"Oh my God Amber, what happened between you two?" Salene had to know.
"Ugg what didn't happen," Amber twisted her pink lips in disgust. "You were right he was a Neanderthal. It was disastrous pretty much the moment we got back from Vegas in my opinion."
For the next half hour, Amber regaled to her the disappointment and mistreatment of her marriage.
"Do you know he just went out and bought a house without even consulting with me?! He actually got mad when I was less than thrilled to live in some nineteen eighties one story out in the suburbs. You know what I always said I wanted to live in when I bought a new place." Amber gave her an expected look to finish her sentence.
Still shocked over the sheer appalling ungratefulness the woman was spewing, Salene had to force herself to answer.
"Oh umm a loft, right?" Not sure actually since Amber's wants and dream list changed and grew practically each week.
"Yes!" She exclaimed, a little too loudly causing another table to look over at them. "But did he even care, no. He was so busy trying to convince me of the great deal his father found in that ugly house and didn't care what I wanted."
Everything from not listening, to being too controlling, and patronizing her was thrown on the table with hardly a breath in between.
"And let us not even begin with his fucking creepy sex demands, he…"
Salene could not and would not listen to that, holding up a hand she firmly interrupted.
"I get it, but more importantly, the last time I did speak to you," Salene could not help but emphasize that last part with a touch of cynicism. "You mentioned you were speaking to another guy online."
Smiling wickedly Amber pressed her straw to her lips in unhidden glee, her hot pink nails gleaming in the high noon sun.
"Oh yes, he is absolutely wonderful." Amber went on for another fifteen minutes about the recently divorced engineer who she was currently living with now. "I am just so much happier with Jonathan. This is why I am going to sign that divorce decree as soon as possible in send it back to that big fucking mistake."
Looking at her watch, Salene quickly took the break in Amber's talking as an opportunity to escape.
"Oh crud, I have to get back," doing her best to muster up a disappointed tone in her voice.
"Oh no, that was not enough time at all," Amber pouted. "We didn't get to talk about what was going on with you. Your last few text said you really needed to speak with me."
Emotionally she was too unsettled and addled to even be able to begin to convey what was going on in her world at the time. To be honest, Salene felt a little disgusted by the whole lunch.
"Oh umm well, it is nothing really now," the look on Amber's face told Salene she was not buying that vague excuse, so she continued. "I was just panicking because I got my identity stolen online and I had a bunch of money stolen." She lied.
"Oh, no that is horrible."
"But it is all handled now, the bank took care of it." Buying the lie, Amber smiled. Getting up Salene grabbed her purse off the back of her chair. "But I really must go, but I will talk to you later."
Saying their goodbyes Salene got back into her car and drove away. It was just too much to process. Not once during their conversation did Amber ask her how was she doing, it was not until Salene was about to leave did she even bother asking anything. Driving back Salene tried to remember all of Amber's complaints she had about Gabriel towards the end of their relationship. How every complaint about him Salene initially believed, but now she knew the other side of the story Salene could see the truth. The truth was Amber was a selfish manipulating user. The realization of that conclusion hurt. It hurt to think that about someone who she shared a dorm with for about two years, someone she shared all of her secrets with. And though there were so many good memories with Amber, Salene realized there were a lot of ugly truths she had been ignoring the whole time.
For Amber, Salene had suspected but never wanted to admit that their friendship was purely based on convenience. In college, she was Amber's only friend, since they both moved there to attend university. However, the moment Amber found a guy, went back home, or pretty much found something better Salene was always placed on the back burner. It hurt to go from doing everything together to all of a sudden spending weeks in their college apartment alone, to get a job in Amber's hometown but Amber be too "busy" to really celebrate. A part of her felt like a fool for putting so much trust and love into their friendship that obviously did not mean as much to the other party.
Stopping at the red light that led back to the house Salene realized exactly how Gabriel felt.
Chapter 11
Sitting in the company meeting room Gabriel was half listening to the client presentation. They had been in there listening to the same three guys basically, repeat the same thing for nearly half an hour. The vibration of his phone was a welcomed distraction.
Discreetly turning in his chair, away from the front Gabriel saw the message was from Tobias. Reading the text, Gabriel felt his body go cold at the words.
"I saw Salene having lunch with Amber. They were both smiling. They seemed happy. What is up? Is Salene moving out?"
Chapter 12
Normally when Salene got off in the afternoon, she would come home and sleep since she had been up since four a.m. But after that fiasco lunch with Amber, there was no way she could sleep. All she could do was fume over her supposed friend's selfishness. Trying to take her mind off of it she decided to tackle the remaining boxes in her room. There were about five boxes that she had moved against the wall a couple of weeks back. The contents were so random she honestly wasn't sure what to do with them.
