Harry watched Ronnie try to pretend like she knew what she was doing in his
kitchen. He had raised an eyebrow when she offered to cook for him, he knew
why though, she had found a few of Jennifer's hairs on his pillows. Luckily
she hadn't mentioned it, though had she Harry doubted he would've denied
it. He had considered off and on all day looking her up and calling her,
but he had no clue as to what to say, besides 'hey last night was fun,
wanna another go at it'.
"Harry where is your frying pan?"asked Ronnie.
"Don't got one,"lied Harry knowing it was at the back of a dark cupboard never touched, most of the stuff he had for cooking was never touched, in true bachelor style.
"Oh, well I need one,"said Ronnie coming out of the kitchen.
"Why don't you go get one?"asked Harry,"I'll watch this stuff."
"I dunno,"said Ronnie biting her lip.
"It's okay, I won't burn the place down,"said Harry, 'Yeah I probably would'.
"Are you sure?"asked Ronnie.
"Go, you need one,"said Harry pulling out his wallet, he fished around and by some chance found a twenty,"Here, go." Ronnie looked at him one more time before gathering up her jacket and purse.
"I'll be back soon,"said Ronnie.
"Okay,"said Harry as he seen her to the door.
Once she was gone Harry went on a hunt for a piece of paper and a pen, he knew his forecoming actions where those of a heartless assholes' but he was desperate. Looking out the window he seen Ronnie getting in her car. As he found what he needed he quickly scribbled a message down on it.
'Ronnie,
sorry I'm an asshole, I know, but things aren't working out. It's better we not see each other anymore, it's not you it's me, once again sorry for being an asshole - Harry'
Harry reread the note and snickered to himself, she was going to want to kill him when she read that. Shaking his head Harry shoved his feet in his shoes and grabbed his jacket, stopping in the kitchen he turned the stove off so not to burn the place down. He taped the note to the outside of the door and left the house.
***
Jennifer walked towards her door, in her arms a large cardboard box . Inside the box was a small tabby cat, she had gone to the SPCA for a dog but ended up unable to leave the small furry animal there with large green eyes. So she had adopted a cat, her companion, but as she got closer to her to her door she found another stray. Sighing she shifted the box and looked at what could be called the most normal relationship she had with a man, Fagan McGregor.
"There ya are woman,"said Fagan as he got up from his spot on the floor.
"Good to see you too,"said Jennifer handing him the box with the cat.
"What the hell is this?"asked Fagan looking in the box.
"A cat,"said Jennifer as she pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. As she opened the door Fagan thrusted the box into her hands.
"Take the wee hair ball,"said Fagan as he walked into the apartment. Jennifer followed him in kicking the door closed behind her. She loved Fagan, he was almost family, sometimes the family she wished she had. He was in Matt's words, 'the homosexual Scottish man who coincidentally was named Fagan'. He kept her sane.
"Now yer got some explain' to do there lassie,"slurred Fagan as he opened her fridge and helpped himself to a bottle of wine.
"About what?'asked Jennifer setting the box on the floor and picking up the cat out of it.
"'Bout what? Yer pulled a runner on ya wedding day,"said Fagan,"Wasn't even a runner, ya married the bloke then ran."
"Oh yeah, that,"said Jennifer,"Well things are complicated."
"Complicated? Neh, neh, neh I dinna waste me time lookin' for that bloody weddin' gift ta hear it's complicated,"burst Fagan as he poured them each a glass of wine.
"Fine, the gist of it is I looked around that wedding and I looked at Matt and I looked at my life and it was like bang, someone just put some glasses on me and everything wasn't hazy anymore,"said Jennifer,"I couldn't do it anymore, I've always been expected to do something."
"Then why did ya marry him?"asked Fagan handing her a glass.
"Thank you,"said Jennifer taking the glass,"I don't know, I just did, but I'm annulling it, and I quit my job."
"What was wrong wit yer job?'asked Fagan.
