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I had no idea where I would start, and at this moment, would have been glad for a shot of brandy in the coffee. Then again, it was early in the morning. I mean it was midnight somewhere in the world, wasn’t it? I wouldn’t push my luck. We sat out the front on the swing seat and listened to the waves crash on the shore. Scarlet was giving me time to get my thoughts together as she chatted about how the weather had been crazy. She would ask eventually though.
“It’s amazing some of the driftwood that lands on the beach. I have been getting crafty and doing macramé hangers with some of it.”
“I’m impressed,” I said and sipped my coffee.
“Well, that’s enough about me. Okay, shoot. I know you wouldn’t talk last night, but I’m assuming this has something to do with the mysterious man you have been dating.”
“Hunter Black. That was his name. Well, I assume it was.”
Scarlet laughed, and I couldn’t blame her. “Wow. I’ve never met a Hunter before. Sounds dramatic.”
“At this point, I would say it’s the name of a cheating a-hole who managed to fool me into thinking that he cared. I’m not even sure that was his real name now. I’m not sure anything about him was real.”
“I’m so sorry, Avery. What happened? Also, if you want me to call someone to rough him up I will. Not that I know anyone, but I’m sure I could find someone to do it for some cash. Nate could always bash him over the head with some lead pipe.”
I might as well get it over and done with.
“Thanks for the offer and I will consider it.” I took a deep breath. “I met him about three months ago. It was on a dating app, and I only wanted a hot date and some sex to be honest. You know me. I don’t trust men after my past. My life is my business. Yada, Yada, Yada. All I can say is he was amazing. Tall, handsome beyond anyone I had ever dated before, and he spoiled me from that first date. So, I didn’t listen to my brain but my pussy and agreed to see him again. He was also well-endowed and very good in the bedroom. It was amazing what he did with chocolate sauce. That was a big mistake to let him fool me with his smooth ways.”
“I’m guessing things didn’t stay that way.”
“That is the strange thing. They did until last night. I thought things were amazing, but now I look back there were lots of warning signs. At the time I thought all my dreams had come true. I felt adored. We always went to one particular restaurant that he said he liked. He was from out of town so liked to go to a place he knew. I thought it was a bit boring, but okay. The food was good. Now I realize it was far from where he lived.”
“What happened next?”
“I realize now he never took me to places where a lot of other people were. I believed he lived interstate in Perth so it never occurred to me that he might actually live in Melbourne. Last night I looked at all the pics he sent me, and there was never anything that showed where he was. I would have recognized places in Melbourne. This is him.” I showed her a picture.
“Damn, girl. He is hot. I would have wanted some of that if I was single. So, what happened last night?”
“I arranged for us to go to a different restaurant. I was tired of the same old place, and it was too dark for a picnic in the park. I booked the Greek place I took you to once. The one Patrick likes down by the bay.” I shook my head as I thought back. “From the minute he turned up he was grumpy and wanted me to cover up my breasts because my dress was too revealing.”
“And you didn’t knee him in the groin for that?” She laughed. “Not that I condone violence, but that’s not something I could see you putting up with.”
“I know, I was an idiot. I was taken in by the chocolate sauce, the roses, and the sex.”
“I think we would all have fallen for the Chocolate sauce that sounds so good.”
I thumped her arm. “That’s not helping.” But I was grinning. That was good. I knew Scarlet would help.
“You would not be the first or the last to fall for that. Look at me with my ex. I thought I had finally made it. A fancy wedding, a tropical honeymoon. At least you hadn’t made it to a wedding night to find out.”
“I know, I think you are incredible how you got over that.” I gave her hand a squeeze. “Anyway, then he said I was imagining it that he was in a bad mood. I should have seen both of those as red flags. I was just making excuses in my head for him being out of sorts. He was just so different from all the other times we had been together. There we are, sitting in the restaurant waiting for our food. Then his wife turned up and threw a pitcher of water all over me.” Scarlet burst out laughing.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t laugh but that is pretty crazy.” She was doubled up, and I could not blame her.
Scarlet was right, it was mad, and for the first time since the restaurant debacle, I laughed too. I laughed so hard I cried, and it felt good to have the release. Finally, I let out a big sigh.
“It was. I must have looked like a drowned rat. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the other customers. They were shocked with their mouths hanging open or giggling behind menu cards. I thought someone was going to pop out and say it was a reality TV show.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe I fell for the whole pretty boy big dick thing.”
“Don’t you dare feel guilty or think yourself a fool. Remember you’re talking to a woman who was left on her honeymoon, twice. We all get taken in sometimes. I had worked with my handsome doctor husband, and he still screwed me over. I thought I knew him. The trouble is we see what we want to see until sometimes it’s too late. Now, I can be happy about it because I ended up with Nate.”
“Well, I’m not holding my breath that there is another Nate out there. After a few glasses of red last night, I came to a decision. I am going to just use men for sex from now on. If I ever want a kid, I’m sure I will be able to find someone willing to do the deed. Most of them are keen to spread their seed about when they can. I am an independent woman and can bring a baby up on my own if I had to.”
“If that’s what you want then we are here for you.”
“I don’t know what I want, but I am in my thirties, and my body can’t wait forever. At the moment, I just know I need some time out. Patrick is getting ready for the trip to America, and I will need to get back to Melbourne and hold the fort.”
“You work so hard all the time. I think you need to have some time for yourself.”
