Hit and Run

Chapter 24: A Jealous Wolfe (Wolfe's POV)

"How was it when I was away?" Evan asks as he slams the door of the house. He slams it so bard the door and the walls rattle around the frame.

It's a good thing we left the cabin early this morning, he wasn't supposed to come back until tomorrow. Our bags are unpacked and are put back where we found them. Already a load of laundry is stirring in the washing machine. All evidence of us being together is being washed away and cleansed as if it never took place. Only our memories give us away.

"Quiet, Bethany kept to herself mainly and wrote articles," I say as I head over to make myself some tea. I need something to distract myself with, looking at Evan in the eye might give our romance away.

"They were all shit. I deleted them all. I need to start them all over from square one," Bethany lies. She didn't touch a computer once while we were gone. Her hands were too busy touching my shoulders.

Evan comes over and kisses Bethany. I have to think of her as Bethany, now that that bastard is home. He puts his tongue in her mouth and already the betrayal kicks me in the stomach. Jealousy wasn't supposed to consume, I thought I could handle it. But we've had sex now, real sex where you love the other person. I suppose no one could bounce back that quickly. What the hell was I thinking?

Bethany pulls away from Evan, and our eyes meet for a minute.

"Malcolm, can I have a minute alone with my fiance?"

The word 'fiance' sounds like he is marking his territory all over again. Annie isn't a cow that needs to be branded. She a woman who needs love and protection.

"Yeah sure, I have a phone call to make anyway."

It's not exactly true I don't need to call anyone. But I just use it as an excuse to leave. Annie mouths an 'I'm sorry' in the air. Being the rebound sucks. Anger boils inside me. It's clear that I can't do this, and I need to get out. I decided to text Artie Ainsworth as I slam the door to my room.

Me: Artie, can I stay with you for a few days?

Artie: Yeah sure. Is everything okay?

Me: No. We can talk later. Thanks.

I pack up a duffle bag and toss shit into it for a week's time. I open my door and Evan and Bethany are still chatting. She looks like a ghost, but I can't save her not yet. Not until I land a new job and get a place of my own. They could be married by then, but its a risk I need to take for now.

Evan's eyes find mine and a quizzical expression comes across his eyebrows.

"Where in the blazes are you heading off to?"

"Artie's invited me over to catch up. So I will be staying with him for a little while, until Halloween."

Evan smiles and grabs Annie's shoulders. He maneuvers her body around and she just goes where he commands.

"This little lady is going to be my lot lizard for Halloween."

Does he know he just called her allegedly fiance a prostitute? Does he have no respect for Annie at all?

"I doubt she will be that, Evan. I'm sure you will both look good. Well I'll be seeing you all later. Thanks for helping me out earlier, Bethany."

I leave the house before Evan can ask what she helped me with. What I was thanking her for was for the sex, romance, and best few days of my life. I get in my motorcycle and turn my back on Annie for a few days. The wind takes over and I feel some tears forming in my eyes. I'm not one to cry, the world taught us that it's the doom of man to succumb to emotion. But now all I feel are my feelings in full capacity like a ticking time bomb wanting to punch a brick wall and break a hand.

I get to Artie's house and park. My feet manage to carry me to the door, one dragging foot after the other. My hand presses the doorbell, and Artie answers the door. It's a good thing he works remotely now. It seems like half the world does these days.

Artie opens the door and he is wearing a silky navy blue bathrobe and is sipping coffee. He doesn't greet me, I know I have the look of shame about me. This isn't the first time, Artie's come to my rescue and I hope it's not the last. I'd do anything for him, in truth, he's likely my real best friend.

"What happened this time?" Artie gets to the point. I look around searching for Lori. I am not ready for her to know.

"Don't worry my sister is at work. It's just me here. Is Evan treating you poorly?" He hands me a cup of coffee and I take it. Realizing I left my tea untouched at Evan's.

"No, I did something."

"You always do something, Malcolm. I hope for your sake and mine that it's legal this time."

That's Artie's way of asking if there's a warrant out for my arrest again. He got me out of jail once for drunk driving and possession of a few illegal substances. I've gotten better since those days. Not much better but still.

"No, it's legal. Just complicated."

"Complicated how? You aren't giving me much to go on here."

"I slept with someone."

"You're always fucking someone, Malcolm. That's no surprise to anyone who knows you."

"It's not like that. I'm in love with her." Artie leans in fully interested. I've never been in love before and he knows it.

"Who? Do I know her?"

"It's Annie. I had sex with Annie and ran away." I stop looking at him in the eyes. He doesn't know who Annie is, because he only knows her as Bethany.

"Who the hell is, Annie?"

"Bethany Miller. Bethany. Annie. As in Evan Schultz's fiance, Annie. I fucking love that Annie."

Artie leans in more and chugs his coffee like a nervous habit.

"You had sex with Bethany Miller? How shit? Did you force her? Because I will kill you if I do."

"No, I booked us a cabin during Evan's business trip. We enjoyed the hot tub and made love everywhere. But then he came home and I knew that being that jealous around him would make me do something stupid. I already told her I love her."

"What did she say?"

"That she loves me back. And now it's just a big hot mess. I had to leave. I just had to. I need to think, breathe, and figure this out." I take a deep breath on the couch and let the drama unfold.

"She's getting married, Malcolm. I don't know if there's much you can do. Evan won't take this lightly. All hell will break loose." Artie takes the last sip of his coffee stands up and places it in the sink.

"I know. But until then I need to come up with a game plan. That's why I am here. That's why I asked for help. I love her, Artie."

"I know. I can tell. Just saying her name makes you look different somehow. I'm happy for you, Malcolm. As messed up as this is, I am glad you found someone. Now the question is how do we get them to break up? She's like his prized pony. We don't have to worry about this now. In fact, I think you should go rest. You've earned it. And Malcolm, thanks for telling me. I always knew you liked her but I didn't know how much."

"Neither did I," I reply. I do as he's instructed and go into the guest room. I peel the layers of clothes off my body and climb into the fresh sheets. I quickly fall asleep as memories of Annie and the cabin turn into dreams.