Essentialism (Bridgette & Troy's Story) (7 page)

“Oh my God, thank you all so much. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

“We know that, or we wouldn’t have hired you,” C.J. says.

“How does Monday at 8:00am sound to start?”

“That’s absolutely perfect, thank you again.”

“No, thank you – thank you,” they all say and hang up.

Sitting next to Troy I’m flabbergasted.
I got the freaking job.
Holy hell, I can’t believe it!

“You got the job?” he questions.

I nod my head and Troy says, “Congrats Bridge,” while taking his good arm and wrapping it around me, hugging me tight. “What did they say and what was up with that question?” he asks. Clinging to him, I truly can’t even process all of this, or fathom that they gave it to me! “Well, are you going to say anything?” Troy asks, looking down at me.

“I…I’m speechless.”

“Come on, did you really doubt yourself? I knew all along you were going to get it.”

“I’ve wished and wished for this to happen. This is like my dream job. I thought after years and years of working I would be doing something like this. But to be starting out at this level, it’s crazy.”

“Well, you did it!”

“I don’t think I could have done it without your help.” I squeeze him and he groans. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“It’s all good, but eventually you’re going to have to stop being so rough with me.”

My mind is fuzzy as my sweet dream is interrupted by the sound of my phone buzzing. I reach for it and look at the screen. It’s David calling.
Jesus Christ, it’s the middle of the fucking night.
“Hello,” I answer rolling over and brushing the hair out of my face.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

I glance at my clock, “I’m sleeping. Didn’t you get my message? I told you to not bother calling me.”

“I know I fucked up and I’m sorry. Let me come see you and I’ll make it up to you. I’m coming down to Denver now.”

“You more than fucked up, you blew me off.”

There are people laughing in the background and it makes it hard for me to hear him clearly. “I’m sorry, love. Come out with us. Joey knows of a sick party, that’s why we’re headed down.”

“Is that the only reason?”

I hear someone call his name in the background. “That and you. I wanna see you.”

This time I hear a girl call him and I snap. “You know what, David? Don’t fucking call me again. I don’t even know why I wasted my time answering your phone call. You seriously called me when you’re hanging out with a bunch of girls and try and tell me that you’re coming here for me? You’re not coming here at all – we’re done.”

“Bridgette, please. Text me your address and I’ll come right now. Don’t say things like that. We’re not done!”

“Yes, we are. Leave me the fuck alone. Maybe if you would’ve helped me move, you would know where I live,” I yell and hang up.

What an absolute asshole. Who does he think he is? The nerve. I roll over and try to fall back asleep, but I can’t. I shouldn’t have answered his phone call. I should’ve known better, considering I hadn’t heard from him for a few days. I sit up frustrated and grab my laptop off of my nightstand. Maybe some meaningless Internet surfing will make me tired. As I check my Facebook account and scroll through my newsfeed, my phone rings again and I answer it yelling, “What the fuck do you want, David?”

“Uh…Bridge, it’s me, Troy. Are you okay?”

“Jesus, I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

“Yeah, I got that. Who’s David?”

“Listen, Troy, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry; I should’ve been upfront with you from the beginning. I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time and even tried to today. He is…he
was
my dumbass boyfriend.”

Troy sighs into the phone. “That was the last thing I expected you to say. I’ll let you go.”

“No, please don’t.”

“Why? You’re with somebody else. Bridgette, why wouldn’t you have told me something like that?”

“I’m not with him anymore. I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. I tried, I really did, but the time never seemed right.”

“I just don’t get it. Can’t you tell that I have feelings for you?”

I stay silent.
Fuck, what am I supposed to say?
How am I supposed to respond to him?

“Don’t answer that. Have you been with him since I met you?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I really gotta go. I can’t do this.”

“Please don’t go. Let me come over and I’ll explain everything.”

“Five minutes ago I would’ve done anything to have you here, but you’re with someone else, or at least you were. You weren’t honest with me, Bridge. I can’t do this. Goodnight,” he says and hangs up.

My heart wrenches – I hurt Troy and I feel horrible for doing so. All along I did everything I could to ensure he was the one that
didn’t
end up getting hurt. He’s been so amazing to me, every interaction we’ve had has been perfect. I never should’ve kept this from him, I owed him that much. I should’ve told him about David from the day we met. I wish more than anything that I could go back. If there was something I could do, I would, but it’s too late. I’ve made my bed, now I have to lay in it.

I go to Troy’s Facebook page and stare at his profile picture. It’s him and a few of the guys from the station playing basketball – shirtless. Troy is shooting the ball and looks so hot. I can’t believe I answered the phone the way I did, but maybe it’s better this way. At least he knows the truth now and we didn’t start a relationship based on a lie.

There I go again getting ahead of myself. Who’s to say he ever wanted a relationship? Although he did say he had feelings for me. I close my laptop and roll over. I have to get to sleep. Maybe I’ll wake up and this will all have been a bad dream.

Waking up, the house is quiet. Cara stayed at Abel’s last night, so I’m alone. Pouring myself my second cup of coffee, my cell phone rings. I grab it and contemplate answering David’s phone call. I told him to leave me alone; then again, I want to chew his ass out.

“Yes,” I say, as I head out front to enjoy the warm summer morning.

“Hey, love. How are you?”

“Don’t call me that. What do you want?”

“Just hear me out. I’m sorry about last night and for how I’ve acted lately. I shouldn’t have called you in the middle of the night, demanding that you see me. Lately I’ve taken you for granted and I’m really sorry. I’ll change, but please don’t end things with us. Bridgette, you mean so much to me. I want you to know that. Let me see you today; we can talk through this.”

