I don't normally post sequels so far apart, but I inadvertently referred to Addy's age as a younger girl in a non-sexual way, however, it was enough to reject the story. In the comments from the first part a few wondered how Karen's character could ever be redeemed. Consider this, maybe she can't, maybe she's just one of those people who never figure it out.
Once Again
chapter two
Karen and I were in the mood for a piece of meat, I found a local steak place that turned out to be quite nice. We didn't talk anymore about the happenings of the afternoon, I did find myself wondering if what she said could be true or was it simply more talk. I asked myself, was she saying what she felt she needed to say, or was she being sincere? Only time would tell and for the moment I was cautiously optimistic.
She wanted to go to the regular watering hole for drinks and to dance since they had a DJ on Saturday nights. Neither of us was in more than jeans and a shirt but she certainly rocked what she was wearing. The pants were tight enough to exhibit her assets without looking trashy, the shirt was a pull over with a V-neck showing a bit of ample cleavage. Me, not so hot. Jeans, a button shirt and cowboy boots. By the time we arrived the place was already thick with people, luckily she saw a nurse she worked with waving to us from a booth which had room for two more.
I knew the guy, sort of, we'd met a few times at work. For the next twenty minutes we cajoled and laughed and got comfortable with each other. As soon as the DJ started we were on the dance floor and stayed there until the first break. I ordered another beer for me and a white wine for Karen, she seemed relaxed and was sitting close although our bodies weren't touching, not even at the knees. The second set had no more than begun when a tall bald black guy stepped up and ask Karen to dance. Without so much as looking at me she scooted from the seat and was taking the guy's hand.
I must have looked dejected because Karen's girlfriend said to me, "Not to worry Bob, they work together, it's just a dance or two. She'll be back."
To her credit she was back after the second dance, I was about to ask for the next dance when another rather handsome guy asked her. Again, she never looked at or said a word to me. I was beginning to think the words spoken earlier were nothing but bullshit, she was being who she was, she wasn't about to change. Looking for her I saw the two of them grinding to a medium paced song, it was obvious there was plenty of sensuality flowing between them. With the other couple who shared our table on the floor I simply stood and left, I'd had enough of Karen Cullen. She told me I was her friend and then treated me like trash, nope, no more. I was through.
I don't think she realized I had left, I didn't get a text or call. Around midnight I heard a key in the lock, I was expecting to hear a whispered conversation with whomever she'd brought back with her but didn't. Thankfully. I'd have kicked her ass out on the spot if she had. She didn't come to my room, I heard the bathroom door close and then open a few minutes later. Not enough time to take a shower, enough time to pee and get into night clothes. In the morning I was on the patio with coffee and scrambled eggs when she sauntered out with a robe wrapped around her body. Plopping herself in the chair next to mine she said nothing as she stared at me, I ignored the stare a minute or so and then looked at her.
"Where did you go last night Bobby? I looked around and couldn't find you. Why did you abandon me?"
At that moment I felt nothing, no hate, no anger, nothing. "I think you have that backward Karen, it was you who abandoned me. Not once did you look at or ask if I minded you dancing with your parade of suitors, nope, you just got up and left. But why would that matter, it was just old Bobby boy and he's always there when you need him. Well toots, not any more."
She looked pissed, "You're blowing this all out of proportion. I had a few dances, so what? That's why we went isn't it, to dance?"
"We did Karen, we did. It was silly me to think because I brought you that you'd actually be dancing with me and not other guys. You can't help yourself can you? If it comes down to a black guy asking you to dance or me, I don't have a chance. You're so wrapped up in this blackness bullshit you don't know what you want."
She was almost spitting when she responded, "Well you're all wrapped up in your shitty little white world. You left me stranded there. Remember?"
"You know Karen, all that stuff you said yesterday about being color blind and not seeing how much I loved you, you even wanted to make love, that was all bullshit."
She was on the edge of her seat leaning a foot away from me, "Why you makin this about race? Why you hafta bring up racist shit like this?"
"Hold on miss high and mighty, I'm pretty sure it was you who excluded me last night. If I'm such a racist then why are 90% of the girls I go out with dark colored? You don't know what you want Karen, I only know you don't want me. So go be with the billy bad asses who treat you like dirt and toss you aside when they've gotten what they want. I won't be there to help pick up the pieces any longer, you're on your own. This shit isn't going to happen again."
As I stood she did as well. "Just what the hell is that supposed to mean Bobby? I'm on my own."
"The lease on the apartment has another six weeks left, I'll be moving this afternoon and it's all yours. It's a furnished apartment and I know you can afford it, you make more than I do. If you don't pay rent I'll be stuck with it and start proceedings to get you out. I'm done Karen, mister nice guy Bobby is finished, good luck, I hope you figure out what you want and then enjoy life. I just know it won't be with me."
She was standing looking at my back as I went into the kitchen. I was putting clothes in suitcases when she walked into the bedroom. I heard concern in her voice for the first time.
"Are you really going? Can't we work through this misunderstanding? You said you love me, I don't want you to leave."
"I do love you, but I don't like who you've become. I offered my undying love to you yesterday, you said you accepted my love in a roundabout way, then last night the real you bubbled to the surface. I didn't like what I saw, the "oh hell no, I aint got time for no white boys" girl was on full display. I can love you without liking you, however that love died a little more each time you came crying to me and then kicked me in the nuts when you were doing better. Like I said Karen, I'm done. Oh, and this isn't a misunderstanding, this is the result of choices you made."
