right under my nose

Marital Problems

Jason's pov

"I'm getting tired of the lies and the cheating. It's not right. We took vows. I've stayed for this long only for the sake of the girls. But dammit if she's going to run around on me, I don't want to be wasting my life with her!!" I rant to my best friend Miranda. She lets me vent about the crap going on between me and my wife Jessica. "I say ya leave her as soon as ya get the chance! She's not going to stop. Trust me. I know from experience." she says. "Experience? Who's done this to you?" I ask. I smile as she sits on the couch beside me. "I've always come to you for my problems. Now it's time you do the same." I say. She smiles. "It's nothing. It was 7 years ago. The boyfriend I thought I'd be with forever did nothing but lie to me. He told me he was out with the boys and I believed him until he came home and I smelled someone else's perfume on his clothes." she grumbles, clenching her fists. "Wow! Why didn't ya ever tell me?" I ask. She sighs. "You're going through enough of your own crap to deal with mine." she says. I hug her. "No, girl. You can tell me anything anytime." I say. "I know but I just didn't want to stress you out worrying about me." she says. "You're my best friend and just like you let me rant and rave about Jessica, you can do the same with me about your boyfriends." I say. She nods. "Thanks." she says. "Anytime." I reply, standing up. "We hangin' at Luke's later, right?" I ask. She nods. I head back home where Keely and Kendyl run and hug me. "Hey girls, where's your mama?" I ask. "In the kitchen." Kendyl says. I'm about to head in there when Keely grabs my hand. "Wait, I need help with my homework!" she cries, pulling me. "Ok, hun, I'll be there in a second. Just wait in your room." I say. But she still won't let go. "Dad, please. I need help now!" she cries desperately. What is going on here? I have a pretty good feeling. I pull my hand free and walk to the kitchen door without her seeing me. She's kissing some guy!! I shouldn't be so surprised but I can't help it. "Girls, pack a bag. We're sleeping over at a friend's house." I say. They race up the stairs while I text Miranda which of course she says yes. After we're all ready to go, I peek back in the kitchen and she's still kissing that jerk. "Come on kids." I say. She's standing on the porch when I finally get there. "So what happened this time?" she asks. "She was kissing some guy in our kitchen. I'm sure it's moved on to far worse things than that now." I grumble. "I'm just so sick of her doing this to me."

Miranda's pov

He opens the fridge. "Ya have any beer?" he asks. I shake my head. "Jason, you know you'll end up drinking way too much so I have to hide it." I tell him. I tell him the same thing every time he comes over after she does something. He sighs. The girls go to their usual bedrooms. It's like clockwork. I sit down beside him at the dining room table. "Jason, ya need to stop going back to her. She's just going to keep on hurting you. You've cried too much over this girl. You've given her a million second chances. She doesn't deserve you." I say. He stares sadly at his hands. "Why do I think she's going to change?" he grumbles. "Because you love her." I say. He shakes his head. "Not anymore I don't." he whispers, giving me his keys. He picks up his guitar and walks to the guest room to put the girls to bed. I head to my room. I text Luke telling him I won't be going tonight. I drop my phone to the floor and lay back on the bed, frustrated. That girl will never change. I remember our time back in high school. It may have been a one time thing because we were both drunk and depressed but it was great. I wish he'd leave her.

Jason's pov

This is the last straw. I will not go back. I can stay in a motel until I find a place if Miranda doesn't want me staying here. But I'm sure she won't mind. The girls fall asleep so I go to the couch. I am not going to sleep tonight. Not long after, Miranda sits beside me. "Can't sleep huh?" she asks. I shake my head. "Jason we've been best friends for a long time now, right?" she says. "Of course, more than 20 years." I reply, glancing over at her. "And you've always followed my advice." she says. I nod. "Then follow this. Do not go back to her. I'm tired of seeing my best friend cry over a girl who obviously doesn't care." She says, starting to tear up. "I'm not. Today was the last straw." I say. "You say that every time but then she begs for you to forgive her so you do and she ends up hurting you again." she says. "I know but this time is different." I mumble, leaning my head on the couch. She calls my phone but I ignore her. Miranda pats my leg. "Well I'm headin' to bed. Huddle house in the mornin'?" she asks. I nod. "Sounds great. Thanks." I say. She goes to her bedroom. I'm going to at least try to get some sleep. I'm about to drift off when the lyrics to a new song float in my head. I get a notepad and pencil and start writing. "I wanna be the man that ya thought I was. I wanna be the man that made ya fall in love. I can't undo everything I've done but startin' right now baby you're the only one."

Miranda's pov

I hear him singing so I stand just outside the bedroom door to listen. He plays his guitar. "I don't wanna be a restless soul runnin' on empty burnin' up the road never knowin' what I'm tryin' to find while the wheels keep turnin' in the back of my mind." wow! That's a great song!

Jason's pov

I hear clapping so I stop playing. I turn around. Miranda's standing in the hallway. "You're a great singer." she says. "I try to be." I joke. "New song, I guess?" she asks. I nod. "Talent flows from you like water in a stream." she says, poetically. I smile. "Have you been doin' poetry?" I ask. "In my mind." she says. I write down more lyrics and when I glance up she's asleep beside me, making me smile. I carry her to bed, flip the light off, and go to sleep on the couch.