Marx Girl

His jaw clenches. “You said that you broke up.”

I shake my head. Honestly, is he emotionally disabled? “Do you have any empathy for anyone at all?” I ask.

His brow furrows.

“We broke up this week, Ben… because of you.” My eyes fill with tears because it hurts to say this out loud. “How do you think it felt for him to see me kissing you?” Oh, God, I just can’t stand the thought of it.

Fury crosses his face. “Don’t give me that shit, Bridget. I know exactly how it feels to watch you kiss someone else. It fucking hurts!” he cries.

My heart drops and I wince because this is a nightmare that keeps on giving. “Ben.” I shake my head and take a step back from him. I need some distance. “You need to leave.” I swipe my tears away angrily. “You’re too late; you had your chance and you threw me away.”

“I did not throw you away!” he yells. “I would never throw you away.”

I watch him for a moment as regret sits heavily in my stomach. “We’re done, Ben. It’s over. I thought we could be friends, but it’s obvious we can’t be.” I drop my head and wipe my nose with the back of my hand. “I just can’t do this with you. I can’t go through this shit again. I had a normal life two weeks ago.”

“Bridget.” He steps towards me, and with one quick movement, I’m in his arms. “Don’t say that, baby. We can’t be over,” he whispers against my temple.

I screw up my face. He feels so safe and warm. I want to stay here, but then I get an image of poor Eric and his broken heart, and I find myself pulling from Ben’s grip. “Don’t touch me. Please. Just… leave me alone. I can’t do this.” With one last look, I turn and storm up the street, and as I turn the corner I glance back to see him standing still on the spot, head down, hands in his pockets.

He looks angry… and sad.

That makes two of us.

Twenty minutes later, I walk into Oscar’s to see Abbie and Tash in the back corner sitting in a bench seat. I put my hand on Max’s shoulder and bend to kiss his cheek as I walk by his table. “Hi, Max.”

“Hey, Didge.” He smiles as he puts his hand over mine on his shoulder.

I walk over and flop onto the bench seat. “Hi.”

They both smile.

“Well, my life is a fucking disaster.” I sigh as I snatch the menu from Abbie. “Give me every damn chocolate cake on the menu,” I snap as I lie back in the seat.

Abbie and Tash exchange looks. “What’s wrong?” Tash frowns.

I throw my hands in the air. “Oh, where do I start? I went out to dinner with Ben last night.”

Their eyes widen. “You did?” Tash smiles excitedly and begins to tap the palms of her hands on the table like she’s playing the drums.

“Did you fuck him? Please tell me you fucked him,” Abbie says.

“No, I did not fuck him, Abbie. My world doesn’t revolve around fucking because I’m not a slut!” I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

Abbie rolls her eyes. “God, you’re so dramatic today.”

Tash laughs. “What happened then?”

“Nothing. We went out and he dropped me home and it was all great.” I shake my head. “Better than great.”

Their faces fall in confusion. “So, what’s the problem?” Tash asks.

“He turns up at my work today, being all fucking sexy and bringing me éclairs, and we kiss in the street. The next minute, Eric is there and sees the whole damn thing.”

They frown as they listen.

“Oh no,” Tash whispers.

“And then Eric called Ben a prick, Ben called Eric a cunt, and then I don’t know what happened next but then they were punching the living shit out of each other outside the front of my work.”

Tash’s eyes widen, and she puts her hands over her mouth in horror.

“Rolling around on the fucking concrete.” I shake my head in disbelief. “It was appalling. “

“Is Eric all right?” Tash whispers.

“I don’t know because he won’t answer my calls.” I put my head into my hands. “He officially hates me.”

“Shit,” Tash whispers

“What’s Ben doing?” Abbie asks. “As long as he doesn’t hate you.”

“Being a fucking jackass, that’s what he’s doing. I wish he hated me. He turns up after work today and cuddles me and he nearly got me again. He’s turning me into a queen bitch slut hoe.”

Our coffees arrive, and the girls take them while I put mine in front of me.

I take a sip of my coffee and shake my head. “I don’t cheat.”

“Being a queen bitch is fun, and you broke up, remember? You weren’t technically together anymore,” Abbie interjects.

Tash points at me. “This is true.”