(God, that feels weird, writing that. I have MAJOR issues with that word)
He pulled me to him and kissed me. “Happy birthday, baby.”
Then he followed me upstairs, where he and Joy got together and handed me a present.
Beautiful pink satin sheets! Oh I love them!
“You and Matt will enjoy these,” Joy laughed. I kissed her, to delighted squeals by her.
And I kissed Matt again, to John Cash yelling out, “Hey, none of that in the workplace!”
“Yeah, if you’re gonna do it, go use the Boardroom! That’s what we had it built for!” called out DY.
Everyone yelled out happy birthday to me.
Then, while I was frantically scribbling on an invoice pad, Jules leans over me and places a ring box in front of me.
I turned around and said, “Yes, I’ll marry you,” and we fell about in stitches.
“That’s the only thing this workplace is missing,” John Cash said as he walked past. “A couple of lesbians. I thought we were more progressive than this!! Renee, hire a couple of lesbians, will you!”
I opened the ring box to a beautiful pink love heart ring.
I love it so much.
“You’ll always have my heart, K,” Julia said. I hugged her and cried.
“What did I just say about the boardroom!” DY.
“Pinky’s getting around today.” Gerry.
Then when I went downstairs to show Matt the ring, Melissa put a pink gift bag on my desk.
Love my girls.
Melissa had got me a pink turtle massager, a pink candle, and a pink exfoliant.
Pink pink pink. Everything was pink!
(as it should be)
Matt’s mum made me this stunning, STUNNING
(I’m getting a bit hysterical here, sobbing madly)
pink marshmallow and musk candy birthday cake that we all had at work.
It was seriously the best cake I’ve ever eaten. Tasted just like marshmallows and those musk candy lollies.
Heaven.
Then after work, I went to Matt’s, and he gave me this gorgeous pink diamonte belt, and Jocelyn, Jim and Todd all handed me presents – clothes Matt’s mum had made me. Beautiful, glittering shirts.
She is so talented. That woman can do it all!! I just want her to adopt me.
It’s like I’ve been waiting for Matt’s mother my whole life!!! I’m having a love affair with his mother.
The universe messed up and misplaced me. I was SUPPOSED TO BE with her.
Then Matt dragged me upstairs.
“It’s your birthday, and it’s been too long,” he said to me.
“Your parents are having dinner with us!”
“I’m not waiting any longer,” he said as he kissed me and removed all my clothes.
“Things have been weird between us,” Matt continued, running his hands through my hair. He cupped my head, made me look up at him. I held onto his wrists.
Hurting, hurting. Can’t he tell how much I’m hurting?? It’s like a delayed hurt, from all that’s happened to me.
It has nothing to do with him, yet he brings it all out in me.
“I don’t want things like this between us, Karina.” His eyes. Oh, those sapphire eyes.
“Neither do I. I love you.”
“I love you so much, baby. This distance between us is killing me.”
I started crying. “Me, too.”
Matt picked me up and carried me to his bed. “No more. Promise me?”
“Just don’t stop loving me,” I sobbed into his neck.
“Never, baby. Now let me love you on your birthday.”
(oh, what a different birthday this one was. Yet it still fucking hurts)
“Matt?”
“Hmm?”
“Love me hard.”
He did.
His parents made me this full on roast meal. Roast chicken, potato bake, roast vegies.
No one’s ever done this kind of thing before for my birthday.
It was so delicious.
Matt’s mum and I drank pink champagne together till late. Was lovely. So fun!
I had the best birthday. They make me feel so loved. I’m so grateful to them all. Matt and his family. I love them, I really do. And I have so much fun with them!
Then another pink birthday cake was brought out! Another bottle of Blush opened.
Matt and I finally rolled upstairs to bed, and watched ‘Dawson’s’ together. We kissed the entire episode, then made love again.
Matt was then in his talkative mood, wanting to know and talk about everything.
Which just made me cry, cause I don’t want to BE this victim.
Matt says talking will help though.
Friday was a struggle at work, but then me and Matt, Nat and Dan, Julia, Dad and Cruz, and Matt’s parents all went to Panchos for my birthday!
Nat gave me a photo box and one hundred dollars
(thanks Sis!! Love ya),
and Dad and Cruz gave me one hundred dollars as well.
(I’m amazed Cruz hasn’t stopped presents yet. Maybe that’s coming)
Was nice to have Matt’s parents meet mine. I don’t know why that doesn’t freak me out, but it doesn’t. It felt like Matt and I were getting engaged, and this was the sets of parents being introduced.
Was actually a very calming feeling for me. It felt right.
Jocelyn and I drank champagne together as usual. “We have to have pink champagne ON TAP for these two!” laughed Matt’s dad.
