Anna.
I waited outside for the mother, and when I saw the car from a distance, my heart started racing. I’m not used to being apart from my son, and without him last night, I couldn’t sleep a wink.
He left the house upset because he wanted to see Henry, but I explained that it was a dinner for adults. Regardless, he screamed, stomped, and cried until he finally got in the car. I can’t allow my son to be around him.
When Jeremy got out of the car, he walked past me, not even granting me a hug, let alone a glance. I thought he would have cooled down by now.
“Anna, are you working today?” Anni, the mother of Jeremy’s friend, asked from the car.
“Yes, and thanks so much for watching him.”
“No problem, see you at work.”
I work as a saleswoman for women’s clothing. It’s a grueling job since I have to stand and smile for 8 hours a day. My shift starts at eleven in the morning, I have an hour’s break for lunch at three, and I finish at eight in the evening.
In twenty minutes, I need to start my shift, and I don’t have time for Jeremy’s tantrums… Actually, I would, but after hearing the word “Henry” from his mouth, I feel like I’m going to explode.
I didn’t sleep a wink all night. I was tempted to sleep with Dave just to show Henry that I love him, but I couldn’t do it. I can barely even kiss him, for heaven’s sake.
Now I’m like a zombie at work, and people who see me tend to walk the other way. I understand; I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone either.
“Good night?” A voice I knew all too well said from behind me.
“Screw you. And get out of my workplace.” I retort without looking at him.
“Did you sleep with him?” He asks, dead serious.
To lie or not to lie, that’s the question.
I turn around and smile at him.
“Yes, I did, and it was amazing. I never thought a man could give me so much pleasure.”
“Anna! Go fetch the clothes in the storage room, bag number three, and put them on the mannequin in the display window! Now!” My bald, overweight boss barks. I walk past Henry, feeling quite pleased with myself.
When I enter the storage area, I begin searching for bag number three. The problem is there are like a hundred bags.
I hear the door shut behind me, and strong hands grip my waist. My skin starts to burn, and so does the rest of my body. Henry spins me around, pressing his forehead to mine.
“I can’t handle this. I can’t handle this.”
“Did you sleep with him?” He asks again, entirely frantic and unhinged. And I love it. FEEL WHAT I FEEL EVERY TIME YOU COME AFTER ME, YOU JERK!
“Let go of me,” I order, growing increasingly nervous. I feel like I’m going to melt from the heat between us; our skin touching is scorching.
“Answer me,” He demands, not releasing me or allowing me to move back an inch.
“Yes! I did!” I yell hysterically, avoiding his gaze. I can’t lie to him and look him in the eye. It’s something I’ve never been able to do, and I don’t want to test my willpower now.
“Lies! Look me in the eyes and tell me,” he growls in my face.
I look at him. He’s staring intently, searching my thoughts. Taking in everything he sees, and… I can’t say it. I can’t lie to him.
“I knew it,” he says with relief. Then his eyes shift back to mine, more aggressive this time. Trying to penetrate deep within me, and he’s doing it all too well. In fact, exceedingly well “I want you so much…”
With an aggressive intensity, devoid of any gentleness, Henry crashes his lips onto mine. I try to break free from him and his possessive grip on my body.
God, I can’t lie. It feels so good, so incredibly good. His hands on me, his mouth against mine. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed this.
You don’t want him, Anna. You don’t want him.
I push him away, and he lets me. Both of us are flustered. We stand, staring at each other like adversaries, and I have this urge to hit him until he’s out cold.
But those lips. GOOD LORD. When was the last time someone kissed me that way? When did I last feel this rush through my body? I feel awakened…
We continue to lock eyes, and tears start to fall from Henry’s eyes. My resolve crumbles. There’s Henry, crying, his hands pulling at his hair in despair.
“God knows how much I’ve missed this,” he whispers to himself, leaning heavily against the door.
I don’t love him, but I desire him. I can’t deny the sensation his touch evokes within me. I detest him, wanting him out of my life as swiftly as possible, yet I find myself wishing for him to hold and kiss me again.
Almost instinctively, and at the same time, we both stride towards each other with swift, decisive steps.
I jump towards him and wrap my legs around his waist. Something so familiar to the Anna from before. He embraces me and leans me against the wall. We kiss frantically, desperately and totally aroused. My crotch slams against the hardness of his pants and we both moan into each other’s mouths. Henry lifts my skirt and squeezes my ass.
Oh, God, God, God! I wasn’t aware of how much I needed this. His hands touching me, his lips kissing me. The sensation he ignites within my body is so intense that I want to cry, and I do. I cry like I haven’t in a very long time. It’s been years since a tear has rolled down my cheek, and now hundreds do. This guy, who abandoned me years ago… He’s still embedded beneath my skin, leaving imprints on my body and reopening old scars on my heart. I don’t love him. But I’m not far from doing so, and I won’t let that happen.