Love Hurts

By Devon Greene

Gotta get there. Gotta get there. She gets off at five. Longest light in the city. Change, confound it! Change! I can't stand it much longer. Gotta go. Move it, asshole! Move it, move it, move it!!! Why doesn't that fucking light change? Finally! Now they just sit there. Are they dead, asleep or what? Why don't they move? I'll wake 'em up with this horn. Hah! That got him moving.

I know what she's doing right now. Getting ready to leave. To meet him somewhere. Putting on lipstick, powdering her nose. Wants to look good for him. Didn't care what she looked like for me. At the end anyway. Well, it's all over today. Move it, dickheads!

The cars proceeded east on San Felipe. Davey followed along weaving from one lane to another so he could get ahead of them. He came to another red light and pulled up behind a pickup truck. His air conditioner was out and sweat poured down his face. He could smell his own odor.

Why does this confounded a/c go out every August - just when I need it the most? It ain't fair. Nothing's fair anymore. Not that it ever was. She can't have my house. I paid for it. Let her get a new nest with her new sucker. Why doesn't this traffic MOVE? I can't take this heat much longer . . . gotta pass this guy. One more street. Will they ever finish this road? Been going on a year. First one side, then the other. Then the first one again. Still jams up every day.

Gotta go faster. Gotta get there before she gets to the car. Gotta meet her in the garage. Keep her there till everyone's gone. I'll teach her real fear. She'll see how it feels having your whole world turned upside down. She'll see. She'll understand what the last two years have been like for me. She won't like that. Not at all. No sir. Turn here. Now I'm moving.

Davey turned down St. James Place . He sped up and wiped his face with his free hand. His tee shirt was drenched. His crotch was wet. His feet sweat so much his thong sandals slipped around on his feet. His gun was in the glove compartment as were the surgical gloves he intended to wear. He checked his watch. It was almost five. He had just enough time. She'd given him the watch for Christmas a few years ago. He wore it all the time.

He pulled into the garage, took a ticket then drove up the ramps to the floor just below the roof where he knew she always parked. He found one place at the far end and backed the truck into the space so he could exit fast. Then he walked up the rest of the way to the roof.

I'll find a place where I can see her come out the roof door. Gotta be patient. Gotta wait. Doesn't suspect a thing. Wouldn't expect it. Thinks I don't have the guts. Always putting me down about no guts. Well, I guess I'll show her this time. She'll see. Surprise, surprise, Katy. Won't you be surprised to see me?

So hot. Need some water. Wonder what she wore today. Get it all bloody. Ruin her day. What do I care? She ruined my life. Need some sleep. Hungry. Need a bath. Where is she? Why doesn't she come? Hurry up, bitch. I don't have all day. Let's get this over with. Where is she?

He squatted down behind a van to wait for her to come out of the roof door and head to her car. He'd sneak up behind her when she opened the door of her red BMW, her new car, and force her into it.

As he waited, the heat clamped down on him like a steel vice. His stomach cramped. His nose ran.

Damn allergies. Not now. One sneeze and she'd run back in the building and get security.

He wiped his nose, cleared his throat. Then he glanced down at the watch again. It was the best gift she'd given him in five years of marriage. He thought of her whenever he looked at the time.

The day she gave it to me. I remember it. Christmas. She loved me then. She was my world. What happened? By our third Christmas she barely spoke to me. By the fourth one, she slept in a different room. By the fifth she found that jerk and told me she's leaving. Merry Christmas! Angry all the time. Who can understand 'em anyway? The bitches. How could any guy figure her? I thought the sex was great. It was for me anyway.

He laughed to himself remembering her passion and the pleasure she gave him - at first. How could it end like that? Overnight? How?

Where the hell is she? She's late. She's never late. Isn't she in a hurry to go meet her sweetie pie? Not like she was with me. Who the hell is that? Looks like he's headed for that green piece of shit. Two more cars up here. Hope the van driver doesn't come out anytime soon. Gotta watch for that. Forgot about that. May come out any minute. Oops. Almost fell over. Not much room here between these cars. Should be here any minute. Someone else. Damn! Where is she? Going to the blue bug. No one else up here, Katy. You gotta be next, kiddo. Come on. Get it over with. I can't squat here all day. Not in this heat. Gotta go home and walk Barney. Must be antsy by now. She's ruining my schedule. Where the hell . . . ..? There. Finally. There she is. Now. Gotta move . . . .uh oh. Who's that? Ah, damn. Security guard. Gotta get out of here.

He squeezed through the cars and escaped down the stairs. He rushed to his truck and left the garage headed to her house.

Where the hell was she? Working late, I bet. With him. That's how it all started. How I lost her. Got to k . . . k . . . what is wrong with me? I'm not a kil . . . . I'm not a kil . . . . can't ki . . . not her. Can't. Love her. Can't kill someone I love. Not kil . . . . kiss. Kiss her . . . I want to kiss her. Not kill her. Can't do it. I'd look into those eyes and that'd be it. Full of disgust last time I looked into them. At the lawyer's office. I won't give her the divorce. I can drag it out. Let her live with him unmarried. Serves her right. Her family will disown her. Those self-righteous prigs. Gotta get there. Hope she's alone. Got to die. She's got to die. What she did to me . . . what both of them did to me. Not fair. Not fair. I'll get her. I'll get her tonight. Moon's full. Gotta be tonight. Going to mom's tomorrow. Gotta do it. Find her. She'll be home. I can get in. Wait for her. Have to pee. Thirsty. Stop here. Get gas. Need some candy. Feel funny. Lightheaded. Can't do that. Have to keep clear . . . . mind . . . clear. Watch it, asshole! Get out of my way. Hurry up, goober brain. Slow as molasses. Get a move on!