"I hate being a lawyer,"said Jennifer,"I don't wanna be a laywer anymore."
"And what are ya gunna do? Flick patties at a flammin' burger joint?"asked Fagan,"Yer mad."
"I'm not mad, my car, this place, everything is paid for, I have good savings, I've invested, I just want to, to, to float,"said Jennifer before taking a sip of her wine.
"I canna believe ya,"said Fagan shaking his head,"What goes on in yer head?"
"Fagan I wanna be happy,"said Jennifer softly. Fagan looked at his best friend, he knew she was pressured a lot of the time but he never thought she was truly unhappy, and Jennifer never dipped her voice that low unless she was serious. Shaking his head Fagan walked over and hugged her, she didn't need his bombarding questions.
"Darling, ya just need a good shag in the sack,"said Fagan,"That Matt, he was shit."
"And how do you know?"asked Jennifer laughing as she pulled away from him.
"It's a man's intution ya know,"said Fagan wiggling his eyebrows,"But that shag in the sack, consider it."
"Well,"said Jennifer biting her lip smiling.
"Jenny, what?"asked Fagan noticing her expression. Jennifer just broke down laughing, she waved at Fagan who was becoming annoyed she wasn't letting him on the laughter. Finally Jennifer calmed herself down as she walked over to her plush black leather coach. Fagan followed her taking a seat on her loveseat.
"What's the laughter fer?"asked Fagan.
"Well it just dawned on me,"said Jennifer,"I spent my wedding night with another man." Fagan looked shocked as Jennifer told him the information. With bugged eyes he almost dropped his wine, that was the last thing he expected to hear.
"What?"asked Fagan.
"When I left, I came here and changed. I ended up in this seedy bar, and I met this guy, Harry, and I had been drinking and I ended up going home with him,"said Jennifer,"And we had sex, good sex, from what I can remember."
"Now this I canna believe,"said Fagan,"You had romp wit another bloke, on yer weddin' night."
"Yeah, I dunno we were like in the same gutter,"said Jennifer.
"So it is a one nighter or are ya gunna see this guy again?"asked Fagan.
"I dunno, I considered it this morning, I had Andie look up his number,"said Jennifer,"But probably not, I left before he woke up."
"My god Jenni, two runners in one day, one two blokes,"said Fagin,"Yer bloody nuts, ya are." Jennifer sat back with her glass of wine, staring into it. True enough she had run out on two men within twenty-four hours, though her last run was one she didn't wanna do.
"So this Harry fella, what did he look like?"asked Fagan.
"Tall, dark, handsome,"smiled Jennifer,"Beautiful eyes, a good body, an ass that just asked to be grabbed."
"Yummeh,"smirked Fagan,"Gimme his telly, I'll see him again for ya."
"You can't steal him from me,"said Jennifer.
"Pardon me missy but he neigh yers,"said Fagan,"Ya left him."
"Well then we're close enough, we don't need to be sleeping with the same men,"said Jennifer.
"Okay, okay, but honestly, hun, are ya okay?"asked Fagan. Jennifer sat silently for a second before her cat jumped up on the couch next to her. She had contemplate if she was truly okay, part of her was, she had gotten rid of everything she hated in her life but now she didn't know what she wanted.
"I guess,"said Jennifer softly as she petted the cat.
"Well ya know ya dinna need be,"said Fagan,"Ya can cry if wanna."
"Don't think I can cry over a good thing,"said Jennifer sighing,"I just need to adjust to running my own life, and not doing what's expected."
"Good, and ya know whatever ya do I'm always here for ya,"said Fagan.
"I know,"said Jennifer,"I think I need some sleep."
"I suppose I should be goin' to bed me self,"said Fagan.
"No, you come to my bed,"said Fagan,"I need a teddy bear tonight." Fagan looked at her and nodded, he took her wine glass. He went to the kitchen to pour them out in the sink as she went to get ready for bed. He was honestly worry about her, he had known her since she moved into the building and he could tell in her eyes as the days were getting closer to the wedding, she was not happy or sure about it.
