This Ring

Here's another one my stories...ENJOY!


This Ring



“Hey Stace, what’s up babe?”
“Wanted to see if you wanted to do something tonight?”
“Uhhh...Okay.”
“What’s with the slow answer? Have something planned already?”
“Well...Not really. I just wanted to watch the game tonight.”
“Well, I wanted us to go have dinner and maybe dancing? We haven’t been out in so long.”
“I know, but you know I hate to dance, that’s your thing. I’d rather stay home.”
“You expect me to stay home too?”
“Well, maybe you could leave work early and cook dinner? Then we can have an intimate dinner at home alone, without the hassle of the restaurants and other people.”
“But, I like the hassle. I like the other people. I like feeling like we’re doing something besides sitting on the couch. Come on, baby, it’s Friday night. I don’t even like baseball or basketball or football or whatever, anyways. I’ll just be bored. Maybe I’ll call Tanya or Shannon and we can go out.”
“It’s basketball and I don’t understand why you call them every time I suggest we stay in. Don’t you even care that I want you to stay home with me?”
“You want me to stay at home with you, doing something I hate, but you never wanna do anything with me. That’s real fair.”
“Honey, I just want to be with you tonight, away from the crowds and the noise...PLEASE.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll leave a little early and get dinner started. I’ll make lasagna.”
“Ooohhh, my favorite. Baby, you are so good to me. What kind of man deserves a wife like you?”
“You definitely don’t. It’s just that I love you too much for my own good.”
“Honey, you know I love you just as much. Stop saying things like that.”
“I’ll see you tonight. Remember: Be home by 5:30. I don’t want to eat by myself. Don’t bullshit around and get home late.”
“Ok...Ok. I’ll leave right at 5. Thanks, baby, for understanding. I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah...Yeah. See you tonight.”
“I love you, sweetie.”
“Love you more.”

******************************************************************************

Stacy looks at the clock in the kitchen: 5:45 p.m. She has just finished putting together a savorily delicious-looking lasagna. She pours wine into two glasses when she notices the time: 6 p.m. Her face turns red hot, like she just swallowed a whole habañero pepper. She stomps into the living room and picks up the phone. Dialing, her hands are shaking. She walks back into the kitchen, looking, for a moment, at the table which is set for two with food and wine under candlelight. She sits down and eats her dinner, ever so often looking up at the clock.
She finishes the last swallow of wine, when she hears keys jingling in the front door. She looks at the clock: 7:15 p.m. Mike is home. He walks in and runs up the stairs to the bedroom to change out of his work clothes. Stacy starts to clear the table, stopping only to stare at the lasagna for a few moments before throwing it into the garbage. She finishes the dishes and walks upstairs to the bathroom and turns the shower on. As she walks through the bedroom to grab her robe, their shoulders collide into each other. Mike doesn’t move out of the way, so she walks around the other side of the bed to get her robe, then hops in the shower. Mike leaves the room looking into the bathroom with a smirk on his face.
Once out of the shower, Stacy can hear the game blaring from the television and Mike is pushing buttons on the microwave. She walks to her closet and pulls out her red satin shoulder dress and her strappy, golden Manolos. With her robe still on, she sits in front of the vanity, smiling, and begins with her hair and makeup. After putting the whole ensemble on and giving herself another look in the mirror, she walks downstairs. Making sure she passes through the living room to get to the kitchen, she eyes Mike when walking by, but he’s not looking at her. His eyes are glued to the game. Kobe is on the line. She looks away and rolls her eyes so hard, it looks like she is on the verge of convulsion.
In the kitchen, she looks at the clock again: 8:30 p.m. As she sits down at the kitchen table, the doorbell rings and she jumps up. She goes to the door and in passing, Mike finally looks up. His eyes open so wide, they almost pop out their sockets. His mouth sort of moves like he wants to say something, but doesn’t when Stacy turns around to face him, showing her entire beauty. She looks at him for a moment by the door, he doesn’t say anything. He gets up, turns the television off, throws away his T.V. dinner and stomps up the stairs and slams the bedroom door. Stacy opens the front door and smiling at Shannon, turns to get her coat and purse, then walks out slamming the door on her way out.

