Divorced! Now what?

Chapter 22

Bethany POV



We returned our coffee to the balcony to watch the fireworks. I felt comfortable with Theo. I mean that throughout the years I have been married to Bret, I have always wondered what was going on in his head. He always felt distant from me. I try to remember ever sitting like this and talking about anything. He would never have suggested a night of watching sports with my dad; he was always too busy and not interested in anything other than his work. I thought it was a good thing, but now I understand it was always my sister he had on his mind, and not being intimate with me was because he had most likely already been with her. He was possibly never working overtime but heading over to my sister’s place to be with her.

I had to shake my head to clear it of where these thoughts were taking me. You may wonder why I am not crying all the time now that my marriage is over, but I felt it was over more than a year ago. When he kept avoiding being with me, he never cuddled me in bed, and he would roll over as if I were not even in bed with him. So, I guess you could say I saw this coming. What blindsided me was who was getting his attention, and then to hear he never wanted me, and it was all a ploy between the two of them, broke what little love I had for the man, and that is why I am not in tears all the time. His neglect of me had slowly diminished my love, and looking back now, I had started to put more time into work and seminars. I used them to fill the void because I did not always have my husband at home.

'Your place or mine?' Theo suddenly asked, and I briefly wondered what he was talking about. I had zoned out of our conversation. I looked over at him questioningly.

'The sports nights, your place would be better. You have that huge television set up in your lounge, perfect for watching sports.' 

'Mine is fine, but you are bringing the beer. I will supply the snacks.' Dad loved the mini pies and chips to snack on. I liked a plate of assorted cheeses and cold meats when we watched the sports, but we both enjoyed popcorn and beers.

'You are on. If work does not get in the way, and if one of us needs to work, the dads can still come and enjoy the game here. One of us would most likely be available to enjoy the game with them, and I am sure they would love to get away from home and enjoy our company for a while. My dad and I like mini pies and chips, please.' I chuckled. That was easy.

'When would you like to start our sports fest?' 

'Let me talk to my dad and get him on board, and you can talk to your Dad and see what we can work out.' 

'That sounds nice. My Dad would love it if he got some weekend off work.'

'What do you mean?' 

'My dad is a detective, starting in the local precinct tomorrow. He followed me here. So, he might have to work some weekends.'

'My dad is a doctor and could get called in too. We could plan it and leave an open house.'

'Love it; if I am working, you know your way around my home. Help yourself; I will have the food in the fridge, and help yourself,' I said, wondering if I would be called in on an emergency.

'We could only give the concierge downstairs the okay to send our dads up here if both of us are called away. It might be good for the two men to have a place to go and enjoy the game.'

Making a weekend sports night was going to be difficult with all our work demands, and I had yet to start mine. But Theo said to have an open house and still enjoy the game, even if one of us cannot make it. It sounded nice, almost like we were family. I miss having a family. It all started to change once I got married, and Dad often worked to stay away from the house, only trying to be there. When I was at the Sunday family lunch, which always ended up being a day of arguments between Bret and me, my sister would often be the reason the fights started in the first place. If only I had opened my eyes and seen it for what it really was, my sister would have been jealous because I was with Bret as a couple when she wanted to be the one on his arm. If only I had known back then.

'I am seeing my dad on Sunday for lunch. I will ask him then.' Theo said after a few minutes of silence, except for the boom of the fireworks, still exploding in the sky, that had been blooming in the sky longer than I had expected.

'Me too. I will be having lunch with my father. We are both excited about commencing our new jobs on Monday.'

'Bethany, I, um, want to ask you something.' he hesitated, and I wondered what had made him suddenly unsure of himself when he always seemed so confident. We were open to any conversation past the nervous first meeting stage.

'Theo! You can ask me anything?' I was a little sad that he was nervous to talk to me.

'Well, um, I know we have only known each other for two weeks, but, um, you see, since we spent the night together, I have not been able to get that night out of my head, and I was wondering if you would like to be my, for lack of a better word, booty call, we get along so well, and though we are still getting to know each other, I would like to take you to bed again. Sorry if that sounds crass, but I don't know what else to call it. We are good neighbors, and I would like to explore this between us a little further.'

'Neighbors with benefits?' I threw it out there to see his reaction. He smirks.

'That does sound better, and just to clarify, I will be exclusive to you. I am clean, and while we are meeting each other's needs, I will not bed anyone else but you, and if you find someone you wish to pursue, we will stop with no hard feelings.'

'So, you can still take girls out on a date, just not bed them?'

'If you wish to date someone, I will be okay with that, I guess, but no bedding unless we notify the other first.' He sounded a little sad that I had suggested dating others, but I have seen him being friendly with two other women so far. Does that mean he is not intimate with them? I am a little confused.

'So, if you find a woman you want to take to bed before you put that condom on, will you call me and let me know you are about to get down and dirty with a woman? Will you even have the time to think about me at that moment?' Now I am being crass and a little snarky. I do not mean to be, but this sounded so ridiculous. I had a few trust issues after my lousy marriage. I do not want to get hurt like that again.

Chapter 23 - Divorced! Now what?