Fagan walked into the bedroom to find Jennifer sitting in bed with the car on her lap, silently Fagan stripped down to his boxers and a tee shirt. He crawled into bed next to her and laid down looking at the cat.
"What are ya gunna name the hairball?"asked Fagan.
"Dunno,"said Jennifer,"What do you think I should name it?"
"Dinna,"said Fagan.
"Funny,"said Jennifer sarcastically,"It's a male."
"I dinna know, name the bloody thing Jack."scuffed Jack. Jennifer nestled the cat next to her and laid down herself. Leaning over she turned off the light and closed her eyes, one of the hardest days of her life was ending.
******
Harry found himself that night in the same bar as the night before, now drowning in a sea of beer and tequila shooters. He was sure by now Ronnie had gotten the note and the message, he just didn't want to risk going home to find her crying or angry on his door stepp, he was sure there was a message on his answering machine from her.
"You're not going to find her in here tonight,"said the bartender. Harry looked up at him with creased brows.
"Who?"asked Harry knowing full well who he was talking about. Somewhere inside he wanted Jennifer to show up, but another part of him told him she wasn't, good stuff like that doesn't last any longer than a second.
"Jennifer Meadows,"said the bartender. Now Harry had some interest, how did the bartender know who she was.
"How do you know her?"asked Harry.
"Anyone who picked up today's paper knows who she is and what she did,"said the bartender going to the other end of the bar. He picked up a newspaper and brought it back over to Harry. The bartender laid it out on the bar and flipped through a few pages until he found what he was looking for. Harry looked over at the picture, there was Jennifer standing next to a man smiling.
"Jennifer Meadows, runaway bride with Matthew Ballard,"said the bartender reading the caption,"Yesterday was her wedding day, she ran out on the reception." Harry looked up at him with large eyes.
"She's married?"asked Harry.
"Yesterday was the big day,"said the bartender,"Married some big district attorney."
"I didn't know,"said Harry softly.
"Well there's a story to tell, you slept with a woman on her wedding night and you weren't her husband,"said the bartender,"Not many men get to have one that good, almost beats out a good twins story." Harry sat back, 'she's married', he was almost lost in it.
"Harry where is your frying pan?"asked Ronnie.
"Don't got one,"lied Harry knowing it was at the back of a dark cupboard never touched, most of the stuff he had for cooking was never touched, in true bachelor style.
"Oh, well I need one,"said Ronnie coming out of the kitchen.
"Why don't you go get one?"asked Harry,"I'll watch this stuff."
"I dunno,"said Ronnie biting her lip.
"It's okay, I won't burn the place down,"said Harry, 'Yeah I probably would'.
"Are you sure?"asked Ronnie.
"Go, you need one,"said Harry pulling out his wallet, he fished around and by some chance found a twenty,"Here, go." Ronnie looked at him one more time before gathering up her jacket and purse.
"I'll be back soon,"said Ronnie.
"Okay,"said Harry as he seen her to the door.
Once she was gone Harry went on a hunt for a piece of paper and a pen, he knew his forecoming actions where those of a heartless assholes' but he was desperate. Looking out the window he seen Ronnie getting in her car. As he found what he needed he quickly scribbled a message down on it.
'Ronnie,
sorry I'm an asshole, I know, but things aren't working out. It's better we not see each other anymore, it's not you it's me, once again sorry for being an asshole - Harry'
Harry reread the note and snickered to himself, she was going to want to kill him when she read that. Shaking his head Harry shoved his feet in his shoes and grabbed his jacket, stopping in the kitchen he turned the stove off so not to burn the place down. He taped the note to the outside of the door and left the house.
***
Jennifer walked towards her door, in her arms a large cardboard box . Inside the box was a small tabby cat, she had gone to the SPCA for a dog but ended up unable to leave the small furry animal there with large green eyes. So she had adopted a cat, her companion, but as she got closer to her to her door she found another stray. Sighing she shifted the box and looked at what could be called the most normal relationship she had with a man, Fagan McGregor.
