Convenience and Compatibility (26 page)

Slowly, I walk into the door and am greeted
by the pity party that is Tara and Adam. I’m not sure how to react,
knowing that they are probably elated that my ass has been dumped.
I look down at the flowers in my hand, unsure why I even picked
them up. After tossing them in the kitchen garbage, I walk into my
bedroom, silently closing the door behind me. I sit on the bed and
put my head in my hands. Somehow I know he will never forgive
me.

I feel Greg stretching on the bed behind me
and I turn to glare at him.

“Hi baby. How did you sleep?”

“Greg, you have no idea what you’ve done.” I
say it as defeated as I feel. My head throbs annoying as I glare at
him.

Greg props himself up on an elbow and rubs
his eyes with one hand. “Done what? What are you talking
about?”

“Why did you get in bed with me?” My voice
breaks as my question turns into a shriek.

Greg looks confused. “I asked you last night
and you said okay.”

“What?! I did not! Owww.” My head pounds and
I close my eyes, taking deep breaths to slow my heart rate down and
hopefully lessen my heachache.

“You did, after you went to bed I came in
here and asked you.” Greg looks aghast and I’m sure that he is
telling the truth.

“I don’t remember that. Did you fuck me
also?” I whisper, not sure I want to know the answer.

“No, I drank too much. And so did you. I
wouldn’t do that Mallory. I came in here and went to sleep.”

“Oh Greg.” I put my head in my hands and
sob.

Greg sits up and embraces me from behind.
“Mallory, it’s not so bad, nothing happened.”

“But it did.” I say between sobs. “Dean
walked in and I was naked… and you were here.”

“Oh Mallory, I’m so sorry. Do you want me to
talk with him?”

I shake my head, knowing that it would be bad
to put these two together right now.

Wiping my eyes, I know what I need to do.
I’ll get on my knees if I have to, explain that nothing happened,
that I didn’t know Greg was in my bed.

I slip my robe off, forgetting that Greg is
in the room, as I walk to the closet and open my underwear drawer.
I look over my shoulder as I put some black lacey panties on - a
girl can hope for reconciliation. Greg is staring at me and it
looks like he’s holding his breath. I roll my eyes and grab my
matching bra.

“Fuck Mallory, you could have warned me.”

Greg is sitting up now, staring at my tits. I
ignore him and pull on some jeans and a soft grey T-shirt. I sit
next to him on the bed and put on some ballet flats.

Ignoring Greg, I grab my coat and purse and
walk out the door.

Tara and Adam are sitting on the sofa when I
walk into the living room. I shrug at them, “Wish me luck.”

Tara rushes up and gives me a hug. “I love
you. Good luck. It will be okay.”

I give her half a smile and walk out the
door. Walking to the car I wonder if this was a set-up between the
three of them. Greg seems honestly guilty for what he did and Tara
was trying to get Dean to stay out of the bedroom. If it was a
set-up, then they feel bad about it now. That could explain their
behavior.

Pulling up in front of Dean’s house I
hesitate, not sure where I should park. I decide on the driveway,
and run up the steps of his house. I ring the doorbell and wait,
pretty sure he won’t see me if he is home.

I hear nothing and, not knowing what I should
do, sit on one of his steps and let the tears flow. The hear the
door behind me creek open and quickly dry my eyes with my sleeve to
stand up and face him.

We look at each other for a moment. Dean’s
face is set into a scowl, and I realize I’ve never seen him this
upset before. The contempt on his face is so shocking that I’m
momentarily speechless.

“What do you want Mallory?” His tone is rude
and I stammer.

“Um… Dean, this… this was all a mistake.
Nothing happened.”

“I don’t want to hear it. You’re just another
lying slut.”

My eyes widen, and take a step backward.
Dean’s never talked to me like this before and I feel like he just
slapped me in the face. He starts shutting the door.

“Wait! Please Dean, it’s my birthday. Please
hear me out.”

He looks at me for a moment, deliberating my
question. He runs his hand through his hair and I have a sinking
feeling that I will never see him do that again. Dean looks down at
his feet, “I don’t think so Mallory. My parents were right, this
was a mistake.”

His words wound me more than anything – I
don’t know how he could say something so hurtful. Tears fill my
eyes again causing my vision to become blurry. I pull his ring off
and hand it to him without looking at his face and turn toward my
car.