Remembering she saw an empty picture frame in one she searched the boxes until she found it. Finding her prize Salene snatched up the picture frame and walked across to one of the spare rooms to grab the photo album. Pulling the photo out of the protective plastic Salene smiled.
"Look, Bishop," turning the photo to Bishop, who looked mildly interested. "It's your puppy picture."
The picture was just of an adorable baby Bishop being held by a pair of hands. Though it did bother her to know that she immediately recognized the pair of hands. The familiar blunt fingernails and long thick fingers held up the happy puppy in a sure grip.
Inserting the photo into the simple wooden frame she left the spare bedroom and walked into the living room. The door slamming behind her in the kitchen nearly gave her a heart attack.
"Oh hey you're early," she called back to the kitchen, and she turned around. "Where do you think this adorable…"
Stepping from the kitchen shadows Salene's words caught in her throat at the sight of Gabriel. Something was wrong, visibly so, his usual casual air was gone. Walking towards her his wide shoulders were tense while the muscle in his jaw twitched angrily.
"What is the mat…"
"Pack your things and get out of my house." His words were spoken with such malice that Salene had never experienced before.
A pit of fear formed in her stomach, unintentionally she gripped the picture frame tighter.
"What?"
His eyes narrowed darkly as he stepped closer to her standing partially in the hall entryway and the living room.
"I found out about your little lunch today Salene." The accusation was thrown out before her like a gauntlet. "Did you have fun? Did you compare notes?" With each word his anger and voice rose.
Pushing back the escalating fear she held out her hand to try and explain "No, I did not… actually she…"
"It doesn't matter Salene," he gave her a mean smile. "Now that Amber has decided to grace you with her friendship again you should have everything you need." Pointing to the door. "So get the hell out."
Dear God this could not be happening, on the verge of tears, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep them from falling.
"Wait, please let me just explain," by now her grip on the picture frame was so tight she could feel the edges dig into her palm. "We did not…"
"Explain?!" His eyes went wide with rage. "Why the fuck should I listen to you try and lie your way out of this," he roared taking another menacing step forward. "The fact of the matter is that it was me," pointing his thumb at his chest. "That took you in when you had nothing. But you went behind my back anyways even after I told you how I felt about even her name being brought up." Shaking his head, he gave an empty laugh. "I am done with women like you and Amber. I will not be played the fool twice. Get out."
He could not kick her out, she had nowhere to go. Turning away he began to leave, panicking she tried to catch his arm to stop him. "Please, Gabriel wait."
Pulling his arm from her hand, he turned around so fast she nearly stumbled back.
"Get," snatching the frame from her hand. "The fuck out!” he bellowed throwing the frame with an almighty force.
The wooden frame hit the gold shell shaped mirror breaking it into pieces. The sudden explosion of sound and falling glass caused her to scream. Beyond frightened, she didn't risk another glance at his direction. Running past the whimpering Bishop, Salene raced to her room. Tears were running down her face while her hands shook in fear as she stuffed her clothes and toiletries into her overnight bag. The sound from the hallway made her pause in panic. Was he coming down the hall? Her stomach twisted in fear as she remembered his rage filled face. Deciding to leave her remaining items she had in the bathroom she all but ran down the hall wiping the tears from her eyes. Rushing to the door to the garage Salene jumped when she heard the noise coming from the gym. A thunderous crash shaking the walls spurred her faster. Quickly hooking up the trailer to her beat up car Salene threw the key and the garage remote under the sensor as the garage door shut.
Driving away she let the deep sob she had been holding in out. All she wanted to do was scream. Why was this happening to her, why couldn't anything go right for once? Wiping at her falling tears, she groaned when she saw the darkening sky ahead. The black clouds contrasted heavily with the evening sky, making it look much later out.
Going to work wasn't an option right now since it was still during business hours. Maybe next week she could work the night shift if she played with the schedule. Driving in front of her work she scanned the busy line and full tables. Well, she definitely couldn't park in the parking lot without raising suspicion with her employees or the customers. Driving out of the parking lot she pulled into the next door bank parking lot to think. Even though her and Kevin were getting along great, she did not feel comfortable asking such a huge favor. Plus, Kevin lived with his sister and her two kids.
At the corner of the highway and the underpass right across from the shopping center of her work, she remembered there was a motel. When she first saw the dingy looking motel, she thought how out of place it seemed in the upscale shopping area. Surely they would have affordable rates.
Pulling her car and trailer across the busy street, she pulled into the hotel parking lot. Up close the seedy hotel looked even grimier somehow. Pulling under the carport, she quickly got out and ran inside just as a loud clap of thunder struck.