"There ya are woman,"said Fagan as he got up from his spot on the floor.
"Good to see you too,"said Jennifer handing him the box with the cat.
"What the hell is this?"asked Fagan looking in the box.
"A cat,"said Jennifer as she pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. As she opened the door Fagan thrusted the box into her hands.
"Take the wee hair ball,"said Fagan as he walked into the apartment. Jennifer followed him in kicking the door closed behind her. She loved Fagan, he was almost family, sometimes the family she wished she had. He was in Matt's words, 'the homosexual Scottish man who coincidentally was named Fagan'. He kept her sane.
"Now yer got some explain' to do there lassie,"slurred Fagan as he opened her fridge and helpped himself to a bottle of wine.
"About what?'asked Jennifer setting the box on the floor and picking up the cat out of it.
"'Bout what? Yer pulled a runner on ya wedding day,"said Fagan,"Wasn't even a runner, ya married the bloke then ran."
"Oh yeah, that,"said Jennifer,"Well things are complicated."
"Complicated? Neh, neh, neh I dinna waste me time lookin' for that bloody weddin' gift ta hear it's complicated,"burst Fagan as he poured them each a glass of wine.
"Fine, the gist of it is I looked around that wedding and I looked at Matt and I looked at my life and it was like bang, someone just put some glasses on me and everything wasn't hazy anymore,"said Jennifer,"I couldn't do it anymore, I've always been expected to do something."
"Then why did ya marry him?"asked Fagan handing her a glass.
"Thank you,"said Jennifer taking the glass,"I don't know, I just did, but I'm annulling it, and I quit my job."
"What was wrong wit yer job?'asked Fagan.
"I hate being a lawyer,"said Jennifer,"I don't wanna be a laywer anymore."
"And what are ya gunna do? Flick patties at a flammin' burger joint?"asked Fagan,"Yer mad."
"I'm not mad, my car, this place, everything is paid for, I have good savings, I've invested, I just want to, to, to float,"said Jennifer before taking a sip of her wine.
"I canna believe ya,"said Fagan shaking his head,"What goes on in yer head?"
"Fagan I wanna be happy,"said Jennifer softly. Fagan looked at his best friend, he knew she was pressured a lot of the time but he never thought she was truly unhappy, and Jennifer never dipped her voice that low unless she was serious. Shaking his head Fagan walked over and hugged her, she didn't need his bombarding questions.
"Darling, ya just need a good shag in the sack,"said Fagan,"That Matt, he was shit."
"And how do you know?"asked Jennifer laughing as she pulled away from him.
"It's a man's intution ya know,"said Fagan wiggling his eyebrows,"But that shag in the sack, consider it."
"Well,"said Jennifer biting her lip smiling.
"Jenny, what?"asked Fagan noticing her expression. Jennifer just broke down laughing, she waved at Fagan who was becoming annoyed she wasn't letting him on the laughter. Finally Jennifer calmed herself down as she walked over to her plush black leather coach. Fagan followed her taking a seat on her loveseat.
"What's the laughter fer?"asked Fagan.
"Well it just dawned on me,"said Jennifer,"I spent my wedding night with another man." Fagan looked shocked as Jennifer told him the information. With bugged eyes he almost dropped his wine, that was the last thing he expected to hear.
"What?"asked Fagan.
"When I left, I came here and changed. I ended up in this seedy bar, and I met this guy, Harry, and I had been drinking and I ended up going home with him,"said Jennifer,"And we had sex, good sex, from what I can remember."
"Now this I canna believe,"said Fagan,"You had romp wit another bloke, on yer weddin' night."
"Yeah, I dunno we were like in the same gutter,"said Jennifer.
"So it is a one nighter or are ya gunna see this guy again?"asked Fagan.
"I dunno, I considered it this morning, I had Andie look up his number,"said Jennifer,"But probably not, I left before he woke up."
