It was my weekend to have the kids, which was something I don't think I would ever get used to. I pulled up to Veronica's new apartment at 6:55pm, and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I got anxious every time I drove by, but felt almost sick when I had to go up. When I knocked on the door I heard my son running up. He opened it yelling, "Dad!!!" in his usual excitement, and gave me a big hug.
It had been two months since Veronica and I separated, and only six weeks since we had moved into our own apartments. I never in a million years thought it would be possible for us to have gotten here. I thought we were different, special, and somehow immune to the issues that plague most marriages. Veronica had agreed to hold off on filing anything official for now, and to try separation before making anything permanent. I always got the feeling she liked living on her own anyway. She definitely had a simpler, calmer life now, which I know she missed.
After the first few weeks of moving chaos settled down, and we got into a routine, I couldn't help but wonder if she had started dating yet. I know it seemed too early, but it would be just her style to go for an anger bang. Like the line she used to say, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else, or in her case, on top of someone else. Every time I thought about it I became anxious. I had often fantasized about her as the sexual object of her partying past, and that is the side that would most likely come back out now, only for someone else. I trolled dating sites a few times to see if she had a profile up, but not finding one was almost worse than finding one, because without answers it left my imagination running wild.
"Mom, dads here!!!!" yelled my son, as he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the entryway. He attempted to pull me towards his room saying, "Dad come look at my new bed!!!" but I pulled him back saying, "Uhhhhh, hang on buddy, I think we should wait for your mom to........"
Just then Veronica came out of her room, and stopped when she saw me. I kept my shades on, as it made me feel less vulnerable. It was a moment that was all too familiar, yet now totally different. She looked at me with no emotion, the way she did when she was upset, only now it was a shield from feeling anything. She immediately went into the kids schedule, but distracted by how hot she looked, I couldn't help but tune her out. Her hair was curled with soft, loose waves, eyes were dark and smokey, and her lips were stained red. She looked seductive, and so fucking sexy.
As she continued talking I used the fact that she couldn't see my eyes to look her up and down. She was wearing stretchy black leggings that showed off every detail of her toned legs and juicy little ass perfectly, and her shirt was so low cut, obviously intended to show off as much cleavage as possible. I quickly noticed she wasn't wearing a bra, her nipples clearly visible through the thin material. Shit, she never dressed this sexy when we were married!! She had always been fairly modest, but this was a whole new side of her. Her perfumed skin permeated the room, taunting me even more. She was definitely dressed to seduce. I felt my mouth go dry as I tried to swallow.
Weeks earlier when I came to get the kids I spotted a spare key to her apartment dangling on a hook in the kitchen. Without thinking I grabbed it and as soon as I left I went and got a copy made, returning hers two days later, hoping she hadn't noticed. I don't even know at the time why I did that. Not knowing things makes me crazy, and I think somehow just feeling like I could get answers if I wanted to made me feel more in control.
Just then I realized she had stopped talking a moment ago and was waiting for me to respond. Shit, she had always been on me for not listening. "Um, yeah ok, got it" I said sort of unconvincingly. She just raised her eyebrows as if to say, 'should I believe you?'
"So, what are you all dressed up for? Going out with the girls?" I had a pit in my stomach waiting for the answer.
Without any hesitation she answered, "No, I have a date." Surprisingly she didn't say it trying to rub it in my face, no, she was to mature for that kind of pettiness, or just disconnected from feeling anything, it was hard to tell sometimes.
"Oh wow...... ok, first date?" I asked, trying not to sound like I cared as much as I did. I certainly didn't want her to think the thought bothered me.
"No........ our third." she answered quickly, zipping up my sons hoodie.
My stomach tightened into a knot. "Wow! Shoot.......a third date already?!" I asked anxiously.
"Yeah,,........why do you care?" she asked, sounding sort of annoyed that we were even discussing it.