Temptations Page 16

hurt him. She could see it in his eyes. He looked like a hurt wolf. Very hurt. Susy cried harder. She just hurt the person that least deserved it in the world and she was to blame for that.

  —Wow. It must be bad

  —What are you talking about!

  —At dad’s bar, with the lights off. Wet eyes and 3 vodkas?

  —Four

  —What happened? —Alberto sat in the couch that was facing his brother.

  —She’s with him.

  —What? She’s back with her ex?

  —No. They are talking in the coffee spot. He doesn’t want to sign the papers. He wants to see her.

  —Oh God. You scared me so much I almost die. Ok, that seems relatively normal.

  —Normal? What are you talking about? I just told you she is talking to him about God knows what and you think is normal!

  —Well, Nico. Even though your jealousy is blinding you, you have to understand that he is her ex; they have a son together and is normal that they talk about stuff. It makes sense.

  —But, about what? What if he asks her to get back together…? —Nico let himself sink in the couch.— You know… she was sitting next to me in the couch. I told her I loved her… we are about to make love and she left me… to see him.

  Nico finished the rest of the vodka he had in the glass and he was about to serve another one when Alberto stopped him.

  —Brother, stop. Lets go to your room. You are making a bid deal out of this. When couples break up they have to talk about a lot of stuff.

  —No! I want another drink!

  —You are so drunk you can’t even serve yourself another drink. Come let me help you, I’ll take you to your room.

  —No. I’m going home.

  —No, you’re not. Dad would love to see you sleep in your old room.

  —Alberto…

  —Yes?

  —I told her. That I loved her. That I loved her beyond reason. —His voice was so low that it was difficult to understand him.

  —What did she say?

  —That she loved me. Alberto! She said she loved me but she left with him

  —Nico, she didn’t leave with him. —“I hope”, he thought. Otherwise his brother was going to suffer a lot and he didn’t deserve it.

  —Do you think that she wants to get back with her?

  —I don’t know, but the important thing is that she doesn’t want to get back with him. And you need too look good to avoid that. Brother, now you have be stronger than ever, do you understand me? Fight for the woman you love. Show her the difference between a guy like you and a cockroach like him. Fight for your true love. Death took away from me the thing I loved the most and I couldn’t fight it. But you can, brother. Rest. Tomorrow she will need you and you must be there for her. Now, lay in bed and rest.

  Nico seemed to fall asleep before he reached the mattress. But before Alberto left the room he heard his brother calling him

  —Alberto

  —Yes?

  —Thanks, brother.

  —You are welcome. You deserve it.

  And he closed the door before Nico could say anything.

  We Are a Marriage

  —Hi, baby.

  —Can you stop calling me that? It disgusts me.

  —You used to like it.

  —That was before. Tell me what you want and leave. I have things to do.

  —You seem to be in a hurry. Is someone waiting for you? Maybe that little cute guy that doesn’t leave you alone?

  —You have nothing to say about what I do in my life —“How does he know?”— Just sign the papers and lets get over with this. —Susy was furious.

  —Oh, no babe. It’s not going to be that easy.

  —What are you talking about?

  —We are a marriage. We have a son and you are not going to change that.

  —Asshole! You have cheated as many times as you wanted and now you talk to me about marriage and family?

  —Babe… I’m sorry… Susy. Sometimes men go from flower to flower, its something that we can’t avoid… But I love you. We have a life together. You can’t throw it all away.

  —Me?! You are the one with the infidelities, the lies, the deceiving… You destroyed all the love I once felt for you!

  —Susy, we can’t start over again. This time I admit the fault, but you have to understand that you have that melancholic personality, your cheap clothes, always running around for the kid. You are not what I call a “Sex Bomb”. I am a man, Susy.

  —Sex Bomb? You know, it’s hard to be a fucking Sex Bomb when you’ve been working for 20 hours, non stop, without even being appreciated by your husband. But, what am I talking about? Now your infidelities are my fault, because I’m not the whore you wanted in your bed!

  —I’m not saying that…but you are a bit dull. Although now you have to be shining.

  —That’s it. I’m leaving.