"My god Jenni, two runners in one day, one two blokes,"said Fagin,"Yer bloody nuts, ya are." Jennifer sat back with her glass of wine, staring into it. True enough she had run out on two men within twenty-four hours, though her last run was one she didn't wanna do.
"So this Harry fella, what did he look like?"asked Fagan.
"Tall, dark, handsome,"smiled Jennifer,"Beautiful eyes, a good body, an ass that just asked to be grabbed."
"Yummeh,"smirked Fagan,"Gimme his telly, I'll see him again for ya."
"You can't steal him from me,"said Jennifer.
"Pardon me missy but he neigh yers,"said Fagan,"Ya left him."
"Well then we're close enough, we don't need to be sleeping with the same men,"said Jennifer.
"Okay, okay, but honestly, hun, are ya okay?"asked Fagan. Jennifer sat silently for a second before her cat jumped up on the couch next to her. She had contemplate if she was truly okay, part of her was, she had gotten rid of everything she hated in her life but now she didn't know what she wanted.
"I guess,"said Jennifer softly as she petted the cat.
"Well ya know ya dinna need be,"said Fagan,"Ya can cry if wanna."
"Don't think I can cry over a good thing,"said Jennifer sighing,"I just need to adjust to running my own life, and not doing what's expected."
"Good, and ya know whatever ya do I'm always here for ya,"said Fagan.
"I know,"said Jennifer,"I think I need some sleep."
"I suppose I should be goin' to bed me self,"said Fagan.
"No, you come to my bed,"said Fagan,"I need a teddy bear tonight." Fagan looked at her and nodded, he took her wine glass. He went to the kitchen to pour them out in the sink as she went to get ready for bed. He was honestly worry about her, he had known her since she moved into the building and he could tell in her eyes as the days were getting closer to the wedding, she was not happy or sure about it.
Fagan walked into the bedroom to find Jennifer sitting in bed with the car on her lap, silently Fagan stripped down to his boxers and a tee shirt. He crawled into bed next to her and laid down looking at the cat.
"What are ya gunna name the hairball?"asked Fagan.
"Dunno,"said Jennifer,"What do you think I should name it?"
"Dinna,"said Fagan.
"Funny,"said Jennifer sarcastically,"It's a male."
"I dinna know, name the bloody thing Jack."scuffed Jack. Jennifer nestled the cat next to her and laid down herself. Leaning over she turned off the light and closed her eyes, one of the hardest days of her life was ending.
******
Harry found himself that night in the same bar as the night before, now drowning in a sea of beer and tequila shooters. He was sure by now Ronnie had gotten the note and the message, he just didn't want to risk going home to find her crying or angry on his door stepp, he was sure there was a message on his answering machine from her.
"You're not going to find her in here tonight,"said the bartender. Harry looked up at him with creased brows.
"Who?"asked Harry knowing full well who he was talking about. Somewhere inside he wanted Jennifer to show up, but another part of him told him she wasn't, good stuff like that doesn't last any longer than a second.
"Jennifer Meadows,"said the bartender. Now Harry had some interest, how did the bartender know who she was.
"How do you know her?"asked Harry.
"Anyone who picked up today's paper knows who she is and what she did,"said the bartender going to the other end of the bar. He picked up a newspaper and brought it back over to Harry. The bartender laid it out on the bar and flipped through a few pages until he found what he was looking for. Harry looked over at the picture, there was Jennifer standing next to a man smiling.
"Jennifer Meadows, runaway bride with Matthew Ballard,"said the bartender reading the caption,"Yesterday was her wedding day, she ran out on the reception." Harry looked up at him with large eyes.
"She's married?"asked Harry.
"Yesterday was the big day,"said the bartender,"Married some big district attorney."
"I didn't know,"said Harry softly.
"Well there's a story to tell, you slept with a woman on her wedding night and you weren't her husband,"said the bartender,"Not many men get to have one that good, almost beats out a good twins story." Harry sat back, 'she's married', he was almost lost in it.