Just a short story about an empty-nest couple that lost their way. Things got ugly and it looked like their marriage was finished. There is very little sex and no one gets burned. Enjoy.
War of the Roses
Bill Rose didn't want to go home that Friday after work. For the past month all his wife Breana and he did was argue. About anything and everything. Toilet seats left up, picking her teeth, using their phones at the table, driving too fast, too slow, leaving bras on the shower door to dry, were just a few triggers. Since their last kid left for college they were faced with constant contact with each other and both needed some space apart.
"I told you that I don't like horror films," Breana snapped at him when he suggested going to the movies to see Friday the 13th Part VIII.
"Bullshit. You went with us for all the other ones. Well, I'm going alone."
"Go ahead asshole. I'd rather read a bad book than go anywhere with you tonight." She stormed out of the room and into their bedroom.
Bill sat down and sipped on his beer. In a couple of weeks their 20th wedding anniversary was planned with both families and friends. Normally after they had arguments they had make-up sex and things turned around, but he knew it had been two months since they had sex.
He could hear her talking on the phone and figured it was her old college roommate that went through men like chocolate candy on a coffee table. He was so tired of arguing and went to talk to her about doing something else that night when their bedroom door opened and she walked out dressed to party.
"Where the hell are you going?"
"Anna invited me out tonight for a few drinks and some dancing. Go to your fucking movie and say hello to Jason for me."
"Great I hope you have fun with your whore friend. Take some condoms with you. Our son probably left a few in his bedroom."
"Na...I think I'll go bareback tonight and don't expect me back early."
"Fuck...why come back tonight at all? Stay the whole weekend. Paula invited me to stop by her beach house anytime I want."
"Tell that ex-girlfriend skank of yours that I said to eat shit and die."
Both were red faced and about to go nucleur. Never had they reached this point before and their love for each other was buried deep in their hearts. He pushed by her without saying anything and slammed the bedroom door. A few minutes later he heard the front door slam shut and peeked out to see her drive away in Anna's car.
It was two days later on Sunday afternoon when he walked into the door not knowing what to expect. He figured their marriage was over and was too emotionally drained to start fighting again. Her car was in the garage but the house was empty. From the looks of things she never returned on Saturday morning.
After tossing his dirty clothes on top of the washing machine he walked out on the patio and looked out at the beautiful flowers growing. They had worked long hours last year putting them into the ground.
After spending two days and a night at his ex's place he was dead tired and quickly fell asleep on the lounge chair. An hour or so later he heard the patio door open and saw her sit next to him. She was wearing sweatpants and a tee shirt.
"I brought you a cup of coffee."
