The Other Side

Chapter 7

“Mark.”

Mark turned, his car keys in his hand. Kimberley was coming towards him. Her hair had grown out so it was touching her shoulders in soft curls. She wore a pale pink summer dress with no sleeves, an ample amount of cleavage on display and a skirt that hit her mid-thigh. The dress was see-through enough for Mark to see that she wasn’t wearing panties or a bra.

He groaned and turned away.

“Go away, Kim. I told you years ago that I’m not interested.”

Kimberly hurried after him.

“I’m not here for that.”

“And I don’t do your type.”

“What makes you think I was here to seduce you?”

Mark sighed and turned back, stepping back when Kimberly stopped a little too close for his liking. He waved a hand at her attire.

“If you weren’t going to seduce me you wouldn’t have worn something that is virtually see-through and you would’ve worn underwear. While I’m flattered I’m still not interested.” He started walking again. “Walking around with your nether regions blowing in the breeze in public is not very sexy. Especially on women.”

He pressed a button on his key fob and his car bleeped as it unlocked. He was at the driver’s door when Kimberly spoke.

“You’re making a mistake with Charli Fraser.”

Mark stopped, his hand on the door handle. He turned back, finding Kimberly standing on the edge of the sidewalk next to him. Her face was scrunched up in concern. But Mark wasn’t fooled.

“You came here to tell me that?” He shook his head. “Nice try. Why don’t you go back to Henson and warm his co*k with your asshole? I’m sure he’d love that.”

“Why does everyone keep going on about that just because Charli caught us doing it once?”

“Mainly because you shouldn’t have been doing it at all.” Mark rubbed at his eyes and glanced at his watch. If Kimberly stayed much longer he was going to be late picking Charli up and then they would be late for their hospital appointment. “What do you want, Kim? I’m strapped for time.”

“I was worried about you.”

“That’s a first.”

Kimberly reached out to him but Mark stepped out of reach. Kimberly’s hand fell to her side.

“Charli’s cheating on you, Mark. She’s done it with Andy several times and she’s doing it with you.”

Mark knew this wasn’t to be true. Considering the amount of time they had been spending together, Charli had no time to cheat on him. Plus he trusted her; she was one of the most loyal people he knew.

“What makes you think Charli is cheating on me?”

“I have a private eye on retainer. He’d been following Charli since before you two got together and what he’s found is worrying.”

“What’s he doing following Charli?”

“That’s my business.” Kimberly reached into the purse she was carrying and handed Mark a handful of photographs. “Take a look at these. She has lunch with this guy regularly. They look pretty cozy, don’t they?”

Mark took the photographs and looked through them. It showed Charli sitting in a cafe with a man, both of them smiling and laughing. They looked close. But Mark knew that they were close and not in the way Kimberly meant.

“I’m so sorry, Mark,” Kimberly looked sincere when she said that, “But Charli isn’t the faithful person you think her to be.”

Mark couldn’t help himself. He started to laugh. Kimberly stared as he sagged against his car and threw back his head, laughing enough to bring tears to his eyes. When he calmed down he wiped his eyes and looked at Kimberly, who was still looking confused.

“You seriously think accusing Charli of cheating will have me dropping her like a hot potato?” He snorted. “Think again. I know that guy in the pictures. If your private eye had been following her since before she got pregnant than he would have seen another man join their table. I know because I’ve been there.” He pointed at the man in the picture. “That’s Kyle, her co-worker. He’s in a relationship and even if he wasn’t he’d be more likely to go out with me rather than Charli.” He saw Kimberly’s expression screw up in confusion and rolled his eyes. “Kim, Kyle is gay. His boyfriend joins them on a regular basis for lunch since he owns the damn cafe they eat in. Charli isn’t his type at all.”

He tossed the pictures at Kimberly, most of them fluttering to the ground.

“Nice try but don’t bother. I’m not going to fall for your pathetic games.” He turned away and jerked open his door. “Go back to your ass lover.”

But Mark couldn’t hold it in. The idea was just too ludicrous. As he pulled away from the curb, leaving Kimberly staring after him, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter again.

*****

The car pulled up to the curb when Charli exited her apartment building and moved down the steps. She stopped when she saw Andy climb out the car and walk towards her, prowling as if he was about to pounce.

Her heart sank. She didn’t need this now. Not after everything he had put her through. The abusive emails had been getting worse, the sweet messages dwindling. How he expected her to come back to him, begging to be together again after everything he had said to her, she had no idea. Any woman with a brain would give men like Andy Henson a wide berth.

Not that they had noticed. She had heard Andy was out partying on a regular basis and girls flocked around him.