31 Day Writing Challenge #2: Day 22 - Flower Patterns (attempt one)

Flower patterns. He had gotten caught because of flower patterns. Months of taking the utmost care and doing everything right. All the stress and exhilaration and worry, now for nothing. All that so that the flowers on a bloody piece of lingerie could blow the bloody thing apart.

He thought he was being so clever, buying the set of two silk baby-doll negligees: one plain, the other covered in those stupid flowers. One purchase and both of his women would have a Valentines' Day gift. Sorted.

All he had to do was make sure Jodi got the plain one. She hated clothes with flower patterns. They were 'not her style', after six years of marriage, that much he knew. It was that simple.

He gave Jodi the flower covered one, somehow. She was stood looking at it, disappointed. He could read her mind:

'Does he not know me at all?'

Then he saw something click inside her brain and got a very bad feeling.

"Where's the other one?" she said slowly, looking at the dress like it had personally insulted her.

"What do you mean? What other one, Jodi?" He knew he'd have to tread carefully.

"This..." she thrusted the offending article towards him, "comes in a set of two. And, I am assuming the other one was plain. It being the one you meant to give to me."

"What are you talking about?" He tried to hide his discomfort.

"Look at the tag." Jodi threw the silk insult at him. And there it was in all its glory.

'Part of a set of two.'

"Where. Is. The. Other. One?" Try as she might to not allow it to happen, she was quickly losing her temper.

"Jodi...Honey..." He stammered.

"Don't 'honey' me." Her words were clipped now. "Where is the other negligee? Huh?"

"Jodi...I...."

"Yeah. I thought so." Jodi looked resigned. "You wanna tell me who this was supposed to be given to?" Her question was met with silence.

"OK. Can you just admit you're sleeping with my sister so I can get to kicking you out of the house?"

"I'm not..." The stammering continued.

"Don't even. Do you really think I don't notice that you smell like her perfume; that you're working late on her nights off; all the looks when you're in the same room or the sneaking off at family gatherings. And now I'm presented with this flower-covered monstrosity that I hate, but that my sibling would drop her already loose-fitting panties over."

"Jodi."

"Just go. Pack a bag and go to her. Take this with you. Neither of you are wanted here."

He started to move closer to her.

"Get. Out." He hesitated.

"Now." The look on her face told him there was no arguing, there was no going back. His marriage was over. He always thought that if this day ever came, he'd feel sad or panic or stress. But, what he really felt was .... relief. It was over. It had probably been over for a long time.

As he packed his bag, he realised something else: he didn't want to go to Ashley. Now that he was free to be with her, he didn't want her. He wanted out of all of it.

So he grabbed his bag and left, knowing exactly where he wanted to go.

He picked up his phone, flicked through his contacts to find the number. The other end picked up after two rings,

"Hell, Cheryl."

"Why hello, long time no word. Haven't had this pleasure since I divorced your brother."

"How about I come over and remind you why you divorced him?"

"How long will you be?" Her voice was sultry and full of desire.

"Not long. You know how I expect to find you."

Hanging up, he walked across the road, still looking at his phone. And that's when karma, in the form of a double decker bus, hit him.