ODAAT: Volume 1, Chapter 15

 

Chapter 15

The Other Man

Let's rewind the story a little bit. I feel like I should detail their relationship.

Two years ago, I was asked to accompany a band on tour. This was the band Luke had been fronting since before we even met. They had broken up, but they were getting back together. This was their reunion tour, but it was going to be a surprise. So, the band wanted to use roadies and stage hands that they were familiar with. They needed help that knew how to keep quiet, so rumors wouldn't spread and the announcement would stay under wraps. We boarded the tour bus, heading across the country. I was introduced to everyone else who would make the tour happen. One of the roadies, I happened to know already. I had met him back when he was a roadie for Hunter's band. After a few weeks, we started to bond over the tours we had been on. Within a few more weeks, we started sleeping together. I knew that Hunter had already been unfaithful. He was withdrawing from me. Every time I went to see him, he seemed more and more distant. I was lonely and confused. I had also fallen in love, but hadn't realized yet.

The tour ended and we headed back to Illinois. He was living on Luke’s couch at the time and I was still living with Hunter. Hunter wanted to be closer to friends and family. I just believed we could get a fresh start. But when the tour ended, I confessed to Hunter that I had been unfaithful. He asked if it was a serious thing or something temporary. I didn't have an answer for him. It didn't matter, because he was hurt beyond words. I had never felt more guilty in my entire life than I did right then, seeing the look of devastation in his eyes. Then, it got worse. Much, much worse. He confessed he had been seeing someone as well. I already knew, but I didn't want to call him on it. The conversation quickly escalated into an argument. His temper flared, my emotions got the best of me. He said hurtful things, and I said them back. But, everything we were going through ended up on hold when his phone started ringing. We were on the opposite side of the living room in our house. His answering machine picked up the call. He had turned on the feature that reads voice mails out loud. Something he would soon regret forgetting to turn back off. I heard his voice, speaking through the piece of plastic on the living room table: Hunter, you've been ignoring my calls for a week. We need to talk. I didn't want to do this over your voice mail, but, I can't do this anymore. There is someone else. I'm sorry. But, I'm leaving you. Click.

Everything was paused in that moment. I couldn't properly describe the look on Hunter's face. I could tell by the way he picked up his phone how broken he was. He stared at the missed call notification for more than five minutes, silently. That's when I knew. For Hunter, it meant so much more. He wasn't just having sex with someone else. He was in love. I was too shocked to comment. He was too preoccupied to notice. I had been trying to find the words to tell him who it was. But it wouldn't matter now. It would only add insult to injury. As hurt as I was by his infidelity, I couldn't bring myself to do that to him. So I kept my mouth shut.

I went to see him the next day. He was happy to see me, telling me that he had exciting news. He told me he had broken up with his boyfriend. I asked how his boyfriend took it. He said he didn't care. They had been together for years, but, it was time to move on. He wanted to move forward with our own relationship. He wanted to make things official. I sat down across from him on the couch and stared at him with no emotion in my eyes. He could tell something was wrong. He was always observant like that. He asked me why I didn't share the excitement.

“My boyfriend was cheating on me.” I started. He looked sympathetic, letting his eyes fall.

“I'm sorry, but, maybe it was for the best. I mean, you were cheating on him too.” He offered. I nodded, covering my face with my hands. After about five minutes of silence, I let them drop.

“With you.” I finished, exhaling deeply. His eyes went wide and he jumped off the couch.

“What?” His voice cracked as he spoke. I pressed my back into the couch and stared at him.

“Yeah. How is that for irony?” I laughed. He didn't find the same humor in the situation. We were both cheating on each other with the same person. He had no idea I was dating Hunter. He knew I had dated Hunter. I was dating Hunter when we met. But, we broke up and got back together. Hunter apparently left out the part where we got back together. He began pacing back and fourth, muttering to himself.

“You and Hunter.” He clarified. I nodded.

“Me and Hunter.” I repeated, looking over. He dropped his hands to his sides and let out a frustrated sigh.

“I thought you broke up.” He mumbled. I nodded again.

“On and off since we started dating.” I detailed. He dropped down on the chair that Luke had in the living room. He wasn't home, of course. He was out with one of his friends.

“Most recently?” He asked, trying to get as many details as possible. I could tell he was confused.

“May, last year. We moved to Illinois to start over. Or, so I thought.” I looked over, making eye contact.

“I, uh.” He paused, looking down at the floor. I nod.

“Yeah. I'm guessing it was for you.” I corrected. Both of his hands were in his hair, moving the strands around. I wondered why he was in such a panic. Was he afraid I'd be upset? Was he worried that Hunter knew about the two of us? I didn't bother asking. I knew he was usually good with expressing his feelings. I had faith he would, once the shock wore off. I watched him in this sudden state of panic, trying to resist a building laughter in the back of my throat.

“Wow.” He muttered under his breath. I let the laugh escape the prison of my esophagus. He dropped his hands and looked over at me, now smiling and shaking his own head.

“I didn't tell him about us, if you're wondering. I was going to, but, your oh-so-classy phone call came in right before I did.” I explained. He didn't say anything. The shock value lingered in the air between us. It was like he was running over the past eight months. He was trying to make any connection that would confirm my words. We both did a really good job hiding the affair, except for the part where we told each other. Apparently, we did a great job hiding who it was with. Even from that person.

“He's in love with you, you know.” I added, letting my voice drop. He looked over suddenly, seeming frightened by the statement.

“What?” His voice cracked again. It was an unflattering sound, but made me want to giggle.

“Do you feel the same?” I asked, feeling a sudden curiosity.

“I did. A long time ago. But, something has changed in him. I just,” He paused. I smiled, letting him know I understood his feelings.

Flash forward to present day...

I'm sitting in the living room of the house I once shared with Hunter. I'm sprawled out on the couch reading his copy of Invisible Monsters. My personal copy is at Crystal's apartment. Hunter walks through the front door and I cough, so he knows I'm here. He looks over, seeming confused about my presence. He puts his guitar case down in front of the hall closet and walks into the room. He stops at the door frame, leaning against it. I sit up, closing the book and placing it on the table. I cross my legs and look up at him. He crosses his arms and motions towards me.

“I just came to grab a few things, and,” I pause, standing up. I walk towards the doorway and he moves into the living room. He drops himself down on the couch and pulls one of his legs into his lap. I look back into the living room. He's motioning towards the ticket that's laying on the table.

“Is this yours?” He asks, reaching forward. Silence falls on us as I watch him reading the ticket. I can see the confusion spreading across his face. He looks up, wide-eyed.

“Are you going to see Frankie?” He asks, voice cracking when he says the name. I shake my head.

“No. You're going to see Frankie.” I answer, trying to be dismissive.

“Why?” He asks, looking towards me. I pick up the bag I have sitting beside the living room entrance. Then, I look over my shoulder. I could answer him right now, but I wait until I'm at the front door. It's all about the impact. The delivery of information matters more than the information you're delivering. So I stop once the front door is open and turn back to face him.

“He asked for you.” I answer. With that, I'm out the door. I don't leave him the chance to ask me further questions. After all, I don't have the answers. I'm not the one who wants him at that show. I'm not the one who plans to confront him in front of an adoring crowd. I'm not lining up to break his heart. But that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be broken.