For better or worse

"you remind me "

While Malcolm watched the cigarette smoke roll in the night air, His mind replayed the day when his wife was attacked. The sound of her crying on the phone, his daughter asking "Where was he?" when he finally got home, the tightness of his chest when he held his wife on the bathroom floor because she broke down and cried in the middle of the night. He shook his head as if he could shake the memories out of his mind.

"I'm sorry if I upset you" a soft voice came from behind.
"It's ok, you didn't know. I.....I'm sorry if I was rambling in there. I'm not used to drinking and I guess it all just came out "
Delilah stood next to him and lit a cigarette of her own. "I don't mind it. A lot of people feel like they can vent to me. I like it though. It makes me feel important"
"I think you're just nosey as fuck and you like being in people's business," Malcolm said with a smile.
"That's true as well" Delilah chuckled then their eyes connected, creating a short moment of silence between them. Not in an awkward manner but more of a nervous one. Malcolm broke contact and took another pull from his cigarette.

"While I was working at my second job, my wife, Vanessa went to the supermarket. I was going to do it for her when I got off as a surprise but I had to work a double." Malcolm took another pull of the cigarette and closed his eyes as he blew out the smoke. "While she was putting the groceries in the car, someone came up behind her and placed a gun to her head and threatened to kill her if she didn't hand over the keys. She tried to offer money but the thief just wanted the car. She pleaded with the thief to not take the car because that was our only means of transportation. He didn't care, he groped and grabbed her "Malcolm's voice cracked as he continued. " Until he found the keys, He let her take the kids out of the car and drove off leaving them stranded in the parking lot in the middle of the night. Luckily her friend came and got them but my wife was left traumatized. I hate myself for that. I let my family down for an extra shift. I was supposed to protect them and I couldn't" Malcolm's eyes began to well with tears but he held them in.

"Wow," Delilah whispered. "But at least you were providing, it's guys out here who do what you do just to look good on social media or to go on exotic vacations. At least you have a reason"
Malcolm blew out smoke. "I did it so we can go on a vacation. "
"Oh"
"But it was to repair our marriage. See my parents agreed to take the kids for the week and I figured the time alone could bring back the spark we had before. This was planned out before the incident. She was never the same. She fell into a depression. She would barely talk to me, barely eat, she would just cry and shake at night. When we went to Jamaica, she became combative to everything I said. It was either attitude or silence. Those were my only options. I tried to have us walk around and experience the island you know? Take in the sights and her response was "why? So I can be robbed out here too?' or ' So you can NOT protect me in a different country? ' I understood her anger but it wasn't anything I could do to try to rectify my mistake. When we returned home she started to take a self-defense class.
"Like tao bo? She was getting her Billy blanks on? "Delilah remarked
"No more like Wing Chun. She was getting her Ip man on" Malcolm replied while flicking his cigarette.
"But that's a good thing, right? Martial arts can build confidence."
"It can and it did. She became more independent. A little too independent. I wasn't her husband anymore in her eyes, I was her 'significant other'. She would say things like:

"You're not a man, You less than a man. A real husband provides and protects and you know you can't protect and hell you can barely provide. If I worked your hours at my job I can make triple your pay. You are a bitch for real. I wish I had children with someone else "

Malcolm closed his eyes and continued "Those words hurt but if I tell her, she would get more intense. My friends would say try to have sex more. The intimacy would bring the romance back but they didn't know we stopped having sex all together months ago. I figured she was always tired at first due to the classes and work and watching the girls but one time before bed I would hear her play with her newly purchased "toy". You know how it feels to be on the other side of your wife and not want her to touch you.... Every time I tried she would put me in a wrist lock she learned from the class. After a while, she stopped it all together by getting two different beds and that's how we sleep now. I and my ......significant other"
Malcolm gritted his teeth as the words hissed out his mouth.
"Why you didn't leave? You don't seem happy." Delilah asked finishing her cigarette flicking it in the same manner as Malcolm.
"My girls. I never wanted them to know what it's like to have two different households and what divorce feels like. I had to experience that growing up and it was hell. The custody battles, who get which kid on which days, who keeps the house, the child support, separate holidays. It's a mess so I vowed to never put them through that. I love my daughters each one of them. They are a crumb snatching, pain in the ass but they are truly the light of my life. I wouldn't trade them for anything so if that means going through hell so they wouldn't have too... hey that's life. C'est la vie"
"Que sera sera"
"Right "Malcolm replied smiling while staring into Delilah's eyes. The familiar feeling was back but Malcolm wanted to shake it "we got a game to finish "
"It's fine. I forfeited. You were up so you win. " she admitted
"So that means I get your time right?" He said moving closer
"Yeah, what do you want to do with it? "She hinted by closing the gap.
As if the whole night led up to this moment, they embraced and locked lips instantly. A surge of energy flowed throughout Malcolm's body making him feels a warm spark. A spark he thought to be gone forever but in less than a second, it was reignited and ready to be released. His arms wrapped around her waist and hers around his shoulders. With the resemblance of two school children, the two made out in front of the now empty bar.
"Let me use the bathroom real quick, "Malcolm said breaking the lip lock.
"Ok I gotta pay for the pool anyway"
"Alright I meet you at the bar"
Malcolm dashed in and went to the direction of the bathroom. Before entering, the bartender stopped him.
"Yo, your friend said to tell you he got something lined up since you didn't want to share ....whatever that means but he said you got his tab so you owe me 60$"
Malcolm gave a slightly annoyed sigh but obliged because he knows that James is good for it. When he slid his hand in his pocket, he came up with 100 dollars and a ring. Just by the sight of it caused memories to flood back to his mind. The proposal at her mother's housewarming, the wedding in Rio, buying their first house together, the game nights with family and friends, the 'I love you' undercovers, the rapid heartbeat feeling he felt their first time having sex, the grip of her hand when she delivered their first child.
"Umm Hellooo 60$ sir. I'm trying to close out!" Angel said snapping him back to reality.
"I'm sorry "Malcolm paid the bartender and dipped inside the bathroom. While washing his hands he stared into the dirty bathroom mirror and locked eyes with his reflection. "I can't do this," he thought. As much as his dick wanted to be deep inside of Delilah, his heart was still with Vanessa. He walked out and met Delilah sitting at the bar.
"Finally, I thought you fell in. Are you ready to go? " Deliah said with lust in her eyes.
"Look, Delilah, you a nice girl, a real cool as a person I just can't do this, not to my wife. I'm sorry if I led you on. It wasn't right but two wrongs are not going to make it right."
Delilah got quiet as if she was taking in every word he said then replied with a smile "I knew you couldn't do it. You care too much. You ain't got the balls "she joked "can you at least take this last shot with me before you leave?"
Malcolm smiled with relief by how calmly she's taken the rejection. "What the hell! One last shot!"
"Angel, two sex on beaches. If I can't get it the way I want, I'll get it one way or another "
Angel sighed "ok but after this, I'm done" She made the drinks and served it while Delilah paid.
"A Toast to new beginnings, I hope you get what you deserve and a guy like you deserves a lot "
Malcolm nodded "salute"
They both down the shot and Malcolm felt it instantly. His legs felt weak. "I must be drunker than I thought," he said to himself while collapsing on the booth behind him. He pulled out his phone to get an uber but his vision was too blurry.
"Malcolm are you ok? " Delilah asked with slight concern.
Malcolm's world felt like it was spinning out of control into an abyss. Words of the night bombard his hearing. The last thing he remembers
"One way or another "