Page 41 of Soft Tissue Damage
There’s nothing I despise more than blatant lies. He started sleeping with a woman from his classes not long after he and Elena started dating, and he spends several afternoons a week with her while he’s supposed to be studying, and Elena is working.
“I saw the messages. The photographs of you and that woman together. When I called you last week, I heard a woman’s voice on the line. That was her, wasn’t it? Don’t lie to me again, Leon,” I say sharply when I see from his expression that he’s only going to offer more excuses. Cheating on Elena again and again purely to satisfy his lust is utterly unforgiveable.
“Well, I just…” He shrugs.
I’m not really interested in what he has to say. I already know the truth, and I’m just going through the motions so he doesn’t wonder why I’m not asking for details. In the end, he says nothing.
“I’m disappointed in you, Leon. Why did you do it?”
Leon glares past my shoulder, his jaw tight. “Elena was only half a girlfriend. I was tired of living like a monk.”
“If that’s how you felt, you should have respectfully broken up with Elena, not betrayed her behind her back. You chose the most hurtful way to go about things.”
“I really liked Elena. I didn’t want to break up. She’s so pretty and kind.”
“You don’t do that to a woman and then claim you really like her. What are you going to do now, move on to this Angie?”
He pulls a face. “Ew, no. She’s just a side chick.”
Where did my son learn to talk about any woman like that? I hate his careless use ofside chick. It littered his chats with his friends. He was so proud of having two women on the go.
Rebecca appears in the doorway and leans against it, holding a glass with ice and an inch of clear liquid. Maybe it’s water. Probably it’s vodka.
I know she’s been listening to our conversation, and so I ask her, “Do you have anything to add?”
Rebecca hesitates. “Cheating is terrible behavior, Leon. I’m disappointed as well. Who was she, some slut?”
“Rebecca,” I growl in warning, and she rolls her eyes.
“Some women are trashy, Cullan,” she mutters under her breath, taking a sip of her drink.
“Apologize to Elena for what you did and then leave her alone,” I tell Leon.
“I don’t want to apologize. She should never have found out. What was Angie thinking?”
“Give Elena the dignity of an apology and then stay out of her life.”
Leon turns and charges upstairs without another word.
“Apologies cost nothing, Leon,” Rebecca shouts after him.
“Thank you for backing me up,” I say to her once Leon’s bedroom door slams behind him.
Dislike flashes in her eyes, and I instantly regret saying anything.
“I understand his point of view,” Rebecca mutters. “It’spainful when you only have half a partner. You never cheated on me, but you never loved me either.”
I gave Rebecca every part of myself that she would accept. I tried to love her despite her drinking and disinterest in our children. I grit my teeth against the words, because we’ve had this argument a thousand times, and I never want to have it again as long as I live.
I turn around and head for the door. I need to get home to Elena.
11
Elena
I’m curled up in a ball on the sofa, and the cushion beneath my cheek is wet with tears. I haven’t moved since Mr. Grant put me on the sofa and told me to wait for him. I feel hollowed out and sick with shock. I can’t get those pictures of my boyfriend and another woman out of my head. When did he find time to have a whole other girlfriend, or lover, or whatever she is? I barely have time to sit down for five minutes to myself.
The thought makes me cringe. Is that why Leon cheated on me? Because I’m so boring and tired all the time?
