Chapter 4

When we reached home, I parked in front of the store and decided on checking everything before heading upstairs. When Dustin got out of his truck, he followed me through the front entrance and we both looked around to make sure everything was ok. Once I was satisfied, we locked up and headed up to the loft. Dustin knew my routine, so he didn’t question it. I was grateful. Sometimes my obsessions make me embarrassed when others comment about them.

I unlocked the door and headed inside. I had completely forgotten to lock my damn bedroom door again!! Oh my god. I could kill that cat. Sure, enough he was in there and my scarves, underwear, socks, and even jewelry were scattered throughout the room. I even found a scarf in the living room behind the couch.

This cat is the devil. He is seriously out to get me.

Dustin just burst out laughing. Enjoying watching me scurry around after the cat knocking things over as I tried to catch him and put him in his pet carrier. He was grounded and definitely sleeping in the carrier for the night. I was determined to catch him. I finally cornered max under the couch. When I reached out for him, he bit me. In all reality I should have thought about it before sticking my hand in there, that was my fault. When I finally got him, he went into the pet carrier and drove me nuts with his kitty yells.

“Damn. I guess you’re right that cat does have it out for you.” Dustin finally said in the middle of his fits of laughter.

“Oh yes, he does. So, do you want a cat? He’s litter trained.” I smiled at him deviously. He’s the one that convinced me to get a cat in the first place. Told me I needed someone with me and since I couldn’t have dogs in the loft that I should get a cat. They are supposed to be affectionate and love you unconditionally. Psht. Yeah right. Not my cat.

“You couldn’t pay me enough to take that cat. Besides, he seems really attached to your underwear. I wouldn’t want to take him away from his comfort zone.”

I was surprised Dustin even got those sentences out he was laughing so hard that I had to laugh. Not at the cat, but at him. He was giggling so hard he was having an obvious hard time breathing. For a man his size, giggling is a funny thing to see in itself.

“Seriously Dustin. Can you order the Chinese while I clean the mess up? I am starving.”

“Yeah, do you want the chicken tonight or the shrimp?”

“Chicken” If someone else were to hear the conversation they would be confused but Dustin knew me well enough to know that the only Chinese food I eat is either shrimp lo mein or chicken with gravy, and tonight was a chicken night.

Dustin ordered the Chinese, and I went into the bedroom to repair the damage the demon cat created. After I finished my room, I went into the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of white wine and two glasses. Tonight, I needed a glass of wine.

I walked back into the living-dining room area and waited in silence with Dustin. After the fits of laughter that were coming from him earlier, it was hard seeing him now sitting on the couch looking so reserved. Something was definitely bothering him. Before I had a chance to say something the buzzer announced the arrival of the food.

# # #

“Alright Dustin. We have now laughed at my expense, had two full glasses of wine, and eaten our fill of Chinese. Now tell me what is really going on with you. I can tell something is up so spill it.”

“Okay. I’m just going to say this. You have to promise not to crack and smart-ass remarks. Okay?” his face was definitely serious.

“Yeah. I would never make fun of something that is obviously upsetting you. Come on now. Just tell me.” He was starting to make me nervous. We usually had an easy flow to our conversations. Never worrying what the other things because we knew no matter what that the other one was always there in a time of need.

“Beth and I are not getting married.” Dustin just stared at me for a few moments.

“Yeah, you both told me on Friday.”

“No, you don’t get it. We are never getting married. I called it officially off Sunday. Her parents want her to live in Paris with them. They said it would be beneficial to her clothing line she will be setting up for the fall. They convinced her it was the right move and she wanted me to go with her. I said no.” There was this look on his face like he was defeated, I just felt like I wasn’t getting the whole story.

“Okay, back up for a second. She is just going to move to Paris and not giving you a chance for what is best for you. I don’t understand why she would do that. It just doesn’t seem like her, is there something else going on? You just told her no and then broke it off? I don’t get it.”

“Tara, I realized something on Sunday that I didn’t before. The only reason I had asked Beth to marry me was because work needs me to show stability in my life in order to make it further in the company. I hadn’t realized it until then because I really believed that I loved her. Now, I can honestly say I feel relieved. Does that make me a bad person?”

It took a few moments for me to absorb all of the information. So, his work had told him to be stable and he had decided hey let us get married. What? What was he thinking. I so wanted to just tell him he was being a shitty person. How did Beth feel about this whole thing? Wait did I just worry about how Beth feels? Oh my God! What is wrong with me?

“Tara! Say something. You can not leave me hanging here. I need some guidance. What should I do? Should I call Beth, apologize to her, and explain everything? Should I just leave it as is? Do not go silent on me now!”

“Wait. What exactly did you tell Beth for your reasons of calling the wedding permanently off?”

“I told her I would not consider moving to Paris and that we should not get married. I told her she could keep the engagement ring and I would oversee all of the cancellations. Then I just walked out of the apartment, and I haven’t gone back since.”

“You didn’t explain anything to her? At least tell her the real reasons. Granted you should sugar coat them a little bit but come on now. You are a grown up. Start acting like one. She deserves better than that.” Wow I was really on a roll defending the girl.

“I can’t. I’m not good with this kind of thing. Can you just handle it for me?” Dustin actually pouted.

“Dustin you are not in high school anymore. It is time to grow up seriously I am not breaking up with your fiancé for you. That is your job. You got yourself into this mess and it is your responsibility to get yourself out.”

“Okay fine you’re right. Can I at least crash on your couch tonight? I need a place to sleep, and I don’t feel like going to a hotel again.” There he went pouting again. When he used to make that face when we were younger, he could get whatever he wanted. Unfortunately, now that we are older, he can still get his way. Ugh I am pathetic. The man I am in love with is an insensitive ass and it is really time for me to find someone else. He clearly needs to grow up.

“Yeah. Fine. Whatever. Listen it’s late I’m going to bed. See you in the morning.” I started heading into the bedroom when I heard my phone going off from the counter. It’s 1 am no one calls that late, except for Dustin and he was sitting on the couch.

Before I had a chance to ponder who it was, I saw Dustin reach for my phone and answer it.

“Hello” Dustin answered. “Who is this?”

He paused a moment, listening intently.

“You listen to me. If you ever call her again, I will hunt you down do you hear me? Stop calling and harassing her you freak.” He flipped my phone shut. After he took a few moments to calm down he turned to me and there was a glint of anger in his eyes that I had officially never seen before.

“Who is it that keeps calling you? Do you know the person, Tara? Because that person on the line certainly knows you.” He said the words calmly but the underline meaning told me far more. Something the caller said had gotten to him.

“What did they say?” I asked meekly. I really didn’t want to know if it was rattling him that badly.

“Let’s just say they know about my breakup with Beth and made a few accusations about you and me. You know maybe it’s not a good idea if I stick around. This would look bad to others, and I can’t afford work hearing something about me spending the night here after I broke off the engagement. I gotta go.” With that he grabbed his coat and left without a single look back.

My heart actually broke in that moment. How had I looked over Dustin’s selfish nature for so long. This was him. This was who he was. He didn’t like complications in his life, and I had just become a complication. I had always thought our relationship was more than that. I guess I was wrong.