Winning her back

1. All good things come to an end

- 10 months later -

Lisa

"Come on Mr Fluffy, foods' ready", I said bending over my couch, trying to reach for the stubborn cat. He just stayed there, looking at me as if I were speaking in Japanese. Well, maybe to him I was, but still. I sighed realising that it would just have to be like those other nights, waiting up until Mr Fluffy ate all of his food. Maybe Ben should have kept the cat, he listened to him way more than me.

I stretched my arms before walking to the kitchen to grab some doritos. My plan was to watch Breaking Bad for the fifth time until Mr Fluffty ate, but all my plans, just like my love life, flew out the window when I heard something ringing. "Please don't be my pager", I cursed subconsciously. I walked over to the kitchen counter and sighed in relief realising it was my phone. The name 'Lydia' projected on the screen and I immediately hit the accept button.

"Hey", I said bringing the phone up to my ear.

"I don't hear any music".

"Huh"

"It's Saturday night, why aren't you at a night club?".

I giggled. Lydia was one of the few people who knew me inside out. She was married to Tom, Ben's best friend. That's how we met. I've known her since high school. She was my maid of honour. She was also the one who helped me get through my divorce.

"I could ask you the same thing", I said before opening a packet of doritos.

I heard her sigh. Something was up.

"What's wrong?"

"Tom went out with Ben again. This is the third Saturday in a row. So I'm home alone watching Dr. Phil in my minions pajamas. I was hoping you weren't doing the same thing".

With only a few words, she gave me enough information to understand what was going on.

Lydia and Tom had been married for 6 years, a year more then Ben and I. Whenever Ben and I fought, Tom would leave anything, even Lydia to attend to him. That's how it had always been. So now, with the divorce and me moving out, Tom must be spending more time with Ben than ever.

"Oh please, I was totally having an orgy party before you called".

She giggled but I knew it was forced. She wanted to talk about the issue with Tom.

"You should put on something sexy tonight before Tom comes home. I guarantee that a see through lingerie set will get him on a leesh", I said, smiling at the thought.

"It could work, that is if he comes home tonight".

"What do you mean 'if' ?"

She paused for a few seconds. I was about to repeat myself when she said, "Sometimes they pull an all nighter and I end up having to deal with a drunk Tom in the morning".

I processed what she said before saying anything. I hadn't talked to Lydia in a long time and when I did, it was small talk.

"Where do they go?"

"Strip clubs mostly. I know Tom wouldn't do anything but it still pisses me off knowing that my husband is probably getting a lap dance from a naked girl while I'm stuffing my face and moping around".

To say I was shocked was an understatement. Tom and Lydia had problems, I knew that while I was still married to Ben, but Tom loved Lydia. Anyone could see that. I couldn't help feeling guilty, like somehow this was my fault.

"I'm sorry"

"What are you sorry for? This isn't your fault".

"Tom would be by your side right now if me and Ben were still together".

"The only person who's in the wrong in this situation is Tom. He should know better than to pick his best friend over me and Ben should know better than to keep inviting him out to such disgusting places".

I couldn't help but wonder how Lydia let him get away with this. I would never let a guy treat me like that, in fact, I didn't. Lydia and I were different, more than I thought we were. She saw the best in people, I saw the worst.

"How's Ben doing ?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I immediately regretted them.

Did I care? Of course I did. I wanted to not care. I wanted to hate him. It would have been easier that way. The sad truth was, I could never hate him, but I also could never forgive him.

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"Yes"

"I'm not sure if it's an act or not but he seems to be doing fine in my eyes. Last time I saw him he was-"

"He was what?"

Lydia sighed again. Whatever she was about to say was clearly going to affect me.

She cleared her throat before saying," he was in the middle of something inappropriate with two very inappropriate girls. I walked in on him while I was looking for Tom".

I wasn't surprised. I figured he had moved on. I've accepted it. What bothered me wasn't that he'd moved on, but that I hadn't.

"Good for him".

"Okay, thats it. Enough moping around. We're going out next weekend".

"I'm not moping around". I wasn't. Was I?

"When was the last time you went out?"

"Yesterday, I dragged myself outside to get Chinese take out".

Even though I couldn't see her, I could imagine her rolling her eyes at my comment.

"Right, I'll call you next week and we'll arrange a girls night out for a change".

"Sure. I'll see you soon Lydia".

After finishing our goodbyes, I walked over to the living room. As I watched Mr Fluffy eat his food, I couldn't help but wonder what Ben was doing at this very moment. Or who he was doing. "Stop thinking about him", my subconscious said.

Easier said then done.

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