Outta here. Have to hurry. Wait for her. Hide somewhere. In her closet. Then jump out when she opens it. No, he might be with her. Wait till she's alone. The laundry room. She won't go in there tonight. He never will. She'll shower first. I'll know if he's there by then. That's it. If they're working late together - ain't that sweet - he'll come home with her. Horny. He'll want some action. Proved his manhood all day making money. Now he wants his reward. She'll do it, too. He gives her plenty of stuff. She owes him. If they're not working late he'll come later. Give her time to get ready. Put on that pink negligee. Perfume. Missed her perfume all this time. I'll park around the corner. Don't want her to see my truck. She's forgotten it by now. Be careful anyway. Whooo! I'm so hungry. Feel weak. Go eat afterwards.

Davey parked on a side street and walked behind the house next to hers. He crossed her yard and went to the window he knew she always kept slightly open. He looked around to see if anyone was watching and then climbed in. He was in the breakfast alcove.

He went straight to the bathroom before he exploded. Then he drank some more water and dried the sweat on his hands and face with one of her pink towels. He looked in the fridge for some food, a snack or something. He found a package of lunchmeat and ate it. After all, she wouldn't be needing it today. Then he cut a piece of the lemon meringue pie and wolfed it down.

Just as he finished he heard the garage door open. He cleaned up the crumbs and wiped his prints from the water glass. Then he ran to the laundry room and hid in a corner recess behind the washer. He could hear everything from there but not be seen. He waited.

There's the side door into the kitchen. Sounds like she's alone. Wait, she's going to front door. Hear it open. Ah, fuck! He's here, too. Have to kill him, too, I guess. So what. They both killed me. They deserve to die.

Talking. Laughing. We used to laugh, too. Wish I could laugh again. Wait till they're in bed together. Get both of them. Two for one. A real deal. Hands sweaty again. Can't drop the gun. What are they doing?

He could hear them in the kitchen now. Talking and laughing loudly. He heard the sound of glasses and a cork popping.

Celebrating something? What do they have to celebrate? Nothing today, that's for sure. The day of their death. Maybe now. Don't want to wait anymore. Just do it and get it over with. Yeah. Now. Don't want to wait. Want to get something to eat and get home and walk Barney.

He stood up and moved out of the recess. He could hear them better now. They were talking about a wedding.

That'll never happen. He smiled to himself. He felt cold inside.

He pulled the gun out of his pants and moved toward the kitchen without a sound. As he approached the kitchen he peeked through the space between the door and the wall. He could see Katy's back and when she moved her head, he saw the man, her lover.

Whoa! Who's that? That's not the guy who gave her the BMW. What's going on? Someone new? Nah! She's too pure for that. She wouldn't do that. Not her. She doesn't sleep around. That's what sluts do. Who the hell is he? Doesn't matter. He's dead anyway.

As he was about to step into the doorway, he heard Katy laugh and say, "My 'soon-to-be husband' is taking care of my 'soon-to-be-ex-husband' now even as we speak. Will's waiting in his dreary little apartment for the jerk to come home. He'll make it look like a burglary. Then I'll get the house and sell it before I marry Will. That way, it won't be community property. He has enough money of his own. This is mine. I earned it!"

Davey saw her cross her legs and smile at the man while she unbuttoned her blouse.

"I know I can trust you, baby. We're a lot alike, don't you think? So we have some time if you want to . . .you know . . . fool around a little. He won't be back for a few hours. When I heard Davey got out we decided this was the only way to get him out of our lives once and for all. So Will's taking care of it. We knew they could come up with a pill that would make it possible for him to live outside for the rest of his life, and then I'd never get rid of him. I just don't want to deal with him anymore. He's a real pest. You see?"

"I see, baby. I had a wife like that. I don't blame you. The law just doesn't work sometimes. You have to take things into your own hands now and then. So, you're still getting married afterwards?"

"Yes, we've waited so long. And he has money. I won't ever have to work again."

"But you want to fool around with me in the meantime? That's so cool! I love bad girls. Especially when they're as hot as you, baby. You know, we don't have to stop even after you marry the guy. I'm game. How about you?"

She laughed, pulling her blouse open exposing ample breasts that he couldn't stop staring at. She whispered, "Yeah, honey, I'm game. You're hot, too. And just my type."

Damn! She's pulling her blouse open. Look at that jerk - can't get his eyes off her boobs. I couldn't either half the time. He's gonna start drooling in a minute.

"I've been thinking about you all day, since you asked me to come home with you tonight. Can't get you off my mind. Why don't we just skip the wine and go directly to the bedroom? Or do you want to do it here on the table?" He put his hand on her thigh pushing her skirt up.

He reached over pulling Katy's head toward him and kissed her. Then he picked her up from the chair and laid her on the table. She sighed with pleasure and pulled her skirt up as he unzipped his pants.

He picked her up! I could never do that. Good. They don't even know I'm here. Listen to her sigh and pull her skirt up. He can't unzip his pants fast enough.

What the hell. She's screwing this sucker while her other sucker is waiting in my home to kill me? I don't believe it. How did she know I got out? Who called her? Police? Doctors? Don't care. This is their last day. I'll get the other one later. When he comes home. Make it look like a double murder-suicide. Jealousy. They won't spend a lot of time looking for me after that.

He laughed to himself then walked through the door. They never saw him as he approached the table.

Afterwards, he waited in the laundry room for her husband-to-be to come home while he thought about what he'd buy his mother for her birthday.