Flirting With Destiny(56)

My hope, no matter how feeble, was that she needed time to sort through her feelings and then she’d find a way to break off the engagement. That’s what I told myself anyway, to appease my heartache. I had money; a nice apartment in downtown Chicago and I wanted to give her the world. I’d just have to be patient.

Hell, I’d waited this long, I could wait longer and then, if she didn’t come around, at least I gave it a chance. If I’d learned one thing from this whole experience it was to stop being a wimp, say what you feel and let destiny take its course.

Oh Jesus, look what she’s done to me. My thoughts rocketed back and forth to opposite extremes, changing by the minute. It felt like the game played by pulling the petals off a Daisy; she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not... I was so fucked.

I opened my eyes and blew out a breath. Get yourself under control, man. I pushed myself off the couch and ran my hand through my hair. There was nothing else I could do now, except bury myself in working on this house until the slow sands of times passed and my future would be revealed. It was in Lauren’s hands now.

I grabbed my car keys and decided to go to the hardware store to buy the lumber I needed to rebuild the deck on the back of the house.

I parked in the back then walked around to the front, headed to the diner for a bite before picking up the supplies. As soon as I came around the corner of the building, I saw them. There was Lauren and Chip, standing on the sidewalk in front of his insurance office. I should’ve walked away, but the heat in their conversation roused my suspicions. Chip was talking loudly and pointing a finger in Lauren’s face. As I picked up my pace and walked closer, I knew this wasn’t going to be good.

Chip’s voice cut through the air as he yelled, “You fucking bitch. You lied to me.”

“No Chip, I was wedding shopping. I…”

“Shut up,” he interrupted her and grabbed her by the upper arms, shaking her hard. “Everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie. Did you fuck him? Tell me the truth.”

I was close enough now that I’d clearly heard what he was saying. Chip’s face was contorted and red with anger.

“What’s going on here?” I interrupted and pulled Lauren out of Chips line of fire, blocking his verbal assaults with my body. “Don’t talk to her that way.”

“This is none of your business, asshole. I know how to deal with my woman. Get the fuck out of my face.”

Chip pushed past me so he could yell into Lauren’s face when he spat, “You slept with him, didn’t you… you whore.” Without warning, Chip’s open hand made contact with Lauren’s face, sending a sharp crack sailing through the air. She reeled back, stumbling into the brick wall of the building, her hand to her face and her mouth open and gasping.

I grabbed Chip by the shoulder, spun him around and caught him with a good right hook straight to the jaw, punctuated with one word, “Motherfucker.”

Chip staggered and fell backwards. His hand flew to his jaw, holding it in place.

“This is all your fault you freaking loser. I found out she was with you…” He sprang forward, both hands shoving at my chest. But his weak muscles didn’t match mine. Thousands of bench presses at the gym afforded me the ability to stay my ground. I was like a brick wall in comparison and Chip’s feeble shove didn’t budge me. I threw up both of my hands in a blocking stance, swatting the fucker’s hands off of my chest. He teetered, thrown off balance, and went backward again.

A short, “whirt –whirt,” sounded from an approaching patrol car, demanding my attention. I hadn’t noticed it pull to the curb until I saw the door fly open and an officer rushing at us.

“Hold it right there!” The cop’s hand jumped to his baton, prepared to beat us down. Chip began ranting and the cop turned to listen.

“Rob, he hit me! That fucker punched me. I want him arrested for assault.” Chip raged.

“Sir! Down on your knees.” The cop barked the order at me. Me!

Fucking Chip. He called the guy by his first name. That figured. He probably owned half the cops in this town.

I shot a glance to Lauren, hoping for her support. She’d tell the officer that it was Chip who started this, that he slapped her and I defended her, but when I turned to look, the sidewalk where she’d been standing was empty.

The officer cuffed my hands behind my back and read me my rights. Chip continued ranting as he stood on the sidewalk next to the patrol car. I gritted my teeth and glared at the bastard. What a pussy. My suspicions were now confirmed. Not only was Chip a whining little bitch, he was a goddamn coward too.