The Asshole App (Expanded Version) ✅ Wattys2023

𝟥𝟫 𝖱𝖺𝗒'𝗌 𝖣𝗈𝗎𝖻𝗍𝗌

Don't confront me with my failures- I have not forgotten them.-- These Days---Jackson Browne

Two hours before the operation, Raymond sat in the darkened corner of the room wearing sunglasses.

He was drinking at the demolished, priceless mini bar. Evelyn walked over and stood by him. She bent over, picked up one of the splintered black lacquered doors, and sat down next to him. "Are you having second thoughts about going up against the CIA?"

He glanced at the tactical top and pants in her hands. "You'll look good in that outfit. Like the deadly assassin you are." He gave her a lopsided grin.

She raised her eyebrows. "What's gotten into you? Are you drinking?"

"Babe, I'm not drunk, I'm jus a lillehammered." He grinned at her.

She picked up the bottle of alcohol. "Is this your priority? To stay hammered during the mission?"

"I'm inebriated enough to understand you love me because of my money. Like all the others." He slurred his words. "I mean, who could love me for myself?" He framed his body with his palms.

"How can you say such a thing?" Evelyn stormed. "I'm trying to help you."

"I need to know." The dark sunglasses masked the pain in his eyes.

"Unless your name is Google, then you don't need to know everything." She stalked to the battered mini bar. Shaking, she retrieved a plastic bottle of mineral water.

He clasped his hand to the side of his head. "Listen, I'm sorry—Satoshi said some things."

She whirled, "What did that viper say?"

"Did you take my Tesla Keycard?" He immediately regretted his words. He put a hand to his head. "I shouldn't have listened to her—I didn't mean it."

She crossed her arms. "What are you going to do? Demote me to the mail room again—I didn't take your keycard."

He looked at her unsteadily. "The only reason I'm still alive is because I don't trust anyone. If I trust you, how do I know you won't betray me like Satoshi did?" He stood unsteadily in front of her.

"Because I'm not her." She shoved him aside. "If you can't see that, then stay out of my way."

Evelyn grabbed her gear. She turned her face away, so he couldn't see her tears. "How could you ever love me? You can't change. You'll never trust anyone." Her wavy hair swept over her shoulders as she stalked out of the room. His heart lurched as he fell back in his chair with a thud. Raymond gulped his drink.

Why do I say the horrible things and always screw things up?

He ruminated about the last woman he'd slept with before Satoshi. His new neighbor had looked sweet and innocent, but he shuddered as he remembered his disastrous affair with Victoria Walker. 

Dennis had tried to warn him, "She's not a bull you wanna ride."

Exciting, smart, and athletic, Vicky had started using enhance drugs and evolved from a stunning temptress into a dominant creature, gunning her Harley through his walled compound. 

What had held them together over a year? Oh yes, he recalled, raw powerful sex. She'd been an insatiable partner, revved up on street ecstasy. She'd treated him as a fuck toy until, abruptly, one evening she'd left him wounded and abandoned. He'd found something with Evelyn he'd never had before. Wild sex and a feeling of peaceful serenity.

"Why?" He muttered. "Why can't women come with warning labels."

Vincent appeared in the doorway. Looking over his shoulder, he watched Evelyn storm down the hallway. He put down his AK-47 and shotgun, walked over, and sat down next to Raymond. He rubbed his bristled chin. "Listen, son, against my better instincts, I'm going to give you some advice." Vincent lowered his head closer to Sinclair. "Here's what my father told me when I met the right woman. It's time to stop thinking with your head and use your heart when it comes to Evie."

Ray groaned. "That's how I got into this mess. I've fucked everything up."

"Welcome to the human race." Vincent took away bottle of vodka off the table and placed it on the kitchen counter. "You can't go on drinking forever to numb your feelings."

Raymond looked at him. "What else is there? More pills? Electric shock therapy?"

"You love Evie—deal with it. That's why you came to the shelter to find her."

Raymond slowly shook his head. "It's not that simple. I don't want her to put herself in danger. She gets mad if I try to tell her what to do."

Vincent sliced the air with his hand, silencing him. "Don't take this away from her. She needs this—her self-esteem's shot to hell. She has to feel like she's in control of her life."

Raymond nodded. "I want to keep her safe, but she needs to feel empowered."

"Yes—and the best way to do that is by believing she's able to take care of yourself. She won't get hurt—I'll watch out for her." He put his hand on Raymon's shoulder. "Let her be her own person. Emotionally support her, and she'll come back and be closer to you. You wouldn't be attracted to her if you didn't sense what a strong person she is under that delicate facade. Woman bend, men break." He exhaled. "If I'd known this about my wife twenty years ago, then I'd still be married."

"It's not too late, Vince. You could meet someone."

"I'm an old war horse that's been put out to pasture." He pointed his finger at Raymond. "Evie wants to be your equal as a partner. You have to learn what pleases her."

"How can I do that?"

"Embrace your feelings, repressed emotions are like muscles that have atrophied. Use them a little every day and they'll grow stronger. Come on, I'll get you some coffee."

"Why are you helping me, Vince?" Raymond removed his sunglasses revealing puffy, red-rimmed, eyes.

"I like you, Soy Boy. It's good to be sensitive and normal to have self-doubt. You have a lot of feelings under that asinine exterior." He grunted as he stood up and unlocked his knees. "I have regrets about choosing my life in the military over my marriage. Don't let this be your greatest regret. You can't change the past, but your future hasn't been written yet. Go after her."