-1Chapter 14
Walking through the door of my hotel room that afternoon proved to be surreal in the fact that in place of my very sweet girlfriend Kelly, I found a woman I barely recognized. She was sitting at the small desk, scribbling on a small note pad.
"I was just writing you a note." her voice was colder than usual.
"You were? What for?" I ask cautiously.
"I wanted to let you know I was going shopping for something to wear tonight. Izzie called earlier and invited me out for a girl's night."
I leaned against the wall, keeping my distance from her.
"I thought you were going to take it easy today?"
"I changed my mind; I thought you would appreciate the fact I am trying to get to know your friends better!" She snapped at me.
"I do really, but if there's something you want to know just ask me. You don't have to involve anyone else in this."
Her features changed as she plastered a big smile on her face, she stood and crossed the room until she was inches away from me. Her warm hand rubbing against the stubble on my face.
"Alex, don't worry. I could care less about your past, or anyone in it for that matter. I just want to have a little fun tonight." Her hand drops back down to her side and she moves toward the door. "Relax I'm not going to ask any of those women about your screwed up love life. I have a front row seat, remember?"
The door closes behind her and I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding in.
Four hours later Kelly returns with several bags. She laid them on the bed, eyeing me as I flipped through the channels on the television.
"I'm sorry Alex."
I sigh.
"You have nothing to be sorry about. I'm just not good at this, I never have been."
"Good at what?"
"Relationships. I suck at them."
"Why? Why are you so closed off to everyone?" I honestly don't know how to answer her question, so I don't. "Alex, in the five years we have been together have you ever once told me you loved me?"
"No."
"Why not?" Again I don't answer. "How many serious relationships have you been in?"
I wish I could just lie, but I can't.
"None."
"Never?"
"No."
"I see." She sits on the edge of the bed. "How many of them have you slept with?"
I have no choice but to answer, there is no simple way out of this.
"Three."
"Three? So I will be getting drunk tonight with three women you used to fuck?"
"Well, four if Addison goes."
"Who else? Who were the three you slept with?"
"Olivia….."
She interrupts me.
"Your friend George's wife?"
"Yes, but they weren't married then." I don't know why I felt the need to clarify that.
"Have you ever slept with a married woman?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Just one." Her arms cross and she is silent. "It was just sex, and she chased me. It wasn't the other way around or anything. At the time I was sleeping with someone else." Shut up! Why can't I just shut up? She's not even asking questions about this, I just can't seem to shut my fucking mouth.
"Uh huh and who was that?"
"Lexie."
"Isn't that Meredith's sister?" She sounds disgusted and I haven't even brought up Izzie yet.
"Yeah."
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Have you ever been in love with anyone?"
"Yeah, once."
I await the next question, to my surprise it never comes. Instead she picks up the bags from the bed and locks herself into the bathroom as she gets ready for her night out.
I hear the door slam shut, the clock beside the bed said it was one thirty five in the morning. I keep my eyes to the wall, pretending to be asleep. I hear her shoes hit the floor with a thud. She has been out with the girls, learning all kinds of stuff about me I'm sure.
"I know you're not asleep." She is not as drunk as I expected. I'm not so sure that's a good thing.
"Did you have a good time?" I'm just asking for it now.
"It was very informative." she says.
Careful Alex, one wrong move could bring out her evil twin that was here earlier. I roll over and sit up in the bed as she climbs in under the covers.
"Are you still mad at me?" I ask.
"No."
I'm not convinced. She turns away from me and tugs the blankets harshly over her shoulder.
"Who went?"
"Don't worry Alex, all your girlfriends were there!"
"Kelly, I'm sorry okay."
"Alex you have mistaken me for someone who fucking cares!"
I toss the covers to the side and find my shoes in the dark room.
"Alex! Where are you going?" She yells.
"Kelly, you have also mistaken me as someone who is going to put up with your shit!" I grab my jacket and key. The door slams behind me as I leave her stunned.