Life After Love: Part 16

Marley

A trip to Mexico is just what I needed to relieve the stress that had been giving me gray hairs all week. Jesse and I managed to crash a few beach parties, drink and dance until morning, and ended up with one of the worst hangovers we've had in a while. Drinking all night was fine in your early twenties, but pushing thirty almost made the hangover last longer somehow, as if my body just couldn't handle all the alcohol I was pouring into it. We did, however, gather ourselves enough to get sober on our drive back to Pasadena. It was six in the evening by the time we got to Pasadena. The sun beamed on my car as we breezed through the open country road. Lucky for us, my air conditioning was functioning well, considering the last heatwave of the season was still plaguing us.

When the country station took a commercial break, I turned down the volume and briefly glanced over at Jesse, whose temple was resting against the window, as she stared blankly into space. She had mentioned her run-in with Serena at the old farmhouse briefly as we lounged poolside at the hotel back in Alcapulco, and I wished she had listened to me when I warned her about trying to get in between Danny and Serena. I knew she was still trying to recover from it, and I hoped she would finally decide to move on.

"Hey, think of it this way. You won't have to put up with Danny anymore. You can move on now," I jested as I pulled towards the exit that would lead us into town.

"I just wish he'd see how bad she is for him. You have no idea how many times I've found him drunk out of his mind because of her. No offense, I know she's your best friend." Jesse excused herself, and I sighed, not willing to comment on that. Serena and I might be going through a funk right now, and I knew it would only get worse once I figured out what was going on with her and Michael, but she was still my family.

"I thought you and Kyle were hitting it off," I changed the subject, hitting the gas as I sped down the open road heading near Sylvan Beach, where Jesse's house was located.

"He's nice. Cute too, but I don't think it's going to work out," she answered as she looked down at her phone, glancing at the screen every few minutes. She was waiting for a phone call that was never going to come. I felt for her. I'd been in her shoes way too many times to count.

"I know Kyle. He's a good man. And he can cook a mean lasagna. Don't give up on that one just yet," I advised, and she gave me a short smile as I made a right turn, almost arriving at her bungalow.

"How's it going with Michael by the way?" she asked, and I stiffened at the question, reminding myself of how shady he'd been lately. Was Michael up to his old bad habits again? If so, what was I going to do about it this time? Would I actually break up with him? Did I want to ruin something that was barely in its beginning stages?

"I haven't talked to him yet. We'll see how it goes. See you soon?" I replied, and we hugged each other as I pulled up to the curb and parked in front of her place. We said our goodbyes after she pulled her luggage out of the back seat and I drove off. Turning the volume up on my radio, I tried to drive past the beach house I'd dreamed of owning one day, and after I took one look at the place, I hit the brakes in the middle of the quiet road when I saw Serena and Michael's cars parked in the car port. I hesitated, trying to think past the hurt before I made a fool of myself, then I hit the gas, heading straight home.

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I was in the middle of making dinner when I heard my front door open and shut. I was also halfway through the wine bottle I bought on my way home and was already feeling buzzed when Michael stepped into the kitchen and cleared his throat, waiting for me to greet him. He wanted my attention. I wanted his loyalty. I wondered who would get their wish first.

"Are you drunk?" he asked, lifting the bottle off the counter before I could grab it myself. I quietly went back to stirring the homemade salsa and kept my attention on the ingredients I still had left to put in. "Hey, what's wrong, doll face?" he continued softly, reaching for my hand, but I pulled away from him.

"Don't even think about touching me," I warned sharply, glaring at him as I kept stirring and stirring, not bothering to care that my wrist was starting to hurt.

"Okay. Let me know when dinner's ready then," he retorted calmly, releasing a deep breath as he walked right out of the kitchen. I wanted to slam something across his face, but then I'd have to clean everything up. I moved on to the next dish and waited twenty minutes for the rest of the meal to be ready before I served some for myself and some for Michael, whose plate I placed outside on the porch swing.

"I'm guessing I'm not eating tonight?" Michael observed as I stabbed my fork into my meatloaf and glanced up at him sharply. His eyes widened at the violent gesture and he kept his distance, standing in the doorway.

"Your plate is on the porch. Since you need to be such a dog," I answered brusquely, and he raised his eyebrows in shock, not bothering to defend himself before heading towards the front door. By the time I was done with my plate of food, Michael had come back in, rubbing his stomach, carrying the empty plate of food into the kitchen without saying a word.

"Hope you enjoyed it. It's the last one you're going to get from me," I spat and watched his back stiffen before turning towards me slowly. His eyebrows furrowed, his expression in full anger mode as he approached me and took a seat next to me on the island.

"Mind telling what it is I've done to piss you off so much?"

"Like sleeping with my best friend isn't bad enough, but to rub it in by doing it in a house I wanted to buy? God, I thought you had changed. I knew this was a mistake," I rambled, swallowing back the lump in my throat as I looked at his confused expression.

"First of all, I don't know who's been whispering shit into your ear, but they're wrong. And, second of all, you came to me remember? You wanted this relationship, not me. I was fine with the way things were."

"Bullshit. I didn't force you into anything. You could've said no," I reminded him and he pinched the bridge of his nose before continuing.

"Like I could ever say no to you. Jesus, Marley. You're so blinded by your love for Freddy that you can't even think about the possibility that maybe, just fucking maybe, someone else could be in love with you, too," Michael argued, and the second he said the word love, I perked up, trying to read him as he stared at me. My heart pounded right out of my chest the second he moved away from me. Oh, what have I done?

"Now that I know how you really feel, I guess I should tell you the truth," he added, pulling out an envelope hidden underneath his t-shirt. "Here, this is the house I bought for you," he finished, and I opened the envelope, quickly skimming through the deed of the property, noticing I was named the owner of the beach house as of tomorrow morning. I felt the guilt settle into the pit of my stomach first, rising until I felt the urge to throw up as I covered my mouth. The tears streamed down my face as I turned to say something to him, but his gaze had lowered down to the floor. I had no right to say anything but sorry. And it still wouldn't have been enough.

"I thought you said this love thing wasn't for you," I baited, and watched him smirk as he avoided my gaze, bending at his knees, placing his head in between them out of frustration.

"I can't give you everything you want, Marley. I can't be Freddy. I can't be the hero. What I can do is give you a house that makes you smile so much your cheeks hurt. That's what Serena and I have been working on behind your back," Michael explained as he shoved his hands into his pockets, knowing well enough he wanted nothing more than for him to pull me into his arms.

"Michael, I—"

"My trial begins tomorrow. I might end up back in jail so whatever you're about to say won't matter," he claimed, leaning in to kiss my forehead, his lips lingering on my skin before pulling away. I wanted him to say it out loud. I wanted him to admit just how fast and easily he'd fallen for me. In the end, he didn't need to. It was all there, in the piece of paper dangling from my shaking hands.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" I scolded, placing the paper down as I pulled him closer to me for a hug. There was no denying I had feelings for Michael. I just hadn't realized how deep they had been until now. To say it was love was premature, but it was sure heading in that direction.

"Does that mean I get to eat inside the house again?" he joked and I chuckled against his chest as he held me tight.

"Shut up and kiss me, Michael," I ordered, and he smiled wickedly as he hoisted me onto the island and stepped in between my legs, placing my legs around his waist.

"Yes ma'am."