******************************************************************************

“Wow, Shannon, this club is nice. Where’d you find it?”
“Some people from work were talking about it and since you needed a night out, I thought we should try it together.”
“Well, the people look cool and the music sounds good...Let’s get a drink before we sit down.”
“Sounds good to me...To the bar!”
“What can I get you, honey?”
“Hi, Grey Goose Raspberry Martini, please.”
“And I’ll have a Mandarin Cosmo.”
“Wow, vodka. Now I know you must be stressed. You get loaded off pear cider. What happened with Mike tonight?”
“Oh, Mikey is just Mikey. It’s the usual. He says one thing, does another. I just couldn’t sit at home through this one. I wanted to be out. Ooh, look, there’s two seats.”
“Cool. So tell me what happened this time around.”
“I’m telling you it’s the same ol’ sob story. I wanna go out...He gives me the guilt trip...I cook dinner...He’s two hours late...I get mad...He doesn’t seem to care...I leave.”
“Well, I’m glad you came out. Mike needs some time to himself tonight. You look great and all the honeys in here can not stop staring.”
“Yeah, right, how do you know it’s not you?”
“Girl, please, I ‘ve got taken written all over me.”
“And I don’t? This ring means nothing?”
“You’re taken by Michael. I’m taken in a much different way. You know what I mean.”
“Wow, this reminds me of college. Damn, it’s been a long time.”
“Remember how great it was?”
“Yeah it was great. The drama was real great. Let’s stop talking and start having some fun. No more reminiscing about college talk...No more Mikey talk...No more talk at all...Ok?”
“Whatever, but speaking of fun, look at the cutie walking this way. Look familiar to you?”
“Shannon! You didn’t!”
“Hey, you need a break from Mike.”

******************************************************************************

Stacy gets dropped off in front of the house: 2:15 a.m. She hesitates by the front door. After about five minutes of straightening her clothes and hair, she lets herself in. She takes off her shoes and tiptoes up the stairs.
As she opens the bedroom door slowly, peeking her head in first, she notices the bed is still perfectly made and Mike is not in it. She swings the door wide open, dropping her shoes where they are and goes into the bathroom. He isn’t there. She runs downstairs. He’s not in the kitchen, not in the living room, not anywhere. Her eyes are wide and she looks nervous.
She stands in the living room for a moment, takes a deep breath and goes to the linen closet and gets out a pillow and blanket. She sets them on the couch and sits down, turning the television on. ESPN is on showing highlights from the game earlier. She leaves it on, but isn’t remotely interested. Her eyes are fixed between the front door and the clock sitting on the mantle above the fireplace.
Stacy reads the clock: 3:30 a.m., when she hears Mike’s keys in the door. She automatically turns her head to face the television. Mike walks in and she looks up at him and smiles, a very little one, but a smile. He smiles back and looks relieved. He walks up the stairs to the bedroom while she sits on the couch. He changes, comes back downstairs, looks at her and gives her another smile. As soon as he starts to sit, she stands up, looking at him with what looked like a smile, but with a curl of her lips turned into a smirk. She hands him the pillow and blanket and walks away. He starts to say something, but doesn’t. Instead, he just looks away and grabs the remote.
Stacy walks up the stairs and into the room. She picks up her shoes and changes out of her dress. As she gets into bed, her eyes are puffy with tears that she’s obviously refused to let stay in any longer. Even with the tears, she doesn’t look sad, nor does she look mad. She takes a deep breath and puts her face in the pillow and continues to cry.

******************************************************************************

“Yo, Ben, it’s Mike.”
“Mike, what’s up buddy?”
“Stacy just left...with Shannon.”
“With Shannon! Yo, you know that’s trouble. Where’d they go?”
“I don’t know, but she left here with almost nothing on. I bet Shannon’s taking her to one of her clubs.”
“Oh, definitely, and you know Shannon’s a freak too. Damn, you must’ve fucked up big time.”
“I was an hour late for dinner.”
“Big fuckin’ deal. Work is work. She should know that.”
“I made this big ass deal about her cooking me dinner and I got held up talking to Steve about getting some Laker tickets for next week’s game against the Nets.”
“You called and told her it was work, right?”
“Couldn’t, she knows when I’m lying.”
“See, that’s your problem, you’re weak.”
“Whatever.”
“Ok, I mean you just don’t know how to control your woman.”
“Ohh, but she cooked me dinner, didn’t she?”
“Yeah, and she’s out right now with a freak and who knows who else and you’re at home on the phone whining about it. Like a bitch.”
“Whatever, so, what should I do?”
“My poor friend, you are so lost. I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to get dressed and I’ll be over in 30. She wants to go out, you’re going out too.”
“Alright.”

******************************************************************************

Mike and Ben walk into the club and Ben is immediately greeted by two very attractive waitresses in mini skirts and four-inch stilettos. They each give him a kiss on the cheek and then go their separate ways. Ben walks towards the bar with Mike following slowly behind. While it is difficult for Mike to get through the crowds of people, it seemed as if the crowd part, when Ben starts to walk.
They reach the bar and Mike and Ben are separated again by another pair of attractive women. Mike sits down at the bar and orders a drink. He turns around on the stool to face the frenzied dancing crowd with his drink in his right hand. After a few minutes, his head nods to the rhythm of the music.
He’s there a few more minutes when a brown-haired, green-eyed, model-like woman walks up to him, smiles and puts her hand his shoulder. Mike looks up at her, puts up his left hand, showing his finger which is dressed rather nicely with a 2-carat diamond studded band. She takes his hand, looks at the ring, smiles at him and then begins to move her hand down his back. He immediately looks annoyed, pushes her hand away and turns from her towards the bar again. She stands there for a few minutes and then walks away looking stunned.
Mike orders another drink and looks around the club. He sees Ben across from him with girls all around, giggling and holding onto every word coming out of his mouth. Mike gives a little sigh. This is what his night is like: drinks, drinks and more drinks. He doesn’t dance, nor does he even get up off his stool the entire night.

