“I’m Tegyn,” she replied. “And before you get any big ideas…no one calls me T.”
I threw my head back and laughed. She was pure fire, this one. Damn if I didn’t want to get to know her better. I glanced at her left hand, which didn’t have a wedding ring. Then I stuffed my own hand in my pants pocket because it did.
“I saw that. I know you’re married. That’s why we’re only going to talk at work.” Tegyn grinned.
I smiled shyly at her, filled with regrets, but I understood. “You’re not that kind of girl. I get it.”
She licked her lips, her pink tongue darting out, completely enthralling me. “What kind of girl am I?” she asked as she stared at me.
“You?” I snickered. “That’s easy. You’re the marrying kind. And any man who gets close to you should know it in three seconds.”
She nodded. “You get it. Good.” Then Tegyn waved and bounded out the door. I followed her outside, but never stepped out from under the overhang keeping me dry. Still, I could hear her laughing all the way to her car.
Somehow, I managed to get up the nerve to ask her out a few weeks later. “How about we meet after work on Wednesday and grab a bite to eat?” I asked as I leaned over her reception desk. She was in between customers at the moment. I knew because I’d been circling like a damn vulture for the past twenty minutes.
Tegyn had been smiling like she knew it too. “You’re married,” she reminded me.
“We’re separated.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I lived in the second-floor master bedroom. My wife had taken the in-law suite in the basement. There was an entire floor in between us, which made us separated, until I could finally pry her ass out of my house.
“Right. That’s convenient.” Tegyn blew out a breath and frowned at me for a moment. I practically shrank in front of her. What was I thinking? I shouldn’t be doing this, but I was drawn to this girl. I had to get to know her better. For some reason, ever since we spoke, she had been haunting my dreams.
Finally, she shrugged. “Well, I have to eat. Why eat alone, yet again, when I can eat with you?”
Immediately, I pulled my phone from my pants pocket. “What’s your number, T…uh, Tegyn?”
She recited her number, like she must’ve done a thousand times. Then she leaned back in her chair and watched to see what I’d do next. So, I sent her a text. It was short and to the point.
Me: See you Wednesday. I’m off at seven. What do you like?
And that waswhat started our whole relationship. A relationship I’d barely been able to enjoy for two months. My wife had moved out of our bedroom after our last fight over two months ago and I hadn’t wasted a second before going after Tegyn. For once in my life, I wanted to have the life I’d always wanted and it felt like I could have that with Tegyn.
“What’s up, Tommy?” I asked in frustration. “I was with my girl. Tell me what’s so damn important I can’t do my own thing after the bar closes.”
“Well, your wife showed up at my house. She’s crying. You better get over here,” he grumbled sounding downright depressed. Of course, after spending all those years with Camilla, I knew how she could suck the joy out of a room.
“Great, man. I’ll be right there.” I ended the call and stewed the whole drive to the other side of town. Camilla being at Tommy’s place had me in knots. What the hell was she doing all up in my business? We were done. Why the hell couldn’t she leave my friends alone?
I came to a screaming halt in front of Tommy’s house. I was mad and didn’t care who knew it. I threw the truck into park, hopped out, slammed my door, and stormed up the front walk. Before I could even knock, the door had been opened by Camilla and Tommy was standing a few feet behind her looking nervous as hell. “What?”
She sniffled a few times before blurting out, “I’m pregnant.” Then she threw herself into my arms.
I peeled her off immediately, pushing her far enough back that I could read her face. Everything she’d done made sense now. She needed a witness. She had planned this, probably right down to the pregnancy, which was why she fucked me a couple months ago before she moved downstairs. Bitch was biding her time, waiting to see if it took. She knew I was done. She knew I wanted out. She agreed, then pulled this shit.
“We been married five long years,” I snapped. “You never wanted kids.” She averted her eyes. “I don’t think you want kids now. I think you just want me yours for eighteen years.” My eyes narrowed. My nose flared. I was mad as hell. “Fine, but you staying in the basement. We ain’t never gonna be better because you are one special kind of crazy bitch.”
“How could you speak to your baby’s mama this way?” She stepped back and turned to Tommy. “You see how he is.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and waited. Tommy and I had been boys long before Camilla entered the picture. I’m pretty sure he tried to tell me not to marry her. I shoulda listened.
“I see how you is,” he retorted. Then he met my eyes. “Sorry, D. I know you had plans.”
He did too. We talked about Tegyn all the time. She had brought back a spring to my step. She made me smile. With her, my heart felt right.
“Go home, Camilla,” I urged.
“I’m not tired.” Her hands fisted at her sides.
“Well, I am. See you, Tommy.” I waved and walked away. All I could think of the entire drive home was how I could still have Tegyn. The more I considered it, the more I struggled to accept there was no way. Camilla had made sure of it. I was nearly at my house when Tommy called. “Yo,” I greeted him, trying not to sound as devastated as I felt.