I clung to her desperately, her presence alone holding me in this world and keeping me from completely withdrawing into myself.
“Shh, it’s ok now. You’re going to be fine, Mac.” She soothed.
“No I won’t.” I shook my head. Yes, I was wallowing in self-pity. I admit that freely.
Her response was to pull my head to her ample bosom, and I felt loved at that moment. The love of a very good friend, but at least I felt love from somebody.
She drew me to my feet with her and we walked… Ok, she walked and I stumbled into the living room and collapsed on her big leather couch.
“Hey, we can watch Darius play! Dodgers are playing the Braves tonight in Atlanta!” She was trying to cheer me up, and she knows how much I love Baseball.
I sniffled like a kid. “Ok, I guess it couldn’t hurt.” I tried a smile, but I think it ended up as more of a grimace.
She turned on the TV and the game was in the 4th Inning in Atlanta. The score was already 4 – 2, Dodgers. That actually did cheer me up, and took my mind off of my own woes.
Kat got us both a beer, and we watched the game together. It went back and forth for a while, but we ended up winning in extra Innings. By the end, we were laughing and cheering as Darius caught the fly ball to end the game and secure another great Dodgers victory!
I was taking a big swig of the local microbrew when all of a sudden, Kat’s laughter stopped.
“You have GOT to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me!” She exclaimed loudly, her mouth open in shock as she glared daggers at the TV. I followed her gaze, and saw Darius kissing some woman on there. Not just a friendly peck, either. They were engaged in a heated round of tonsil hockey.
“Is there something in the water?” I wondered aloud. It was all I could think of to say as I saw Kat’s relationship go down the drain along with my marriage.
“Must be a cheatin’ drug in the damn water!” She snarled. I glanced at her, and the fire in her dark brown eyes made ME nervous. “And a WHITE woman?! That son of a bitch! He said he doesn’t even like white women!”
I listened to her going off on him for about 20 minutes, then she looked at me and broke down in sobs of her own. I returned her favor from earlier, holding her as she let it all out. When she was all cried out, she looked at me with bloodshot eyes that pretty much mirrored my own.
“Look at us, huh? Two of a fuckin’ kind.” She laughed sadly, and I smiled as a few stray tears ran down my face too.
“Well, at least Maggie did it to me in private.” I shrugged. “That fucktard did it on National Television. I’m so sorry, Kat.”
“Not your fault, hon.” She hugged me tight, then reached for her cellphone. “Scuse me while I call his cheatin’ ass and tell him what fuckin’ time it is.”
“No problem.” I nodded as she hit his speed-dial button.
“Hey, Darius… Uh huh. Yep, we saw the game. Mac came over, since his cheatin’ bitch wife is divorcing him and kicked him out… No, he’s going to be staying with me for a few days… Just until he can find his own place… No, and that brings me to why I’m calling you. I saw you playing tonsil tag with that ho!” She stopped and listened for a few seconds, rolling her eyes. She silently placed her finger to her lips and hit Speaker so I could listen in. I nodded in understanding.