Dean calls out from the doorway. “Do you want
to come in and pack your things?”

I ignore him and pull the garage door opener
out of the car. I march up the stairs a sniffling mess and hold out
the opener, waiting for him to take it while avoiding eye contact.
Dean takes it and starts repeating himself as I fumble with my key
ring. It takes me a few seconds, but I manage to get my keys off
and hand him the keychain with his house key attached. I walk back
to my car and slam the car door. Fuck him.

More pissed than anything right now, I pull
out of his driveway, feeling his eyes on me as I drive away. It’s
my fucking birthday and he won’t even listen to me. Without a doubt
I know our relationship is over and I’ll never see him again. What
a fucking asshole.

I open the apartment door
and three
sets of eyes turn to look at me. And here comes the pity – I must
look like shit. Tara runs up and throws her arms around me.

I look past her to Greg, and then avert my
eyes – I’m so embarrassed. It’s bad enough that I know Dean didn’t
love me enough to at least hear my side of the story, now my
friends know the details of our breakup. I feel numb – I can’t
believe he would throw everything away so quickly, so easily. The
hole in my heart seems to grow bigger as I have the sudden fear
that I will be alone forever.

Tara pulls away and I walk into the
kitchen.

“What are you doing?”

“Well, Tara, I am resorting to drinking now.
Don’t judge.” I glance at her with a ‘don’t fuck with me’ look.
“Don’t we have the ingredients for mimosas?”

“Yes.” Tara says, and I think she is happy
she can do something for me; to make it better. She moves me by the
shoulders to the living room. “Sit down, I’ll make them.”

I sit between the boys and Adam gets up to
help Tara. I suspect the real reason is to give Greg and I some
space – he must think I’m going to eat him for dinner.

Greg leans into me, “I am so sorry. I was so
fucked up last night and I passed out on the sofa for a bit. I got
up in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom, then just
sort of found myself in your bedroom. I feel so bad. Please, please
forgive me.”

I shrug and turn to face him. “You know Greg,
it’s not your fault. Well it is partially, but if he had really
loved me, he would have heard me out.”

“He wouldn’t listen to you?”

“Not even a little. He called me a lying slut
and I gave back the ring. That pretty much sums up our
encounter.”

“Wow. I’m sorry. How can I fix this?”

I shrug again. “Please don’t pity me. I’m
going to try to salvage the remainder of my birthday. I’m a big
girl. It sucks, but life goes on.”

Greg just looks at me and I know that he can
see through the mask I’ve put on. I hope he doesn’t call me on my
shit or I think I’m going to lose it. Tara saves me from his
unrelenting gaze and hands me my mimosa.

“Thanks Tara.”

I look at the TV and pretend I am listening
as I sip the mimosa. My eyes well up with tears as I think about
all I’ve lost in a matter of moments. I don’t want to feel anything
and I empty my drink. I try to wipe my eyes without anyone noticing
and walk to the kitchen to refill my glass. The tears are coming
relentlessly now and I walk into my bedroom and shut the door. I
deliberately put my glass down on the nightstand as the sobbing
begins and I bury my face in my bed, letting it all go.

A moment later I feel the bed move and a hand
on my back. “Come here Mallory.”

It’s Greg and I welcome his intrusion. He
pulls me up to him and holds me into his lap as I cry
uncontrollably into his shirt. I vaguely feel him stroking my hair
and telling me that it will be alright, that over time it will get
better.

I calm down and pull my face away from his
chest. I’m slightly appalled that I’ve messed up his tailored dress
shirt – there are tears and snot all over it. Greg pulls a
handkerchief from his breast pocket and hands it to me.

I look up at him. “Thank you.”

Greg smiles and I blow my nose and pull
myself out of his lap.

“How long does it take to get better?”

“Honestly? A while… but it does.”

“Hmmm. How do you know?”

“How do you think?” Greg places a tuft of
hair behind my ear and looks into my eyes.

Oh, I get it now. I look down. I’m such an
asshole. “I guess I got what I deserved, right?”

“No, I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay Greg.”

“Hey, let’s go for brunch.” He says, a little
too enthusiastically to a girl who just got dumped.

“Greg, do I really look like I’m in any shape
to go out today?”

