Chapter 7

The weekend flew by in a blur. Between kisses, laughs, and touches, it felt like Manu and I were two teenagers discovering a fresh love. Everything was light, delicious, and new, and I let myself dive into that feeling without overthinking it. But at the same time, in the back of my mind, a shadow was forming. Whatever this was, it wasn’t just a fling. And I knew that soon, I’d have to face reality.

Sunday dragged on lazily, and before long, I’d have to head back home. The apartment where Tommy was waiting, clueless about what was about to go down.

And, spoiler: that was the day our marriage finally ended.

When I got there, nothing had changed. He was at the computer, surrounded by the usual mess. It wasn’t outright filth, but it sure wasn’t a home. The floor needed a good scrubbing, the furniture was dusted over, and a stale smell of old food hung in the air. The difference was, this time, I didn’t feel anger. No frustration. Just certainty.

“Tommy, we need to talk.” My voice came out calm but firm.

He just turned his head, hands still on the keyboard.

“Go ahead.”

I took a deep breath.

“I love you, but I’m not in love with you anymore. I’m handing over this apartment. You need to find a place to stay. If you need help, I’ll pitch in.”

I said I was handing over the apartment because I’d wanted to move out for ages — it was too expensive, and I was footing the bill for this huge place all by myself.

The typing stopped. He blinked a few times before finally turning to face me.

“Okay.”

That’s it. No surprise, no outrage, no attempt to stop me.

“Okay? That’s all you’ve got to say?”

He gave a half-smile, no humor in it, just a reflex of resignation.

“What else can I say? You’ve moved on with your life, and I got left behind. Now, I just have to accept it.”

The feeling washing over me was a spiritual numbness, some weird anesthesia that’s hard to explain. I wasn’t sad, or relieved — just empty. Like all the wear and tear from the last few years had finally hit its endpoint, and now there was just silence.

I sat out on the balcony, watching the street below. People went about their lives like nothing had happened, like the world hadn’t shifted. But inside me, something was stirring.

And it wasn’t about Tommy.

I was thinking about Manu.

I’d never been into women before. Sure, I thought some were pretty, had that aesthetic admiration, but it never went beyond that. No desire, no spark that makes your body throb. Until her. Until that night.

After fucking Manu, I still didn’t know if I was turned on by women in general or just her. If it was her touch, the way she looked at me, how she teased me. Or if it was just the situation, the mystery, the novelty. Part of me wanted it to work out, wanted to explore, to figure it out. But I also knew that if the fire of the slutty thrill and the newness burned out, I’d slide back to my comfort zone. And my comfort zone had always been men.

And speaking of that…

I needed a man.

It had been ages since I’d felt real, urgent horniness for a guy who knew what he was doing.

Tommy had been that guy once. It was good because I loved him. But he was never a great lay. Never made me lose my mind. Never made me shake with desire. He was just an average dude I built up into something more because love does that shit. But now… now I wanted more. I wanted a real man. And for the first time in forever, I was free to go find one.

The week dragged on unbearably. Between work obligations and fruitless apartment hunts, I felt wiped out. Nothing caught my eye, and every time I stepped into a place, it just felt wrong — like it wasn’t where I wanted to be. Meanwhile, back home, the hell continued.

I didn’t know how to act around Tommy. Before, my intimacy with him was natural. I’d walk out of the bathroom naked without a second thought, flop into bed however, cross the apartment in just my panties without shame. Now, I caught myself closing doors, avoiding contact, like I needed to build invisible walls between us. But deep down, I knew.

He still looked at me with desire.

And me?

I missed getting fucked.

If I jumped him, Tommy wouldn’t hesitate twice. He’d grab me hard, devour me right there, no second thoughts. And somehow, that tempted me. I needed it — my body was begging. But my mind screamed no. Going back to his bed now would be worse than never leaving.

It was Thursday night when my phone buzzed.

Manu.

“Listen up.” Her voice sounded pumped, and I knew shit was coming.

“Hey, Manu. Everything good?”

“I set up a meeting for you.”

I frowned, confused.

“Is it urgent? ‘Cause you’re calling this late to talk work?”

“Because it’s a meeting to sit on some dick, boss.”

I burst out laughing. Manu was a great assistant, but she was even better at knowing what I needed.

“You tired of me and firing me?”

“Of course not. But tomorrow I’m going out with this guy, and I want you to come.”

“You proposing a threesome?” I teased, poking fun.

“No, you slut!” She laughed. “There’s a guy for you. Check the pic I’m sending.”

The notification popped up. I opened the image and stared at the guy.

He was hot. A little weird, but hot. He looked like he was trying too hard to seem sexy in the photos, which gave me a slight case of the icks.

“He looks desperate, Manu.”

“You’re desperate too.”

“Be serious… I don’t know.”

“Come on, at least to meet new people. Let’s go!”

I stared at the photo a second longer, biting my lip. I needed something new. Needed a man. Maybe… this could be a good start.

“Okay, after work. But I wanna swing by home first, deal?”

“I’ll tell them.”

I hung up laughing, feeling a nice chill in my stomach. I started thinking about what to wear, how it’d go down. Maybe it was too soon for anything serious, but a little flirting couldn’t hurt. Letting myself feel something new didn’t make me a bad person.

I didn’t notice the satisfied smile on my own face, but someone else still living in my house did.

“Already lining up dates with other guys? Can’t wait till I’m gone?”

Tommy’s voice dripped with fake outrage. I turned slowly to face him, feeling a bitter taste grow in my mouth.

“Uh… Tommy…”

Did he have a point? Maybe. But I was so exhausted from him, so fed up with his passivity, his demands, his expectations without giving anything back… that the guilt couldn’t even take root in me.

And that’s when I snapped.

“You know what? No. I’m not letting you hold me back in life anymore. I don’t want a life with a parasite like you. I’m going out, and you know what else? I’m gonna fuck like crazy! Like never before!”

My voice came out louder than I meant, and regret hit instant. But before I could try to fix it, Tommy just… smiled.

A crooked, mocking little smirk.

“Okay. If it makes you happy.”

Son of a bitch.

Now he was gonna pretend he didn’t care? Act like a martyr, like he was above it all? I knew this game too well.

The anger built inside me, burning like gasoline on a fire. I wanted to scream, to smash something. But instead, I just let out a dry laugh and headed to the bedroom.

Let him deal with the idea that this time, I was really leaving.