Rescue Me (Dark Desires 3)

“I was hoping you’d sent it,” I said morosely. “Brett got a box in the mail the other day, with some new video game system that’s only been released in Japan. There was no return address, and when I told him that he couldn’t have it, he got pretty mad.”

“I was wondering why he was in such a shitty mood last weekend,” Marlene said. She rolled her eyes. “I chalked it up to normal ten-year-old boy drama, but holy shit.”

I sighed. “No, definitely not normal ten-year-old boy drama,” I said. “I couldn’t find a return address so I’m keeping it until I can have it checked out.”

Marlene narrowed her eyes. “What, you think someone is trying to hurt Brett to get to you?”

I shrugged. After a moment’s debate, I told her about Hannah, leaving out the grittier details. By the time I was finished recanting the whole sordid saga, Marlene looked shocked and pissed.

“That little bitch,” she said. “I can’t believe I trusted her around my son!”

“I know.” I shook my head. “So, I’m not ruling out the possibility that she’s somehow trying to get revenge. She did come from money, it’s possible she could’ve bought that stupid PlayStation on her own.”

Marlene shrugged. She gave me a devious look. “I bet you’re not doing so well without an assistant,” she said smugly.

“Hey,” I said, pretending to be offended. Marlene burst out laughing and after a second, I joined in. It was odd – I wasn’t having a bad time with her. Now that the poison and vitriol of the divorce had passed, it felt strange to be having an okay time with the woman who had ripped my heart out.

I just hoped we could keep it up, for the sake of parenting Brett.

Marlene sighed. “I wish things could be like this all of the time,” she said, scooting closer to me on the seat.

I narrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about?

Marlene pouted. “Between us,” she said. “I wish things could be good like this all the time, you know?”

“Marlene, we’re divorced,” I said flatly. “And honestly, I think that’s for the best. Hell,” I added, turning in the seat and crossing my arms over my chest. “You were the one who couldn’t stop talking about how much you loved your freedom.”

Marlene swallowed. She stroked a finger down the side of my arm. I waited two seconds before pushing her away.

“I was hasty when I said that,” Marlene said. She batted her eyelashes and lowered her voice to a honey-sweet pitch. “I miss you, Thomas. I miss being your wife.”

I exhaled as stiffly as I could. “Well, it’s never going to happen again. We split up for a reason. You cheated on me, for over fifteen years! That was our whole fucking marriage!”

“I made a mistake,” Marlene said. She sniffed and my irritation came roaring back, full blast.

“A mistake is forgetting to pick up the dry-cleaning,” I snapped. “Fucking other men for fifteen years wasn’t a mistake, Marlene. That was a very calculated, intentional decision on your behalf.”

Marlene narrowed her eyes. “Well, I regret that,” she said softly. “Besides, shouldn’t Brett have both of his parents?” She scooted closer and I pushed her away. “I miss being a family with you, Thomas. We should get back together.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re seriously crazy,” I told her, shaking my head and rolling my eyes. “I can’t believe you think we should be together just because you miss me!” I groaned. “And this is probably all because you’re sick of working and you want to live on my dime again!”

“I miss you,” Marlene said. Her voice was insistent, full of passion that I’d somehow never heard from her during the entirety of our marriage.

“I’ve moved on,” I said flatly. I rapped on the back of the driver’s seat. “Stop here,” I called loudly. “I’m getting out and taking the subway.”

Marlene looked at me with hatred in her vivid green eyes. “You can’t have moved on,” she said, twisting her lips into a scowl. “That’s not possible!”

“Well, it happened,” I said. “And I’m falling in love. Marlene, you and I will never be together again. Do you understand?”

Marlene glared at me with such palpable hatred that I was expecting a slap to the face. Instead, she opened her coral lips and spit right on me.

I sighed and pushed open the car door.

“Fuck you,” Marlene yelled after me. “I can’t believe you could be so cruel!?

?

I stood there for a moment, wondering what I should do. In any other moment – on any other day – I’d turn right back around and tell her she deserved everything that she’d gotten. But I was tired. I was exhausted, from dealing with Hannah, and June, and now Marlene. I couldn’t waste my energy on my useless ex who didn’t deserve to even breathe the same air as June.