As I was reading his last message, I heard the front door opening.
“Babe?” James called from the foyer.
“In here!” My blood was boiling.
What a fucking douche nozzle.
Stay calm.
Don’t blow up until you have all the facts.
A lazy smile spread on James’ face as he strode into our bedroom. “I thought you were still on your way. Damn near gave me a heart attack thinking someone broke in and turned all the lights on.”
He crawled onto the bed, kissing my cheek like everything was normal.
“Where were you?” My voice was shaky despite my best efforts to maintain my composure.
James scooted away, grabbing Nike to play with. “Joey had a few of us over for poker.”
That’s when I saw it. My eyes got wide—I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.
This isn’t real life. This cannot be happening.
“Why is there lipstick on your face?” I asked, still stunned. I dragged my thumb over my boyfriend’s upper lip, smearing the faint red residue.
My entire body buzzed with fury. I was shaking. I was sweating. I was about to hulk out on that motherfucker.
“I can explain,” he started, his eyes darting around the room.
“Save your fucking breath,” I screamed at the top of my lungs, shooting up from the bed. I dove into the closet to find his big suitcase, ripped that bitch out of the closet at lightning speed, and started to throw all his things into it. “She can have you. You fucking fuck of a fuckhead.”
Lame, I know, but what can I say? I was raging out.
“Babe. Please.” James got up, trying to wrap his arms around me from behind.
I spun on my heels, starting to slap him away. “You don’t get to touch me. Get the hell out of my place!”
“Karla, listen. Please.” He tried to hug me again and punched him in the shoulder, before he could get his arms around my middle.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what you have to say. You’re a cheat and a liar!” My voice was breaking as I fought through the sobs.
“If you can just write me off so quickly without hearing my side of things, then good-fucking-bye, bitch.” His eyes went cold as his own anger started to build up.
He doesn’t get to be mad at me.
I am mad.
Fuck him.
Before I could even think things through, my knee was up and connecting with his crotch.Pow!He was stumbling backward in two seconds flat, hands clutching his pulverized family jewels.
“You goddamned cunt!” He lunged for me, grabbing my hair as I tried to run for the bathroom. I had never seen James this mad in my entire life and for the first time since I’d left my shithole of a foster family, I was legitimately scared of a man.
“Let go of me!” The shrill tone that leapt from my throat could probably be heard on Mars.
Smack!
My cheek was burning from where his hand had connected with it. Tears immediately stung at my eyes as I held my cheek.