Challen and Addy

Chapter 1 (Challen): Leave

Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA

It annoyed me to no end, but my wife's words rang in my ears as I drove to the park Jennifer and I were meeting at to go mountain bike riding. They stayed with me even as I parked my car near the trailhead and waved to Jennifer, who was already waiting for me.

Addy had been clingy these last few months, and after what she'd said today, I knew now that it was jealousy driving it. Despite what she said, I knew that she wouldn't have a problem if Jennifer had been a man. Her refusal to understand that I was just hanging out with a friend who shared similar interests with me was getting old.

I worked my ass off to provide a good life for us. Addy wasn't in the same industry that I was in, so she didn't understand the constant pressure I was under. Getting out and getting active was a pressure release for me, one that I badly needed. Working through the tension with physical activities whenever I had a chance kept me healthy and sane.

Unfortunately, Addy had become more sedentary as I'd become more active. My wife ate her emotions while I worked mine out as often as I had a chance. That meant my wife wasn't able to or interested in keeping up with me anymore. To my mind, that meant I could find a friend who could keep up with me because it was more enjoyable to undertake these activities with another person, to share the thrill of accomplishment with someone else who could appreciate the effort required.

Jennifer was as athletic as I was. We were on the same team at work and had realized we shared the same interests as we talked while working grueling hours with impossible deadlines. She also, unlike my wife, understood how demanding our jobs were and the pressure we were under. She got why the physical outlets were necessary mentally.

My wife was way off base when she accused me of having feelings for Jennifer. Other than friendly ones that you'd have for a colleague, I didn't. She was simply someone I could blow off steam with in a way I couldn't with my wife.

Maybe if you'd talk to Addy more, she'd understand.

I squelched that thought. I'd tried to explain to Addy but she didn't get it. I'd asked her to go hiking and biking and running with me, but she always declined.

Maybe you could have scaled back your expectations, you could have found a way to share the activities.

But why should I have to hold myself back to cater to my wife's inability to keep physically fit?

"Hey, Chall," Jennifer greeted me when I got out of my car. "This must be a record -- you're five minutes late."

I was known for being punctual to a fault because I was never late to anything. If I said I was going to be somewhere at a certain time, I was there, and I was usually at least five minutes early.

"Got held up at home," I said, more irritated than I intended.

Jennifer gave me a penetrating stare.

"Does Addy have a problem with you doing things with me?"

You wouldn't be asking all these questions if it was a man.

But it's not a man. It's a woman, and this is how cracks start to form in a marriage. You start spending your time and energy on someone who isn't your wife, and things go downhill from there.

I looked at her sharply. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Well, you spend a lot of time with me at work and outside of work. Most women would be really insecure about that, especially given..."

Her voice trailed off and I had no idea where she'd been going with the rest of that.

"Especially given what?" I asked, exasperated that she hadn't finished her thought.