Lex(108)

Gage- 12:14 p.m. - Listen, I know you might be a little freaked about tonight. It being our first date and all. But I promise it’s going to be beautiful.

Gage- 12:53 p.m. – If I don’t hear back from you by two I’m coming over. I’ve called, I’ve texted and I’ve yet to hear from you. Talk to me sweetheart.

He is clueless!! He cheats and acts like it’s no big thing. Guess he doesn’t know he’s been caught so why would he act like he has a guilty conscious? The jerk!

Me: I’m fine. I just woke up from a nightmare. You’re not allowed to come over. Seven is not okay. And I’ve responded. So have a nice day.

Immediately back.

Him: Seven’s not okay? What time is then?

Me: How about a quarter past NEVER!

Him: What!!??? What happened?

Me: Why don’t you ask your fuck buddy!

Him: What fuck buddy?

Me: OMG there’s more than one!? How many are there!? Megan, I’m talking about Megan, the one you bang on Friday nights. You sick cheating bastard.

Him: I can explain.

Me: The fact you have to explain anything, tells me you’re guilty. Leave me alone Gage. I’m through with you.

Him: No you’re not. I’m not leaving you alone.

Me: Fuck Megan. She’ll keep you satisfied.

Him: I only want YOU! And no she won’t. Let me explain! Please!

Me: Fuck off!

My phone rings and it’s him. I answer it.

“What do you want Gage? To tell me you didn’t fuck her? I know you did. You’re as guilty as they come, you sick jerk. I loved you and look what you did to me!” I scream at him. Releasing all my pent up pain and suffocating anger that’s been drowning me since last night.

“You love me?” His voice is low, pained even.

“Don’t change the subject.” I snap, of course he wants to change the subject. He doesn’t want to be caught.

“I didn’t fuck her.” He states with no hesitation.

“Really? Is that why she was at your house last night, picking up your cell phone at ten at night. The same night I know you usually screw her brains out.”

“Who told you this?” He’s angry now; I can hear the edge of fury in his deep tone.

“Tank. He told me everything.”

“Ahhhh!!!! Tank!!!!” he growls, yelling into the receiver. I pull it away, so my eardrum doesn’t explode.

Huffing into the receiver, he growls again, “It’s true, but it’s not true.”

“That makes no sense.”

Apparently, he thinks I’m a moron.

“I used to bang her on Friday nights, I haven’t in a while. She came over last night because…well…it doesn’t matter…just know I didn’t fuck her.”

If he thinks, I’m going to believe him he is out of his ever-lovin’ mind!

“Gage Masterson, so help me… You better tell me why she was there.” I warn, in my no nonsense voice.

“No, I shouldn’t have to explain. You should trust me. I’ve given you no reason not to.”

Yes, he is officially out of his mind. No reason? Seriously? Did I just walk into the twilight zone?

“Gage, I am ending this call and never speaking to you again if you don’t tell me. I want to know it all.”

“I’m coming over.”

“No you’re not. If you come in here you’ll distract me.”

“How?”

“With your sexiness and your mouth. I know how you work and if you come over it will only lead to sexual things. I’m not talking to you in person.” And I know even though I’m furious I won’t be able to resist you. I want to say. But I don’t.

“I need to see you.”

No. What he needs to do, is tell me the godforsaken truth. How hard is it to be honest?

“No you don’t. On the phone. Now… Please.” I tack on out of politeness.

“Megan is my secretary and my former fuck buddy. I have kidney disease, Lex, and have fallen into renal failure twice. On Monday’s and Wednesday’s when you thought I was working late, I’m not the whole time, I’m at the hospital on dialysis. Megan came here last night, to watch Emma for me while I went to dialysis because I missed Monday’s treatment. I’ve been fighting with my insurance company to get an at home machine. It’s taking longer than I’d hope.”

He’s sick! My lover is sick. And I’ve been awful to him. What have I done?

Tears are welling in my eyes. “Are you dying?”

He chuckles.

I don’t think this is a laughing matter.

“At one time, yes. Right now, no. It gets better and worse. I have been placed on a transplant list for three years now. None of my friends know. And you can’t tell them. My doctor said he thinks my issues stem back to my childhood from my mother bruising my kidney’s so badly when she’d beat me. They’ve been damaged a long time and they don’t function like they should. Now, I sit for a few hours a week to make sure I don’t die. It’s been a hard battle, but I’m doing well, now. And having you in my life has made me feel so much better than I have in God knows how long.”