s really infuriating me at the moment.

Ring, ring…

She will want to know about my love life, I just know it. Even though there isn’t anything to tell.

“Hello?” I answer cautiously. “How’s it going, Mom?”

“Hello, Carter,” she replies warmly. “It’s been forever since I talked to you. Do you know that?”

“Sorry, it’s been chaos at the moment. You know what it’s like with work…”

She tuts loudly. “Life isn’t always about work; you know?”

“Hmm.” I don’t bother to answer because our opinions will always differ.

“So, how are things out of work? I don’t want lots of business spiel… not that I’m not proud of you, of course! You know that I am, I just want you to stop being quite so consumed by your job.”

I huff and shake my head while looking around for my car keys. As soon as I get into my vehicle, I can end this call. Even though I have a car phone, Mom has an old fashioned view that it’s still dangerous to talk while driving. It doesn’t matter how many times I explain it to her, she just won’t get it.

“Everything is good, Mom. Nothing has changed.”

“You haven’t been out on any dates or anything? Because I really think…”

“I know what you think, Mom, but I don’t have time for that.”

“Yes, you do. You had time when you were married, you could make time now.”

“Mom!”

“What? I’m not allowed to talk about Anna now? That bitch, after what she did to you? Surely, you aren’t still at the stage where you can’t talk about it. It happened ages ago.”

“Which is exactly why I don’t want to talk about it.” Honestly, it was getting harder by the second to keep my temper in check. “I just want to forget it ever happened.”

“You won’t be able to forget it if you don’t meet someone new.”