“Come on, it’s your birthday, let me help
distract you.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.” And I
actually smile a little. Greg’s type of distraction involves both
of us naked with heavy breathing. Sex seeps from his body. He can’t
help it; this man was born to be a player.

Greg raises his eyebrows and smirks. “I’ll be
honest with you. It has crossed my mind once or twice.”

“I bet. But really, I’m feeling very
vulnerable. Don’t take advantage of that.”

“Okay, okay. I promise to keep my hands to
myself. My tongue, maybe not.” Greg winks and I can’t help but
laugh. He was always so good at cunnilingus and he knows it.
“Finish your drink and let’s go.”

Greg likes to be in control, but I shrug and
decide to go with it. Fuck Dean, I don’t need to pine over him all
day just because I think I should. I down the drink in one gulp and
leave the empty glass on the nightstand.

“Okay. Let’s ask Adam and Tara if they want
to come.”

“Sure.” Greg stands and I follow him out of
my room.

Ten minutes later we are walking out the
door. I can’t help but smirk at the four of us; we’re quite the
company this morning. Greg‘s clothes are wrinkled and you can tell
he slept in them, I have puffy eyes from crying, and the four of us
are all hung-over, barely awake. I didn’t even put makeup on this
morning – fuck it. We take Adam’s car and I sit in the back seat
with Greg.

“Where to?” Adam asks.

“Let’s go downtown so I can get my car.” Greg
says over the backseat.

Adam nods and I look over at Greg; damn he
looks hot, disheveled, but hot. Greg turns towards me and I avert
my gaze, looking out the opposite window. My willpower for this man
has a history of being nonexistent.

We choose a Greek restaurant for brunch and I
order a drink – who cares if it’s only eleven in the morning. I
find that as long as I teeter on the edge of being drunk, I could
give a half a shit about Dean.

We have a long lunch and I know my friends
are watching for the moment when I will crack. By the time lunch is
over, which I barely ate, I’m more on the drunk side. Greg, being
ever the gentleman, puts his arm around me as we walk outside.

“I’m going to drive Mallory home.” Greg tells
Tara and Adam.

Don’t I have a say? I frown but secretly I
love it when Greg takes the reigns like this. Somehow it makes me
feel loved.

“Actually, can you take me to my parent’s
place?” Everyone turns to look at me and I feel like a small child,
asking for permission. “I was supposed to go over there for dinner
today.” I say quietly.

“Sure.” Greg answers and pulls me closer as I
trip over the uneven sidewalk.

We say our goodbyes and Greg and I walk to
his car. The thought crosses my mind that this is probably not a
good idea, being alone with Greg. The thought floats past me and
disappears as he hoists me in his SUV. Greg starts the car and
makes his way to North I5, stealing glances at me along the way. I
laugh inwardly as I’m sure he’s watching for signs of me vomiting
all over his pristine vehicle.

“I hope your birthday is getting better.”

“Thanks Greg. I mean it, thank you for being
so nice to me.”

“Mallory?” Greg asks, his voice breaking a
bit.

“Yea?”

“I stopped smoking pot a couple of months
ago. And, last night the exception, I don’t really drink much
anymore. That’s why I was so fucked up.”

“Oh really?” At first I’m not sure why he is
telling me this, then I realize that this is for my benefit. He
wants me to know that he has changed. He wants more than my body,
he wants me back.

We drive the rest of the way to my parents in
silence as I wrestle with my inappropriate desire for him the whole
twenty minutes it takes to get there. He parks in front of the
house and I lean over and kiss him on the cheek.

“Will you call me later and let me know
you’re okay?”

“Sure. Thanks for the ride Greg.”

“Anytime. Happy birthday Mallory.”

I get out and don’t look back until he drives
away. Ahhh, time to face the family. This is going to suck.

I knock on the door and mom answers.
“Mallory, I didn’t expect you until later.” She looks around me.
“Where’s Dean?”

“We broke up Mom, and no, I don’t want to
talk about it.”

“Oh, well come in honey. I just opened some
wine.”

“Perfect.”

I spend the rest of
the afternoon
sipping wine and noshing on the hors d’oeuvres Mom has prepared.
Dad and I watch TV – home improvement shows, one of the few things
we like to do together. I turn my phone off, I don’t want to talk
with anyone else today and don’t want to be worried that Dean will
or won’t call.