The Five Seconds King

Chapter 007

NEAL 

I didn't know what the hell I was walking into when I pulled into that driveway.

I killed the engine and just sat there for a minute, gripping the steering wheel, staring at the house that used to feel like home. It looked the same on the outside. It had the same white siding, same rose bush under the window that she loved so much, but it all felt different now. It felt like a stranger's place, like a house that belonged to someone I didn't recognize anymore.

When Elisa called and said she'd sign the papers, I almost didn't come because it felt too quick to be true considering how she'd been begging me not to leave but I thought maybe she was done putting on that mask of pity-seeking sadness on her face, like she didn't know what she'd done. Part of me wanted to tell her to mail them or just leave them in the mailbox. But some stupid part of me wanted to see her one more time. Maybe I was still hoping she was going to say something that made sense.

I stepped out of the truck and walked up to the porch, reminding myself not to give in to her pleas no matter how much she begged me. The door was unlocked.

She was standing there in the living room when I opened it, and for a second, I almost didn't recognise her. She'd done her hair up the way she used to when we were dating, loose curls falling over her shoulder. Her makeup was perfect- soft, natural, just enough to make her hazel eyes stand out. She was wearing a pale blue dress that hugged her hourglass figure but didn't look cheap or flashy. I could tell she'd gone out of her way to look good.

But I didn't care.

None of it mattered anymore.

I didn't see the pretty hair or the makeup or the dress. All I could see was the woman who'd walked into a hotel with another man and took me for a fool. I lasered my hard gaze on her, before stepping past.

"Neal," she said softly, as if my name tasted strange on her tongue.

I did not respond. I just looked around the living room and then back to her. Then I saw him walk into the living room from the hallway. 

Jack.

What the hell was he doing here? I had a premonition that I might have been right about her not signing anything. The snivelling piece of shit comfortably sat on the couch like he owned the place. Still trying to understand why I was really here, I turned to her and asked in a very stern voice. "Elisa, what the hell is this?" 

She stepped closer, her hands clasped in front of her like she was nervous and her eyes on the floor because she couldn't even look me in the eye. "I wanted to talk. I thought it would be better if Jack explained things himself."

A bitter laugh slipped out of me before she was done talking. What was she even thinking? I raised a brow. "And you figured the best way would be to have your lover present?" Why was she intentionally pushing my buttons? To get a reaction out of me? 

She flinched like she'd been slapped. "He's not-"

"You're joking right? This has gotta be some sort of big joke." I interrupted before she could deny the fact we already knew. "Really? Is this the best you could do? This is your big idea? You call me here, tell me you've signed the paper, and then I walk in and see him? What... you think I'd shake hands with him? Thank him for keeping you company all those times you didn't feel like you were enough because of me." I said in jest.

Her lips parted like she didn't know what to say.

Then she said the one thing that made my blood boil. "Let's calm down please. I'm sure we can talk this out and end it, but I need you to calm down. I was wondering, since you're so good at cooking, maybe you could make some breakfast and then we can all sit and talk things through. It doesn't have to be this heated."

I froze. And for a second, I thought that I might have maybe misheard her. I hoped so. "What did you say?" 

She glanced at Jack and then back to me, then she repeated it. And for the first time since last night, I was contemplating hitting some sense into her. What exactly did she think I was?

I laughed a dry, angry laugh that didn't sound like me at all. "You want me to cook," I said slowly, "for your lover? While you two talk?"

Her face went pale again, as if the color had drained right out of her skin. I couldn't believe my ears. "Neal, what are you talking about? That's not what I meant-"

But I wasn't having it. "Are you fucking kidding me?" I snapped, stepping closer towards her. "So you dragged me out here to parade and shame me in front of this guy, and now you want me to whip up some eggs for him? Tell me exactly what is wrong with you. Have you lost your damn mind?"

Jack just sat there, smirking like this was all some big joke to him. He leaned back on the couch before draping an arm casually over the cushion. The audacity of these two never ceased to amaze me.

"Neal, listen to me." Elisa tried again, but I was done listening to whatever nonsense she was about to say next because I stepped back towards the door, looking at the divorce paperwork that looked like it hadn't been touched.

"No, I'm done listening," I growled. "If this is what you call fixing things, then I'm out, not like I was ever going to fix things between us in the first place. You don't seem to grasp the situation of things, Elisa, do you? You think you still have a chance at making this work again, but you're in for a very big disappointment."

As I turned towards the door and started to walk out, she came after me. " I didn't mean to sound insulting, Neal. Just wait, please." she called after me, her voice breaking. But I did not wait. I did not even spare her a glance by looking back. Sooner or later, she'd come to the realization that I was done, for good.

"Please, it's not like that!" she cried, still rushing towards me.

I reached for the bullet-proof glass door and yanked it open. My hand was shaking on the handle, but my face stayed hard. I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break again or react to her rage-baiting behaviour.

She was about to follow me out when I heard Jack get up from the couch, then he called out to her. "Hey, let him go."

"Jack, don't-" she started, but he cut her off immediately. I could tell from the way they were arguing now that he was holding her and she was trying to pry his hands away. So much for the guy who really saw her and made her feel seen and cared for. I bet she was feeling all warm, loved up and fuzzy.

"I'll talk to him myself," Jack said with that smug tone that made me want to put him right back into that hotel pool. I didn't wait to hear the rest. I stepped out of the house, slammed the door behind me and walked to my car, my pulse pounding in my skull.