“Lil.” Rod’s eyes light up when he sees me step off the elevator onto my floor where he sits randomly in the hallway. It’s been nearly two months since I left and I have managed to avoid him. He gets up from the floor with more effort than he should. He’s drunk.
“Why are you here?” I ask, wondering how he knew where I lived but then recall the separation papers. They have my address on them.
“Because you left and I miss you, and I know I fucked up. I’ve ended things with Elaine. It’s over.”
“Fifteen years too late, buddy. And she just moved in with you. So I don’t know who you think you’re fooling with this lie.” I don’t walk anywhere near him. He probably has Covid and he’s one of those unkillable roach people who don’t have symptoms but, similar to Typhoid Mary, he’s leaving a wake of bodies.
My phone vibrates, drawing my stare. It’s a message from Shawnee, an SOS to not come home. Rod is outside the door. The elevator probably delayed the arrival of this crucial text.
“Elaine’s at her mom’s. She isn’t at our house.” He says it defensively. As if I’m wrong.
“Okay, well I don’t care,” I state flatly and put my phone away. “I don’t love you. I don’t even hate you anymore.” It’s a truth I didn’t know until this moment. “You’ve been having an affair for our entire relationship. You’re a liar and a cheater and a fake friend. You’ve broken Brent’s heart. And I don’t care what you do.”
“Lil!” He rushes toward me but I step back, closer to the elevator. “Just give me a second chance. You don’t know how much I miss you. I need you. My life has been empty since you left.”
“Go home. Sign the separation papers. Leave me alone.” That’s all I have to say.
His eyes narrow and a cold cruelty washes over him. It’s the same face that scared me in the bathroom the day I moved out. “You have to listen to my side!” he screams and I make a run for it.
I don’t bother with the elevator and instead take the stairs. I’m sprinting down the second set when I hear the door burst open behind me.
“Why are you running? I just want you to stop and listen!” he yells over the sound of his heavy feet on the stairs. My heart races and I’m pushing it as hard as I can. “You’re being ridiculous!”
I’m not sure why I’m running or why that cold look in his eyes scared me, but I’m taking the advice of whatever survival instinct inside me told me to run.
My heartbeat is so rapid I think I’m having a heart attack when I burst through the doors to the foyer and run for the front doors. Outside, where there are people on the sidewalks and a man in the courtyard, I stop and turn, waiting for him to come.
It takes Rod a long time to get out the doors. He’s angry and red-faced like he’s also having a heart attack.
“Stay back,” I say loudly, gasping for air.
“No! You listen to my side. You’ve assumed so many things,” he rages and storms for me.
“Stay back!” I shout, holding my hand out to emphasize that I mean this.
But he disregards me and continues to march forward.
“Is this man bothering you, miss?” an old man asks politely. He has a mask, like me, and white hair.
“Stay out of this. She’s my wife!” Rod commands but the man isn’t having it.
“Are you in danger?” he asks me.
“I think so,” I say with little confidence because it’s Rod. He’s never lifted a finger at me but I’m scared. Maybe it’s because he’s drunk. Maybe it’s that he’s a narcissist and doesn’t lose well. Either way, I continue backing up as Rod comes forward. The older man steps between us and now I’m scared for him. His wife on the sidewalk is too, which is obvious by the look in her eyes.
“Lilly?” a voice I recognize calls from behind me.
I turn to see a guy from work. He’s younger, one of the property managers we hired this year. He’s adorable and exactly the man for this moment. He’s tall and works out every day. “Hi, Anthony,” I say, relieved to see him.
“You okay?” he asks as he walks up wearing workout clothes and headphones. He’s probably out for a jog. “Oh hey, Rod?” Now he’s confused.
“Stay out of this, Anthony. I just want to talk to my wife,” Rod says, flinging his hands in the air like a child. “Lil, tell them it’s fine, they can go.”
“I want you to leave, Rod. And I don’t want you to come back.” My voice is confident now, knowing Anthony would have my back. Not that the old man is chopped liver, but Rod could take him. Just barely. However, Anthony is fit and strong.
“You heard the lady,” the old man adds.
Rod points a meaty finger at me. “You don’t get to decide for me. I decide.” It’s a weird comeback, and I almost laugh but manage to hold it together.
“Okay, cool. I still want you to leave.”
“Why is Anthony here?” Rod dares a step forward. “How come he’s allowed to stay?” He points at Anthony.
“He’s nice,” I say flatly.
“Yeah, you’re probably banging him already,” he taunts me. “Or were you two fucking behind my back? Is that why she left me?” He staggers a bit and still hasn’t caught his breath. “You little shit. Were you banging my wife? I’ll kill you!”
“Rod, dude, you need to calm down. Me and Lilly have never—” Anthony pauses. “Are you two separated?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “I live here now.”
“Why don’t you go on inside and I’ll take care of this,” Anthony says, offering me an adorable smile.
“You little fucker, you’re gonna fight me for this betrayal. We’re fighting, Anthony!” Rod puts his hands up. “Come on!”
“You sure?” I ask Anthony, ignoring Rod.
“Absolutely.” Anthony winks.
I turn to the old man. “I think this is done. Thank you, sir,” I say.
“All right.” He gives Rod one more glare before rejoining his wife on the sidewalk. He glances back to check on me and I wave before turning to Rod. “Go home,” I mutter and walk around him, giving a wide berth. When my back is to him, I’m scared but I need to show him that I don’t care. Because I genuinely don’t. Not today. And hopefully never again.
“Are you fighting me for fucking my wife?” Rod asks, antagonizing Anthony. But it embarrasses me.
“Just let it go,” Anthony answers with a laugh.
“You let it go.” He comes back with another winner. “Let her go. She needs to come home with me right now. Lilly!”
I lose the sound of him as I walk inside and take the elevator upstairs.
Shawnee and Romeo greet me at the doorway and I drop to my knees, lifting my fluffy cat into my arms. He smells nice from the bath he had.
“What happened? Is Liz okay? Where’s Rod?” Shawnee is overwrought.
Taking a deep breath, I carry the cat over to my wine glass still on the counter and begin to fill her in.
Chapter 24