Thankfully just as she expected the hotel was dirt cheap per night, unfortunately, guest paid for it in the complete lack of quality. Judging by the couple of guests she did see going to and from their rooms, they did not seem to mind. Though she grew up in a small house and with not a lot of money Salene had an OCD mother. An OCD clean freak of a mom who controlled her six children like a cleaning army. So cheap digs was something Salene could deal with, filthy on the other hand was out of the question. Luckily the night manager seemed to take pity on her, while eyeballing her breast the entire time and claimed he gave her the best room. Whatever that could be, she thought morosely. Parking her car and trailer upfront she climbed the exterior stairwell to her room.
The room was not as bad as her imagination hyped it up to be. With a passing eye the room seemed reasonably clean, but to be safe, she planned on using the coin operated laundry facility on the bedding. Sitting in the one provided chair, Salene dropped her bag onto the table.
What she could not figure out was why were all these bad things happening to her. Resting her forehead in her palm, she leaned heavily onto the table. If she would have known having lunch with Amber would have resulted in being kicked out, Salene would never have gone. It was not like she got anything from it. She didn't get her friend back because the girl she knew in college and the girl that sat in front of her today was definitely not the same woman.
Inadvertently she remembered the rage on Breslin's face when he smashed the mirror. Not once in her life had she been around someone that scary. It was at that moment Salene again recognized how strong of a man Gabriel was. It was a terrible feeling to be reminded how powerless she would be against him, Salene had never been so scared in her life.
Trying not to cry again she stepped into the small bathroom, the formica counters were old and yellowing but clean. Taking a brush out of her bag she tried to tame her wild curls. Splashing some water on her face, she wiped her face with a towel that was in her bag when she heard the exceptionally loud thunder. It was so close sounding it actually made her jump.
The loud thundering happened again, almost identically.
Surely that could not be…
Salene did not get to finish the thought.
"Salene! Open the damn door!"
Chapter 13
Broken images of his reflection shined back at Gabriel through the pieces of mirror on the tiled entrance floor. The residuals of his abating anger was running its last course through his bloodstream as he took deep, steadying breaths. Looking at his busted bruised fists, Gabriel was disgusted by his lack of control.
When he got the text from Tobias that afternoon about Salene and Amber, it felt like he had been stabbed in the gut again. The first time he felt like that was when he came home to find Amber packing her things while dismissively telling him she had found someone else and no longer wanted to do "this." Somehow the betrayal from Salene hurt just as bad—if not worse.
Instead of trying to calm down and think about the situation rationally he just reacted. Leaving the meeting early he came home to confront Salene, he wanted to know what she told that bitch. The very thought of Amber knowing how much she up-heaved his life was sickening, that vile woman wouldn't get the satisfaction as long as he was alive. But by the time he stepped through the door and saw Salene’s smiling face he was too far gone.
The anger boiling inside of him consumed him and exploded before he knew it he was yelling. With each word he watched her beautiful round face grow more and more terrified. It was as if he was lost in his own storm of fury. When Amber left, he said and did nothing he held in the pain and anger bottling it up inside. It was when the glass shattered to the floor, and Salene's terrified fear hit him like a punch to the stomach he realized he let it all out. He should have stopped there, he should have grabbed her and apologized, but it only seemed to make him angrier. Going to the gym, he nearly destroyed his old punching bag in an attempt to abate and streamline his anger.
Now he was standing in the mess he made—alone. Sweeping up the broken glass he glanced around for Bishop. Earlier when he came out of the gym, he saw Bishop run by him with a whimper. Quickly cleaning the glass up, he searched for the dog, afraid he might have stepped in some of the glass. Not finding him in the house he went into the garage figuring he used his dog door.
"Bishop," he called out.
The familiar jingling of his collar alerted Gabriel of his presence. Walking over to the now empty third garage space Gabriel let out a curse underneath his breath. Bishop was laying down in the empty spot giving him a wary look.
"Come here boy," slowly Bishop got up and walked towards Gabriel. Giving the dog a few reassuring strokes, Gabriel saw the key and the garage remote sitting by him.
Agitated Gabriel scooped up the items and walked back inside. He was at war with himself inside his head, on one hand, he felt justified in some of his anger but on th
e other, all he could picture was Salene's terrified face. Never in his life has he treated a woman like that especially considering it was Amber who should have felt his rage not Salene. Leaning against the sink, he stared out at the dark backyard, when the rain hit the glass he let out another curse. An unfamiliar feeling gripped in his chest making it hard to focus. Taking another look outside he thought of Salene alone with nowhere to go.
Swiping his keys of off the counter he got into his truck.
***
"Goddammit Salene," he yelled disconnecting the line after receiving her voice-mail for the hundredth time.
Gabriel had searched everywhere he could think of, the initial Starbucks he found her in, the surrounding neighborhood and businesses, and now her current job's location. Nothing. Still sitting in her work's empty parking lot, the rain was coming down in droves. Leaning his head back against the seat, the gripping feeling in his chest tightened.
Desperate (A Contemporary Romance) Page 8