Chapter 4:
"What the hell is your problem?" Elliot yelled when they got home. He and Olivia ushered Dickie and Elizabeth to bed, they were standing in the middle of the living room. She was pulling her jewelry off and throwing them on the coffee table.
"My problem? Why don't you tell me why you suddenly like Applebee's so much? Is it the food or the damn bartender!" He turned away. "How could you do this to me?"
"Do what?" Elliot turned back. His hands were clenched in fists at my sides. He would never hit my wife, but it didn't mean he didn't want to sometimes. "I'm the only one who stayed faithful in this relationship." He stopped, knowing he had done wrong.
Olivia looked hurt, on the verge of tears even. He hated making her cry. She was always so tough. You knew when she was really upset was when she got teary eyed. But now, the tears were running down her cheeks. "That was a long time ago." Her voice quivered. "And I thought we agreed never to discuss it."
Elliot nodded in shame. Why would he bring up Cassidy? That was eight years ago, and he had forgiven her. The guilt rose up in him again. He remembered how he felt when he found out that his beautiful wife had been unfaithful. And he was doing the exact same thing.
No.
It was worse.
"Liv, I'm sorry." He edged closer. She flew her arms around his neck and clung tight. "I'm so sorry. I love you." He wrapped his arms around her slender waist. "I love you."
She pulled away. The tears were gone. The sobs were dimmed down. Back was the fiery woman he loved and married. "I hate you." She paused and stepped even farther away. "For making me feel this way." She picked up her bracelet and threw it at him. "I want you out of my house." She started to walk out of the room. "Tonight." He was left stunned. When he told Dani that Olivia was his ex wife, he thought that it was just a lie, not a prophecy.
"Olivia." She turned to him.
"GET OUT!" She was wild. He had never seen her like that. Ever, in the ten years they had been married. She always kept her cool.
She left the room in another fit of tears. He was afraid to go upstairs and get some clothes. He'd have to leave. But only for the night. She would forgive him. She'd have to.
He was just being paranoid, he thought as he made his way to his best friend's home in Manhattan. Olivia wouldn't divorce him because of this. She loved him, and he loved her. She wouldn't leave him because of some misunderstanding, like flirting with an attractive bartender.
Or making a date with her.
He shook the thought out of his head. He couldn't make the date now. No, he had to make up with his wife. She was more important to him than any other woman in the world.
He pulled onto his friends street and parked across the way from the apartment building. He was divorced, but he lived with his son. He should have an open couch at least. He climbed out of his car and headed to the tall building. He knew he had to be buzzed in. With his thumb he pushed the button marked "Tutuola." The buzzing that ensued was long and annoying. Only a few moments later he was answered by the grumbling of a tired Fin.
"Who is it and what do you want?" Elliot pushed the button again.
"It's me. Olivia kicked me out." There was silence for another moment or so.
Then, "Come on up." He heard the door click so he went up. By the time he reached Fin's apartment on the fourth floor, the door was wide open and Fin's son Ken was standing there waiting for him.
"Hey, are you ok?" Elliot nodded. Ken stepped aside allowing Elliot to enter the apartment. It was a bachelor pad to be sure. The walls were a dirty gray despite the fact they had once been painted white. But Fin worked longer hours than Elliot and rarely cleaned when he was free. Ken was just a plain old slob. "I cleared off the couch for you." He said to break the silence. Elliot saw random socks and cheetoh crumbs lying around the floor around him.
Damn, these men were slobs, he thought. "Thanks." Ken nodded. That was when Elliot noticed that he was fully clothed. Jacket and everything. "Going somewhere, Ken?" Ken looked down at himself then back up. He just shrugged.
"Yeah, I got a date tonight." he grinned a bit. He's just like his father, rarely ever smiles.
"Still seeing that guy," Elliot thought for a second. What was his name? "Miguel, or Mike or something?" Ken shook his head.
"No, that ended a while ago. I'm seeing this guy dad works with, Ryan." Elliot blinked. Fin worked for Elliot's firm, but in a different department. But there was only one guy in Fin's department named "Ryan."
"O' Halloran?" He blinked. He had no idea O' Halloran was gay. You learned something new everyday.
"Yeah, that's him. Listen, I got to go. I'll talk to you later." He walked out of the apartment. Just as he left, Fin walked in, also fully dressed. But Elliot figured it was for a different reason.
"So, you wanna talk about it?" Fin asked.
"No," Elliot responded. Fin nodded, then went to the linen closet and pulled out a couple of blankets and a pillow. All Elliot's. this wasn't the first time Olivia threw him out of the house.
"I'll wake you up at the usual time." He dropped the bedding on the couch and went back to his room. Elliot pulled his jacket off before saying anything.
"Thanks!" Fin shut his door behind him. Elliot made up his makeshift bed, pulled off his clothes and climbed under his comforter. He tried to sleep he really did, but his brain was full of images of Olivia, crying in his arms. And of Dani, and how beautiful she looked tonight.
He had decided. He was keeping the date.
