The Other Woman

It's Hopeless

May 7th - 2005

The door knocks again as I stand in the hallway, staring at the noise, Norman still barking, looking back at me. I walk closer, the sound of my heels clipping against the hardwood floor, stopping when they hit the rug. Grabbing the door handle, I take a deep breath and unlock it, then swing it open.

Brad instantly bends down, grabbing Normans collar to keep him inside, his other hand rubbing his body. The dog groaned in pleasure, moving around to make sure he was rubbed all over. I smile as I watch them, feeling a little overwhelmed.

"Hey buddy... there's my boy." Brad gave him a little kiss on the head, standing back up. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, yeah." I move back a little. "Norman, in!" I shout and he runs away, then I close the door over as Brad comes inside. "Follow me... wait, give me your coat." He shakes the black coat from his first arm, passes a bottle of wine to the other as he takes it off fully, handing me it. I hang it up then show him inside to the kitchen.

"Wine?" He asked, placing the bottle on the counter and spinning the label to me.

"Sure... let me get glasses." I nod, going over to the cabinet and opening it, retrieving two wine glasses. I place them both on the counter and he pops the cork, pouring the wine into the first glass.

"Is that enough?"

I nod and he slides the glass to my end of the counter.

"Are you sure you want me to cook here? We could go to my place-"

"Wouldn't I be disturbing your family?" I ask, tilting my head to the side and raising my eyebrows.

"It's not like that." He murmured.

"Isn't it?!" I snap. "You and the brother kisser are all over the tabloids, living your best lives while I'm in hell!"

"Don't go there, Jen! She explained what that was about..." he sighed and I laughed.

"Oh please! Spare yourself the embarrassment of defending her!"

"I'm not embarrassed. You should be the one that is embarrassed. Tearing a woman down for a mistake that hasn't happened for years. Probably only bringing it up to hurt me, when in reality you're just hurting yourself."

"I'm hurting myself? Are you that fucking stupid! Brad, you are the one that hurt me! You lied to me! You cheated on me! And now... it's my fault again?! Because of course... all of this is my fault!"

"It's not all your fault!" He raised his voice, shaking his head. "It's mines. But... but that doesn't give you the right to judge me for moving on."

"Hey! I'm not judging you for moving on... YOU slept with her when we were TOGETHER! That's cheating, Brad!" I screamed, storming into the living room, him following closely behind.

"Jennifer. That was fucked! I get that. I shouldn't have cheated. But I stopped myself from doing it again until we were over..."

"How many?" I turned back to him, the tears pooling my eyes.

"What?"

"How many times?"

"What do you mean?"

"How many times did you do it... with her? Before you were able to 'control yourself'."

"I uh... a- a... um... a few times."

"A few?!"

"Stop fucking shouting!"

"No! This is my house!"

"I know that!" He yelled, glancing around. "Nice furniture by the way." He pointed out in a slightly calmer tone, placing his hands on his hips.

"Thank you!" I yelled... my face softened as I laughed at myself, dropping down on the couch and sighing.

"What?"

"This..." I waved my arms around. "It's hopeless."

"Jen-" he began, sitting beside me.

"No, really. You've got what you want... not realising you've split not only us but two families apart... all for... her." I said in disgust, crossing my arms and angling my head towards him. "You have everything you've wanted, Brad. I thought that I was it... but now you've gone off with something else... well, I sure as hell hope it works out because if it doesn't... so help me god I will tear you apart and her too-"

"Look! I'm not happy about this, and I didn't plan for it, Jen. I don't know how it happened, really, I just... it just did. You, well you- you have every reason to blame us, slam us to interviewers... tell them everything you want. But just know... because I'm with her... doesn't mean-.... it doesn't mean I don't still love you."

My eyes tear up again while my lip trembles. "I... you can't say that." I whine. "You can't say that you love me, but are divorcing me for her. It's not right. It's not fair."

"Jen..." he reached out, taking my hands. "You and I both know that we were rocky... and because of that I took comfort in her. I didn't mean for it to head the way that it did, and if I could take it back... well I think I would-"

"You should know that if you are willing to stop yourself and go back in time, you'd be saying you regret being with a woman you supposedly love. Where the hell is your sense, Brad?!"

"I blame you for that, I was a very strong and level headed man before I met you. You messed me up..."

"I messed you up?!"

"No, not like that! Like... you are so darn easy to fall for that I cracked my head and went all... fluffy or whatever." He smiled goofily and I returned it, looking down.

"Yeah well, your welcome... slash... you're an asshole."

"Thanks... slash... totally agree."

"I hate to stop whatever's happening here... but you promised me a cooked meal..."

"Ah right... come on... you can help me." He smiled, getting up and leading me into the kitchen.

A/N
Yeah I kinda brought up that crazy Oscar's moment... 😬 oh well.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed and are looking forward to the next chapter 🫣