Cruz actually seemed a bit put out by Jocelyn and I’s close relationship. But since when does she ever spend the sort of time, and love and devotion on me as Matt’s mum does?
Jocelyn WANTS to dote on me and she loves me for me, for who I am, faults and all.
Cruz doesn’t. Not at all.
Julia and I did our usual all you can eat competition. “How many are you up to, K?” Jules groaned.
“That was my tenth piece,” I replied.
Matt laughed. “That’s just disgusting!”
“I’m going for my eleventh,” I said bravely, taking a deep breath.
Jules conceded. “Ugh, YOU WIN. I can’t do it!”
“You know what? I’m feeling a bit sick.”
Everyone groaned and laughed.
“Your picture is already on the wall here,” Nat said. “For projectile vomiting.”
Matt’s parents laughed so hard. “Is it really?”
“Yes, she vomited all over the table here at a work dinner,” Nat laughed.
“In her Sin shirt,” Matt added. “You’ll get us banned from here if you throw up anymore.”
“Oh, they love it,” I replied. “I’m their best customer.” Then I held my stomach and let out the biggest belch.
“I hope you like your new daughter-in-law,” Dad joked.
We all cracked up.
Matt and I fell into my bed, me very sloshed, both of us full.
(me about the size of a house, from 11 pieces of pizza)
We fell asleep, and Matt made love to me in the morning.
“How you stuffed your face last night was really sexy,” he said as he kissed me all over.
I laughed.
“I didn’t know you could fit so much in your mouth HAHA!”
I whacked him and we rolled around some more. “I can’t wait for tonight,” I said.
“I can. I’d rather just have a night together.”
I kinda did, too. I was missing him. “Yeah, me too, actually.”
Matt just about rolled off the bed. “Really?? You never pass up a night out with your friends.”
“I’m feeling a bit…” I trailed off.
(fragile)
He ran a hand down my cheek. “I know, babe. Me, too.”
(cause of me. He’s fragile cause of me and my fucked upness)
I kissed him. “Matt, I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I won’t, baby,” he murmured against my mouth.
&nbs
p; Chapter 27
DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING
I felt uneasy later that morning, cause Mum asked me to take her to the shops, and I avoid Evvy’s place since December, but Mum made me drive right past his house.
I felt physically sick, seeing his house, and the spot where I always used to park my car.
Seeing his car.
I almost spewed up all that pizza from the night before.
Then I returned home to see Matt’s car gone, when I’d assumed he’d be waiting for me when I returned home from Mum’s.
So I rang him and got Todd, who said he’d gone down the coast!!!
Without me? To my favourite place on earth?? Without even telling me? What the fuck was that about??
Yes I’d left my mobile at home again, but still. I’d been gone like 80 minutes since I’d left him naked in my bed.
Oh, he was so paying me back for all my behaviour these past couple of months. He’s been storing it all up, just waiting for the perfect moment to act out and get me back.
Matt is so wonderful, but lately there’s this space between us, and we argue about how I am. And it’s all my fault.
So I figure let him lash out. He wants to act like the unloving boyfriend and drive off down the coast suddenly with his mates, with no heads up to me, then I’ll let him!
Sunday 25 February 2001
Oh, BOY.
Oh, SHIT FUCK SHIT.
What have I done? Have I ruined this forever with Matt and I??
Is he at that point where he can’t even stand me now?? Is he at that point yet??
(they all get to that fucking point, sooner or later)
I don’t know. I just don’t know.
But I’m devastated.
Matt rocked up here yesterday (after his disappearing trick) about 3.30pm with Andrew and their friend Hans.
Matt walked into the house and I jumped on him and kissed him. He kissed me madly back, and all seemed forgiven.
“You kids,” laughed Andrew. “Well that totally backfired on you, Matt!”
Matt kissed me some more. “Yeah, it did. But this is better anyway.” He kissed me some more.
I knew they meant he had taken off yesterday cause he was upset with me, and the way I am. Obviously he’d wanted a reaction out of me, but all I was was happy to see him.
I mean, I can feel it from him. He’s sick of how I am. He’s sick of my issues. He’s pulling away, and so am I.
We can’t both pull away. One of us has to grab hold and not let go.
So I kissed him madly and clung to him.
We all started drinking, then caught the bus into the city, and got to Friday’s about 4.30pm.
Oh, that was heaven, being there in the late arvo, in the afternoon sun, drinking, the breeze blowing in off the water.
Heaven.
We were all having fun, laughing, joking, drinking, Matt and I felt normal again, our usual affectionate selves with each other, kissing constantly, arms around each other, laughing together.
