Bitter

I feel tears prick my eyes, but I hold them off. Yeah, I haven’t been in the mood lately, but that’s because after every time we’ve fucked lately, he will just roll over and go back on his phone. There’s no connection there at all.

I cross my arms across my chest. “I’ve barely even talked to you this week. You’ve been late every night.”

I can tell that only makes him more upset. He turns and takes his suit jacket off. “You know why I’ve been late! I’m trying to get this new business up and running. Sorry I am trying to provide a better life for us! I guess that means I don’t get to fuck my wife anymore!”

I walk up to him and place my hand on his back. “I’m sorry, honey. You’re right. I just miss you is all.”

He turns and gives me a half smile. Then he leans down and kisses my lips. He pulls back, and I smile at him. “Can we eat first?”

Suddenly there’s a pounding knock at the front door. I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “Are you expecting someone?”

He shakes his head no as he walks over to see who it is. The moment he opens the door, his brother, Reed, shoves his chest, causing him to stumble backward. I quickly turn off the stove and run toward the living room to try to help, but I don’t get far before the arguing starts.

“You fucking bastard!” Reed yells.

Jake stands taller. “Calm down.”

Reed doesn’t listen as he gets right up in Jake’s face. “You cut me out of the fucking deal?”

I look at them both in concern. I am not exactly sure what they are talking about, but I think it has to do with this new business they are trying to start.

Jake remains calm. “We didn’t cut you out. You will still hold your initial investment.”

That only seems to make Reed angrier. “That’s nothing and you know it! Why would you let everyone vote on this without me?”

Jake shrugs like it’s no big deal. “You knew this could happen if you didn’t show up.”

“I had to work! You knew that!”

Jake suddenly has a smug smile on his face. “Maybe you should get your priorities in order.”

Reed turns completely red in the face, and then he is hurling toward Jake. His fist connects with Jake’s face, which makes him stumble backward.

I open my eyes wide and run toward them. “Reed!” I scream as he tries to approach him again. I stand between the two men. “Reed, calm down,” I say as my hands stretch between them to prevent them from getting close to each other.

Reed looks at me with furious eyes. “Oh, fuck off, Wren! What do you care when he’s out fucking anything with two legs, including that bitch Marley from the office,” he spits out.

The moment the words are out of his mouth his face morphs from anger to regret. He opens his eyes wide like it was a mistake, which only confirms what he said was true. We don’t break eye contact as my world crashes around me.

He opens his mouth to say something. “Wre-.”

Jake cuts him off. “Get out of my house!” he yells.

Reed’s mouth forms into a straight line, and then he nods at me and turns around and leaves. It was like all the fight left him when he saw the look on my face. Reed and I have always got along. He’s the complete opposite of Jake in every way. They even look different, which is strange since they are brothers. Where Jake’s hair is blonde, Reed has dark hair. Jake’s blue eyes to Reed’s dark. Jake’s clean, manicured hands to Reed’s rough, calloused working hands.

He’s definitely the black sheep of the family, not following in the usual investment firm career and instead having his own custom closet business. From what Jake has told me when they were younger, Reed was always the trouble maker. Always giving their parents grief. Where their mom has to talk to Jake at least twice a week, I don’t think she ever reaches out to Reed unless it’s for a whole family gathering.

We bonded over that since I also have a strained relationship with my own family. I would always defend him because of it. We’ve had each other’s backs ever since that first summer that we all hung out together, especially when their mom would make those condescending remarks about me not being good enough for her son. He would always come to my rescue. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. It’s why I know Reed wouldn’t have said it if it weren’t true. He wouldn’t lie to me.

Jake is still behind me, but I can’t bring myself to turn around and look at him. I feel like I’m in a dream. A nightmare. My whole life is crashing around me. Everything inside me wants this to be some kind of joke.

I hear him step closer, and then he reaches out and touches my elbow. “Wren…”

I feel a tear fall down my cheek. I pull my elbow away so he isn’t touching me. I don’t want his fucking hands on me.

“It’s not true,” he tries to lie, but even he has to know he doesn’t sound convincing.

I whip around and look him in the eye. I need him to look at my face if he’s going to try to lie again. “Don’t,” I say angrily.

He takes a big breath. “Wren...They didn’t mean anything. I don’t care about them. It was just a way to release some of the stress. You haven’t been in the mood for the longest time.”

More tears want to flow, but I’m so done with this. I don’t want to feel hurt anymore. I don’t want to be sad. I’m tired of making excuses for people. I just want to be done.

“Leave.”

Jake tries to approach me again. “Wren, I’m sorry.”

“I can’t have this conversation right now. Please leave.”

He sighs. “Where am I supposed to go?”

I feel my anger rising. “I don’t know, Jake. I’m sure you can find someone’s bed to crawl into!” I snap back.

He closes his eyes for a moment in frustration. “Fine. I’m going to stay at John’s place tonight, but we need to talk tomorrow. I’m sorry, Wren. I love you.”

He walks back to our room to grab a bag of stuff, and then he slams the door as he leaves. I lifelessly walk over to the kitchen and look at all the food sitting out waiting to be eaten. The nice dinner we were supposed to have as a family.

I fall down to the floor and lean against the kitchen island. I curl my legs up into myself, and the initial shock starts to wear off. I gasp for air and clutch my chest until the first tears start to fall. Once they do, they don’t stop for the rest of the night.