I’m a little taken offguard by his change in attitude and sudden sweetness. This is the David I know, the one I first met and have desperately missed. This is the David who was my best friend. Clearly he’s not going to let this go easily and I’ve ruined things with Troy, so what do I have to lose? My heart aches for the budding relationship I had with Troy, but my head reminds me how lonely it gets without someone there to share life with. If only Troy could forgive me, but I have a feeling he doesn’t forgive these things easily; I’m the same way. Whether it’s a mistake or not, I decide that I will hear David out. Worst thing that can happen is I end things in person with him like I originally planned.

“Where are you?”

“In Denver, we crashed at Joey’s friend’s. I think it’s close to you.”

I give him my address and directions. Then call him through the gate before I run into the bathroom and pull myself together. Hastily, I comb my thick, brown hair and apply a thin, natural layer of makeup. Then I dress in a pair of yoga pants and a teal tank top. As I walk out of my room the doorbell rings. I take a deep breath and answer it.

Standing before me, David looks exhausted, strung out even. He has flowers in his hand and hugs me tight. As he releases me, I look into his eyes and he says, “Thank you for seeing me. You look beautiful.”

I smile and lead him into the condo. I walk to the couch and sit down in the corner, putting as much distance as I can between us. I don’t really know what it is, but I know any doubts I had about us making things work are gone now. Just seeing him in person is enough to harden the last bit of softness my heart had for him. Regardless of how things work out with Troy, I need to break this off with David, for me. He sets the flowers down, taking the hint that I’m not going to take them from him, and sits next to me.

I stare at him with wide eyes waiting for him to say something. “Don’t look at me like that,” he says.

“I don’t know what you want from me. You had to have seen this coming. We barely talk anymore. You don’t have time for me, we never see each other, and quite frankly, you’ve changed. I go days on end without hearing a peep from you and then you get all manic trying to get ahold of me. What’s going on with you?”

“I don’t know, love! I know I haven’t been myself, but I can change for you. I’ll stop playing poker if you want. I’m going to move down here and from this day forward you’ll be my number one priority.”

I shake my head vigorously. “NO! That’s not what I want. That’s what you want!”

“Please, Bridgette.”

“David, stop! Just stop. Things aren’t going to work out with us. Whether you are here or there, my feelings aren’t the same. You’re not the same guy I met all those months ago. I can see it in your eyes – something’s different, something’s going on with you.”

“Nothing’s going on with me. I’m the same guy! I love you, Bridgette.” He takes my hand in his and I pull it away.

“Don’t make this any harder than it needs to be. There are plenty of girls out there who would kill to be with you.”

“I don’t want them. I want you,” he says with tears in his eyes.

“I…my feelings have changed.”

“It’s that Troy guy, isn’t it? You’re with him now, aren’t you?” he accuses in a harsh tone.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but NO, I’m not with Troy. This has nothing to do with anyone except you. Please, David, just go.” I keep my voice firm to let him know I’m serious. I’m
not
backing down.

“I’ll leave, Bridgette, but only because you’re mine and I love you. I don’t care what you say, but this isn’t finished. You’ll see that we belong together,” he says, leaning over me. Resting his hand on the arm of the couch, he’s inches from my face. I watch as anger blazes in his eyes and he grabs my cheeks with his other hand and holds my face in place. His grip is hard and he’s hurting me. I try and move to shake him off, but I can’t. He presses his lips hard against mine. I squirm and whimper fighting against his kiss. He’s now straddling me and has both of my hands in his. “Kiss me back,” he demands.

I shake my head and he squeezes both my face and wrists.
Fuck, it hurts.
Tears prick my eyes and his tongue enters my mouth. I gasp in repulsion, giving him access to deepen the kiss. He tastes disgusting, and if I had any way to fight him off of me, I would. I know I can’t, so I have no choice, but to let his snakelike tongue invade me. Finally, he stops and stands up looking down at me. “We’re not finished.” he growls, his voice low and menacing.

I sit back into the couch, frozen, watching the demon of a man I once thought of as my friend-turned-lover walk away from me. Once he is gone, my instincts move me to the door and I scramble to lock it. Remembering the look in his eyes – I shiver.

Going into my room, I grab my phone and call Lex. She answers, “Hel—”

I cut her off. “Are you home?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Can I come over?”

“Of course. Are you okay?”

“Just stay on the phone with me, I’ll explain everything when I get there.”

Grabbing my purse I look out the kitchen window and don’t see David’s car, so I lock up and head straight for my car.

“Talk to me, Bridge, you’re scaring me.”

Getting in, I lock the doors and take off as soon as it starts. “Sorry, I had to get out of my house. I’m on my way over now.”

“What happened?”

“David happened. I ended things with him. Let’s just say he didn’t take it very well and he scared the shit out of me. The look in his eyes was…it was like he was possessed.”

“Take deep breaths, sweetie, and get here safely. Vince is here so we’ll be safe. Please focus on driving. I’ll stay on the line, okay?”

“Okay,” I say, checking my rearview mirror to ensure he’s not behind me. I never in a million years thought David would react the way he did. Why can’t he just accept that my feelings have changed and let me go? I’ve never had a break-up go so wrong. Most of my break-ups have been amicable, so there were no worries with having an ex. I don’t know what is wrong with David, but I call bullshit that nothing is going on with him.