******************************************************************************

“Man, that club was off the hook!”
“Yeah, it was cool, I guess.”
“What, you didn’t have fun? Did you see how many bitches were in there?”
“Yeah.”
“Yo, what about that fine-ass Italian broad I seen all in your face?”
“Man, these chicks out here are crazy. I’m married and she acts like she doesn’t even care. This ring means nothing?”
“Look, when have you ever known me to stop because of a ring? Girls are just the same. They don’t care. They look at it like, why are you at a club if not to meet them?”
“What, a man can’t go out without having to be on the hunt?”
“I’m just saying that some women like it more that you’re committed. It makes you look better. Why do you think I keep Tanya around? She makes me look good.”
“Man, that’s fucked up.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I guess. It’s just that this is bullshit. Why am I out here when I have a wife at home?”
“Correction, your wife is not at home.”
“You know what I mean. I got married because I was tired of all this...The fighting over petty shit...The clubs...The girls, but here I am. Man, there’s something wrong with my marriage.”
“You said it, not me.”
“So what am I supposed to do now?
“Well, what do you wanna do?”
“I wanna go home...Take my wife in my arms...Look at her...Tell I her fucked up...Kiss her...And make sure she knows this is it for me. She is it for me.”
“Shit, you’ve answered your own question.”
“I know. Why did I even think it was a good idea to go to a club with you anyways?”
“Man, please I don’t care what you say. I had a great fuckin’ time.”
“Well, I’m just worried about my wife right now. I need for things to be good between us.”
“You’ve gotta prove it to her, my friend.”
“I know...And I know just how to start.”

******************************************************************************

Stacy walks into her office. She sits down, turns her computer on and looks at the clock: 9:30 a.m. She puts her face in her hands and keeps them there until the alarm on her palm goes off reminding her of an 11 o’clock meeting. She starts checking her phone messages and as she’s starting on her emails, she’s interrupted by a knock on the door. She looks up to see a huge beautifully arranged bouquet of roses, red and white, and the delivery man hiding behind it. She gets up to help him and sign for it. After placing the bouquet on her desk, she takes a step back and stands there shaking her head and smiling at this massive show of affection. She goes over to the bouquet and reads the card, her face glowing with love and admiration from the words she’s reading. She kisses the card when she’s done, puts it in her desk and looks out her window off into the Monday morning traffic on the highway. She sits there in silence for a few minutes, then her phone rings.

“Hi, this is Stacy.”
“Hey. How are you?”
“Ohh, hi. I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m well. Did you get the flowers I sent?”
“Yes, I’m looking at them right now. Thanks, they’re beautiful.”
“My pleasure. Anything to put a smile on that face.”
“Last Friday night was pretty crazy, huh?”
“I don’t think it was crazy, I had a good time with you.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“You don’t sound like it.”
“Well, you know my situation is kinda difficult.”
“I know, but we’ll work through it. I’m not trying to come between you and him, I just wanna be with you.”
“I know. I just can’t imagine how he’ll react if he finds out. Remember what we went through when he first ran into you?”
“Baby, that was college, six years ago. People change.”
“You haven’t. I thought you’d given up on me six years ago, but here you are again. I know my husband, he hasn’t changed. That’s part of the problem with us now.”
“Hey, I loved you way before he was ever in the picture. You’re right, I haven’t changed. I loved you then and I still love you now.”
“You’re going to make it difficult, I know you are.”
“No, I won’t. I promise. I just want to be with you. I’ve already lost six years. You’re not going to push me away again, are you?”
“I’ve never stopped caring about you, but I’m not leaving Mike.”
“I’m not asking you to. Look, let’s just take it one day at a time. Ok?”
“Ok, fine. Look, I gotta go. My 11 o’clock is here.”
“Can I see you later, then?”
“Ummm...Sure.”
“What will you tell him?”
“We’re still not talking and he left a note on my briefcase this morning saying he was going out tonight.”
“Ok, I’ll pick you up from work at around six, then.”
“Ok...Ohhh...And Sophie?”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“I’m glad you called. I can’t wait to see you tonight.”
“I’m glad too. We’ve got some years to catch up on...I’ll see you later. I love you sweetie.”
“Love you more.”