  —No, babe. You are not. You are my wife and you are going to keep being my wife. So tell that blonde guy to forget about you.

  —What?

  —Susy, please. Do you really think he likes you? He just wants to have fun for a little while. You know… fuck with an older woman.

  Susy felt like she was about to faint.

  —Why are you doing this to me? Oscar, what do you want?

  —I want to come home. I want to raise our son. I want you to be my wife.

  —Why? You don’t love me anymore.

  —Babe, I love you in my own way. I love you. You’ll see that everything is going to be like it use to.

  —No! I don’t want it to be like it used to!

  —Is that little dummy blonde guy, right? What’s up, is he that good?

  Susy didn’t let him finish, she just slapped him in the face. Oscar reacted grabbing her by the hand and pushing as hard as he could, hurting her.

  —Babe, you are my wife. You are “MY WIFE” and you are not going to be with anybody else, you like it or not.

  —You can’t force me. I’m leaving.

  —Babe, does the name “Fernando” ring any bell?

  Susy quickly turned around.

  —What does our son has to do with any of this?

  —Everything, babe. Everything. Or you come back with me or things can happen to him.

  —You are crazy —Her voice was lower than a whisper.

  —Think about it. I can take him and you’ll never see him again. I can put him in a school in another country. Who knows maybe he gets sick because his mom is so far away.

  —Oscar… please… you wouldn’t…

  —Babe… —Oscar got close to her in a loving way and started to hug her— I love you both, you know that. I don’t want to hurt you. I just want a shot. We are a marriage, a family and I know that you feel hurt because of everything that happened but men have needs. That doesn’t change anything, I still love my wife. And you are my wife. —And he kissed her in the top of her head.

  —Please Oscar… Fernando is your son…

  —You are his mother. Your choice. His well being and a happy marriage or that silly little blonde guy that you don’t even know. Come one babe, there’s not a lot to think here.

  —I…

  —You have 48 hours. In two days I will be at home again and you will be my wife. And no lovers, babe. You don’t want to see me angry, do you? I would advice against it, think about our son.

  It can’t be The End

  There she was, waiting for Nico.

  Her relationship with Oscar had been broken for a long time. Her friends had told her over and over again but she refused to accept it. She didn’t see it until she saw him again, that sketchy look, that “I’m sorry” that he didn’t mean, that’s when she stopped being blind and saw reality. That’s when she saw her husband for what he really was.

  Oscar believe that he was superior to Susy, more good looking, with a better education… she was less than him.

  But what could she do? He threatened her with their son. The onl
y thing that belonged to her. She couldn’t risk it. She had to talk with Nico and break up with him.

  Nico. How could she live without him?

  Nico was capable of making her laugh, without making her feel guilty. He was the calm. He was everything.

  Nico showed her how it felt to truly love, without conditions, just love. And, oh God, she loved him with all her soul. Everything hurt. Where was she going to find the strength to break up with him?

  She didn’t know how to explain it.

  He was going to kill Oscar if she found out the truth. If she found out that he threatened to take away her son. But she couldn’t risk his son’s well-being.

  She had to stay strong.

  Nico deserved to be with somebody that loved him, not with somebody that brought all these problems to his life, like she was doing. But then, why did it hurt so much to picture a life without him?

  They will never make love again.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about the sound of his kisses. Their bodies becoming one, waiting for sunrise.

  Those breakfasts filled with laughter and games.

  How was she going to live now?

  The doorbell. It’s time.

  —Hello. —That’s all Susy could say.

  —Hello. —She looked nervous. It was normal. He didn’t behave properly the night before. Alberto was right. He had to apologize.

  —Su, my love, I’m so sorry for yesterday. —He hugged her with love and she couldn’t resist— I behaved like a jealous full. I understand that he is your ex and you have a son together —He started to kiss her neck— But I love you so much. I went crazy thinking that you could forget me.

  —That will never happen. —She said crying.

  —I know, my love. I’m such a fool. Jealousy blinded me, but then, when I got home I thought about it. Baby, last night in bed I couldn’t stop thinking about your scent when we make love, your naked skin asking me to love you, your nails in my back asking for