Chapter 40
This man just threatened me! Now all of a sudden he has the balls to threaten me. He doesn't even know me! I took a deep breath. Several deep breaths actually. Ain't no way I'm gonna let that asshole talk to me any kind of way. I got a glass of ice cold water and gulped it down. I'm already mad at myself for cheating on Victoria in the first place. I don't need the thought of my wife and children being taken away from me on my shoulders as well. That's a weight I just refuse to bear. A million thoughts raced through my mind until one thing finally clicked. I laughed. Joshua wants to be me. He wants to be successful, he wants Victoria and he even wants my kids. That's why he's getting himself involved. Otherwise, if he were Victoria's real friend he wouldn't have called to threatened me. Joshua wants my life and to think he would stoop so low! Wow. Victoria doesn't know him like she thinks she know him. Now this is a good reason to go over there and get Victoria. I have to go through her so called "friend," then so be it. I hurried upstairs to the boys' room and found them still asleep. Great. Luckily, Camille is here. I found her cleaning my room. "Camille, could you watch the boys for a couple of hours for me?"
"Of course, Monsieur." She nodded frantically as if she knew I was in a rush.
"Thank you so much." I put on a shirt, slipped on some shoes, grabbed my keys and hurried out the door. I'm just going to be gone for a couple of hours. No longer than that. I just want to talk to my wife. If she doesn't want to talk then that's fine. I just need for her to listen.
I pulled up in front of Joshua's house to find Victoria's car in the driveway. Maybe Joshua left. Perfect. That's less drama for me. I got out the car and walked up to the door. Maybe Joshua is here. If he answers the door, it's on. Hopefully, Victoria answers it though. I knocked on the door and looked out for nosy neighbors. When no one came to the door, I began to ring the doorbell.
"I'm comin'!" Victoria called. I took a deep breath. I was prepared for anything that might happen. A slap. A punch. A knee to the balls. Whatever it was, I deserve it. Victoria opened the door and once she noticed it was me she stared at me intently. I looked back at her. A messy bun sat at the top of her head and she wore a long t-shirt...clearly naked underneath. Lord... My jaws clenched at the thought of her having sex with Joshua. "What do you want?" Victoria's voice was hoarse. Probably from crying so much. I take full responsibility for that.
"Is Joshua here?"
"No, why?"
"I just want to talk to you, V."
"About what? How you chose the girls you cheated on me with? Because I'm sure you had some certain criteria."
"No," I shook my head. "You just have to listen to me."
"Why?" Victoria teared up. "Why should I listen to you? You're clearly not the man you once were. I fell in love with someone else, not this mess."
"Hear me out. Come on. Come out..." I checked her attire again. With the way she's dressed, that's not a good idea. "V, put on some clothes and meet me out in the car." She shut the door behind her as she went back in the house. I went to my car and leaned against it. My hands were in my pockets as I nervously waited on Victoria. I'm not scared of Joshua. If he rolls up on me like some kind of G or somethin' he better expect an ass whooping for real. Because I'm not gonna sit here like some bump on the log. Victoria walked out wearing a pair of my boxers and a white tank. I smiled inside. Yeah, she still loves me. I chewed on my bottom lip.
"What's wrong?" Victoria put her hands on her hips.
"You stole a pair of my boxers." I pointed out.
"Oh," she looked down. "Don't get the big head about it. You still cheated." My heart dropped. "Right." She nodded.
"You look beautiful this morning." I began.
"Thank you. Joshua said he called you this morning."
I rolled my eyes, "and?"
"I just wanted to mention that."
"Okay, well, V, I didn't fall out of love with you. How could I fall out of love with someone like you?"
"Is this rehearsed?" Victoria rolled her eyes.
"What? No! It's coming straight, V.... Did my mother speak with you?"
"Unfortunately."
"Why do you say it like that?" I got defensive. My mother is the sweetest in the world. Victoria never had anything against her before.
"You cried to your Mommy about it."
"I didn't cry about anything. What do you expect? You cried to your mom. What's wrong with me seeking advice from my mother?"
"You could have talked to a sibling."
"Janet came over and talked to me about it."
"Really? What'd she have to say?"
"She was disappointed in me."
"Really?"
"What'd you expect? Since I'm her brother she would take my side? Not quite. She was pissed, because she's been cheated on too."
"So, since your sister was cheated on, why would you cheat on me?"
"I don't know."
"What kind of answer is that?" Victoria raised her voice.
"Calm down, V."
"No, Michael! That doesn't make sense. Your sister was cheated on and you turn around and cheat on me?! You knew how hurt your sister was!" Victoria started crying. I tried to hug her. "No, see, it's because of you that I might have something."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I groaned. "I'm clean, V. Don't you think there would be symptoms? I don't have any type of symptom. I'm fine. Maybe you caught something from Joshua. For all I know you could have been fucking him since day one."
"Are you serious, Michael? Why would you even think something like that? I don't go around sleeping with any and every one."
"Oh, and I do?"
"Why else would you come home smelling like sex?"
"V, look, I just came here to say I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart. I love you. Come home."
"Why? So I can look at your cheating face every day?"
"The boys miss you."
"Oh, yeah. Use them like you used them to bait Naomi in." Victoria hurried back to the house and slammed the door without looking back like I was her past that she wanted to forget.