What could go wrong when taking a road trip, alone, across the USA after a break up? Well, I can answer that for you.
Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. That's what could happen. The universe is really out to get me, these days.
That is...
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May 21, 2022
I can't believe that happened yesterday. James's speech running on an endless loop through my brain. It was the most heartfelt, well thought out gift that I have ever received.
Every time I pass a reflective surface I have to pause and stare at the necklace around my neck, making sure I didn't hallucinate the whole thing. My fingers keep drifting to touch it, making sure that it's still there.
James let me name his fish too. I decided on Caria. It seems fitting in many different ways. Right now he is at the store, buying Caria all of the important stuff a fish needs. I did research last night, wanting to give our poor county fair fish a great life.
Right now she is in a pot on the counter. We took her out of the bag and tried to make her comfortable, but there wasn't much we could do at that moment. Could you imagine if a burglar burst in and saw a goldfish in a cooking pot. I laugh out loud at the thought, startled into silence when I hear a knock on the front door.
Did I just manifest a burglar into existence? A burglar wouldn't knock...unless they were a polite one....but nothing about robbing people is nice...
I sit up off the couch and tiptoe as quietly as possible to the door. Looking through the peephole and I scream at what I see. Why couldn't it have been a damn burglar?!
I hit my head on the door a few times and recheck the peephole twice more, just to make sure I'm not seeing things. I sigh as I open the front door, wincing when the person in front of me doesn't disappear like I hoped they would.
"Graham," I force a smile. "Respectfully, what the fuck are you doing here?" He looks me up and down slowly, sending cold chills straight through me.
"You're mom sent me to check on you. Quite the situation you got yourself into," he rocks back on his heels, looking around the yard. "I don't see a car. Is what's his face here?" He snaps his fingers trying to figure out James's name.
My jaw tenses, "James, and no he's at the store." I try my best to remain calm, but that's hard considering how the last time I saw him went. "I'm fine, see," I hold up my arms and spin around quickly, not liking his eyes looking at my body but ready to be done with this conversation. "Go, get back on a plane and go home."
"Not going to invite me in?" He smiles, making me want to slam the door in his face. I step outside and shut the door behind me. There is no way he is even going into the house. That's my happy place and he's not about to ruin it with his fuckery.
"Nope." I take a seat on the steps of the porch, putting my back to him. I hear a commotion and see all three dogs bounding up to the steps, growling.
I whistle, getting their attention, "down." They obey immediately, not taking their eyes off of us.
"Seems you have fit right in these last...what was it? 2 weeks?" He takes a seat next to me.
"Something like that," I scooch over to create more space between us.
"You know, I really miss you, Elle," he turns to me, his eyes conveying some sadness.
"I don't miss you, Graham. And please call me Aloura."
He huffs, "Oh come on. You've had your time to pout about it, but don't you think it's about time to come back home." He grabs my hand, "I was planning on proposing to you this Christmas. We could still have that."
I rip my hand out of his grasp, disgusted. "No. No way. I realize now that I settled for way less staying with you. You cheated on me, for god knows how long. You lied. You never supported me. Not truly. Even after what you did, I still let my parents believe you were the good guy. You only got that job because of me and you still have that job because of me. I gave you 4 years of my life and an incredible career. You gave me nothing." I stand up and walk further away from him on the porch. He stands and grabs my hand forcing me to stay next to him.
"Let go of me," I say through clenched teeth.
"You heard her," I hear James's voice from behind me. "Let go of her," he repeats my words back to Graham.
Graham does, talking a step back, but not breaking eye contact with me.
"You must be James," Graham says, annoyed at the interruption.
"Yeah, and you are?" He stops right beside me.
"Aloura's boyfriend," Graham states. I whip my head towards James, his expression pained, heartbroken even.
"EX-boyfriend," I enunciate the first part, to be sure that it can't be missed. "He is my ex-boyfriend who my parents sent over to check on me," I roll my eyes, not even mad at my parents, just mad at Graham for acting like a child.
James looks at me, eyes roaming my face, and whatever answer he finds must satisfy him because he wraps his arm around me, leaning down to kiss me as relief sweeps through him.
"Oh, so you are sleeping with him. That's how you got this room here," Graham scoffs, apparently disgusted with me when he should be with himself.
"No," I state matter of factly. "I haven't slept with him."
"Not yet," James cuts in, my body heating at those words. "You can see that she's fine and taken care of. We'll even FaceTime her parents tomorrow, just to prove it to them. I think your job here is done." James grabs my hand, ushering me inside and locking the door behind us, not waiting for a response.
