Spark (GH Series #5)

Part 8

Jack

I found myself incensed with rage. I stormed out of the bar that I had agreed to meet Dani in and made my way to my car. Shaking my head, I unlocked the car and felt a hand on my shoulder. "I swear to fuck if you even..."

"Whoa, chill Jack." I turned around and noticed that it wasn't Dani's hand on my shoulder, but Ellie's. "What's got you so wound up?" I blinked and looked at Ellie. She looked a lot more refreshed since she left this afternoon and I on the other hand, must look like death warmed up.

"I've done something stupid, so very stupid." Ellie tilted her head to show that she was inquisitive with what I said, but she didn't push for details. "Can we go and talk somewhere? I could do with a friend right now."

"Sure. Do you want me to follow you or..."

"Get in the car Ellie, I can drive you back here to get your car once we've had a chat." Ellie nodded and got into the car with me. As we were driving off, Dani came out bar looking in different directions. I'm not sure if it's me she's looking for, but I couldn't care less. Ten minutes later, we were at a burger place and we sat down at the table and I let out a sigh. "I never thought to ask if you like burgers."

"Well, you are in luck Jack, I love burgers." Ellie gave me a small smile and started scanning over the menu and I waited patiently on her choice. "I think I'm going for the bacon cheeseburger and a strawberry milkshake." Colour me impressed. A lass that enjoys her food almost as much as me. I nodded and disappeared to the counter and ordered our meals. "You didn't have to do that Jack; I could have got my own."

"I dragged you here. It's the least I could do."

"Not exactly dragged Jack, I came willingly." She shot me a smile that helped to simmer my temper down and I nodded my head.

"I know, but I'm grateful. It's just my circle of friends...well they seem to have moved along with Dani and her side, like I've not been wronged or anything." I was about to say more but our number got called out and I went and collected our food and brought it back to the table. "Grubs up."

"Thanks Jack. Tell me, what happened? You seemed fine when I left Carson's earlier." I blew out long breath and I am genuinely thankful that Ellie was in the area. "What stupid thing did you do?"

"I met up with Dani." I notice Ellie cringing but then she nodded her head and her facial expression told me that she understood. "Part of me wanted closure, to know why, but with what she was telling me, she made it out to be my fault that she cheated. I just don't understand."

"Cheating is a choice, Jack. She chose to cheat on you. Whilst I don't know the ins and outs of your relationship, I knew it was long term."

"Sixteen years."

"Ouch. But why is she saying it was your fault?"

"I had stopped paying attention to her apparently, but that is a load of shit. Everything I've ever done has been for Dani. I didn't work long hours after she complained about it, so I cut my hours back, trusting my staff to do jobs when I didn't need to be on site. That meant me being free every evening for her when she returned from work and looking back, the past six months or so, she came home later, but I never once complained. I changed a lot about myself for her and when I started to notice that we had it out and she said she understood and allowed me to become my more authentic self, someone who she apparently didn't like and had the need to have an affair for five months." I put my drink down and shook my head. I can't believe Dani didn't like who I had become. "I don't get why she didn't like a life of somewhat luxury, to be able to go on holidays wherever we wanted to go, to spend time with me. I must be a shit person if she doesn't even want to spend time with me. Dani said the most precious gift I could ever give her was my time and just to be there, which I was."