Then Hans did something, told a joke and moved his head a certain way, and I felt uneasy instantly.
He reminded me so much of Ever in that moment.
I didn’t want to THINK of that fucker
(like ever again)
and it was the second reminder of him that day.
I should’ve known. The universe was trying to tell me something.
Warn me.
Matt looked gorgeous, too. IS gorgeous. He’s so perfect. He was his usual loving, affectionate, perfect self.
But then we got to Mary St, where we met Nat and Dan, Lachie and Melinda, Tee, Melissa and Nathan. Things were still going good, I was happy, I was inbetween Andrew and Matt, Matt with his arm around me, I was laughing with them.
Everything was still normal AT THIS POINT. Matt and I were still fine.
I needed to head to the ladies, and Matt gave me a big hug and a kiss. “Be careful, baby,” he called after me.
He’s always so protective and worried about me. It’s so sweet!!!
Half an hour of ladies line up later, I exited the toilets and felt someone standing there before I saw him.
Leaning against the brick wall. Looking all hot and sexy. Waiting for me.
“Happy birthday, woman.”
Oh no no no no NO.
Everard.
THE END
Written by Karina Almeroth
Activist for the Broken-Hearted
the Forgotten
and the Misunderstood
All you have is this moment…
SONG LIST:
Piano music (something pretty and soft) for the opening scene of Matt and Karina handcuffed together, The Brave Scene.
Then cut to the opening credits, which will be Can’t Hold Us, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and will be all these Holden Commodores hooning around Brisbane, camera pans to five Holden Commodores all lining up, one after another. Still Can’t Hold Us for the Mary St clubbing scenes and arrest scene.
What Women Want Tall Benny (Romance Novel Tall Benny): Do the Right Thing, Ages and Ages
Walk Me Out or Lose Me Forever: Killing in the Name Of, Rage Against the Machine. The Make Out Scene, the Walk Me Out Scene.
It’s Just a bit of Spew Madly: Fancy, Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX. Panchos spew madly scene and front yard spew scene.
Ever Over…Already?: Break the Rules, Charli XCX for the Mary St scene.
Matt??: All the Small Things, Blink 182.
But where did his balls go?: Your Woman, White Town
Why do I always feel I’m about to die when I’m with you?: Breathing, Jason Derulo
The tattooed teddy bear is back: Burn Your Name, Powderfinger
Ooh…boys!!! (and let’s just all Spew Madly): Dammit, Blink 182
A romantic Gold Coast dive (Stardust): Somebody to You, The Vamps
Now he walks me out??!!: Somebody to You, The Vamps on repeat again. Everything About You, Ugly Kid Joe.
You can swing me round any time you like, but don’t drop me, Benny!!!: Love at first sight, Kylie Minogue, Anthem For the Year 2000, Silverchair
Moments like that: Gladiator, Dami Im
Wet and Wild (I know who your next boyfriend should be): Mary, Sparkadia
You’re breaking my heart: Foolish Games, Jewel
It’s supposed to be over: Am I Wrong, Nico & Vinz
Suddenly It’s a Moonlighting Episode: Need You Tonight, Inxs
A Sinful Christmas: Geronimo, Sheppard
Ever finds some…words: Stay, Rhianna ft. Mikky Ekko
Matt sweeps in (like a Romantic Hero): Need You Tonight, Inxs. Again. Just Inxs, full stop.
Wooli Rocks (love is HERE): Electric Blue – Extended Mix (must be the extended mix version, Hollywood, when you make this Aussie icon movie!!!), Icehouse and Great Southern Land, Icehouse. On repeat.
New Year, new love…new issues: Only Love Can Hurt Like This, Paloma Faith
You’re breaking my heart Part 2 (you’re still breaking my heart, motherfucker), It’s so over this time: Skinny Love, Birdie. Young and Beautiful, Lana Del Ray
Settling into this love shit like a pink boss: Halo, Beyonce. Over and over.
Nope, spoke too soon…epic freak out up ahead: Ana’s Song, Silverchair, just for the whole damn chapter. Outside, Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding, also on repeat.
Did not see that one coming: Little Lion Man, Mumford & Sons
Credits roll to Little Lion Man, The End, drive away with a roar in your Holden Commodore.
Just don’t spew out the window. It is your car, after all.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Karina Almeroth lives in Brisbane Queensland, Australia, where she spends her days plotting World Pink Domination, and hooning around in her pink Holden Commodore VT. And sometimes she behaves for her children.
And yes, she is still single. Still no man can handle her.
You can get in touch with Karina by emailing her at:
[email protected]
om
or visiting her at:
http://www.facebook.com/karina.almeroth
She’d love to hear from you!
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