What He Wants (Second Chances #1.5)(3)
“So you’re saying it was an accident that you ended up naked in my bedroom with your ass sticking straight up in the air?” Fuming, I started toward her, but she took off for her house.
Her husband was outside getting something out of his car when he saw her stumbling out of our yard with no clothes on. At first his eyes were wide, but then they narrowed; his once laid back demeanor changed to outright disgust. I could see in his eyes that he’d suspected she was cheating on him, just like I knew Daniel was cheating on me.
“Melissa!”
Clenching my teeth, I turned to see Daniel rushing toward me with a pair of boxers on, his arms outstretched like he wanted to reach for me. His blond hair was mussed and he had pink lipstick all over his skin; I was completely and utterly disgusted.
Immediately, I stepped back, eyes wide. My body shook with rage, and when his gaze landed on my hand filled with Angela’s hair, he stopped and held up his hands.
“Baby—”
“Stop,” I shouted, angry tears clouding my vision. “You don’t get to talk to me that way, or even look at me ever again after today. I want you to leave … now!”
“Melissa, you have to let me explain,” he pleaded. He tried to close the distance, but I reared back and slapped him across the cheek, the sting burning my palm.
His head snapped to the side and his jaw clenched, but he dropped his hands and backed away. “I don’t want to hear your f*cking excuses, Daniel. It’s over!”
He wouldn’t look at me, but I wished he would just so he could see the disdain in my gaze … the hate. Instead, he turned around and disappeared back down the hallway to our bedroom. Screams erupted outside, so I walked out the front door to see a stream of clothes flying across my neighbor’s lawn. Angela was still outside, scrambling to put on whatever her husband tossed her way. Their shouting was so loud the rest of our neighbors came out of their houses to see what was going on. In a crying mess of shame, Angela collapsed onto the ground while Mark continuously chucked everything she owned into the grass. She deserved it.
Daniel’s things were about to join the front lawn as well. Everything in my house that was his was going to disappear. The garage door opened, and when Daniel rushed outside to see what was going on, he took one look at Angela bawling her eyes out on the ground and shrugged his shoulders like he didn’t give a shit about her.
He wasn’t sorry for what he did; he had no remorse. How the hell could I not see this side of him before?
“I’m coming back tomorrow to get my things,” he claimed, staring angrily at me.
When all I did was glare at him with venom in my eyes, he huffed and stalked over to his black Lexus LFA and bolted out of the driveway. He could try to come get his things, but I couldn’t promise that they’d be in pristine condition.
I think Mark and I needed to have some fun first.
Nine Months Later
IT WAS THE last day of the school year, and my students eagerly awaited the final ringing of the bell, signifying the beginning of their summer of freedom. I was a Biology teacher at one of our local high schools and I loved it; Science was my passion.
My students’ eyes were focused on the clock and nothing else, legs bouncing underneath their desks. Silently, I laughed and shook my head. It was like that every year on the last day of school. Little did the seniors know that real life wasn’t exactly a walk in the park; it was hard and full of disappointment.
Some of the best times in my life were when I was in college, free from my parents and in charge of my own life. I prayed my students made better choices than I had. Looking at the clock, I noticed they had ten minutes left. It wasn’t just my students getting a vacation for the summer; I was as well. It would be my first one alone and single without my douche-bag ex-husband making my life miserable.
I was ready to leave just as badly as my students.
Already having my things packed and ready to go, I stood and slung my bag over my shoulder. “All right, everyone, you’re free to go. I hope you all have a wonderful summer before college. Try not to party too hard, okay?”
Eyes wide, a couple of them shot up out of the chairs and halted, not taking another step. “Are you sure, Ms. Ashford? We’re not going to get in trouble, are we?” Jordan asked, glancing at his friends then back to me.
Jordan was one of my all-time favorites. He had dark brown hair, crystal blue eyes, and the cutest dimples I’d ever seen on a young man. All of the girls loved him; he was our team quarterback and on his way to play at Appalachian State University on a scholarship.
Chuckling, I shook my head and pointed to the door. “No, you’re not going to get in trouble, so go. Good luck at Appalachian. I’ll have to come up there and watch some of your games.”
“You better,” he shouted excitedly, fist bumping one of his friends.
Everyone rushed toward the door as fast as they could and disappeared just as quickly down the hall. If I wanted to avoid the chaos, I probably needed to get out as well. It was time to celebrate and I knew exactly how to start off my summer.
Once out in the car, I took one last look at my school and started out of the parking lot. I didn’t have many single friends, but the ones I did have were fun to hang out with … on occasion. Most of them were a couple years younger than me with no divorce under their belts. I typically kept that bit of knowledge a secret when I met a new man. The men I’d met over the past couple of months were too self-absorbed to even ask me questions anyway. Needless to say, I hadn’t had sex in a long time; I missed the connection and the closeness.