A Life More Complete

---Chapter 40---

I’m pretty sure I spend a good hour crying in my kitchen. I didn’t keep track, but it was far too long. I pull myself together and vow to be done crying over Tyler. I let go because my only release is to let go of something that is more out of control than me. I pick up the phone and call Bob.

“Hey there, baby,” Bob answers. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you. Do you want me to come by?”

“Yes. I really need some support right now, so get here fast.”

“Have I ever let you down?”

“No.”

“I’m like a Toyota. Get it?”

“You’re like a douche bag. Just get over here,” I say laughing.

“See, I can make you laugh even when your life is in the shitter. You need me and I’ll be there, darling. See you soon.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too, baby girl.”

I can’t help but smile after hanging up with Bob. He really tries his best to make me happy and most of the time he succeeds. I quick call Melinda knowing she will want in on the shit show that has become my life.

“What up, Tyson?” she says answering quickly. “Got a good look at Trini’s face when she stopped by the office earlier. You kick ass. I had no idea you had it in you. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks. Why was Trini in the office?” My first though is that she came to find me, but after what I did to her face I am sure she would rather meet an angry wolverine in a dark alley.

“She came in looking for a new publicist and Ellie canned her ass. It was awesome. I wish you were there. Ellie then released a statement to the press about how deeply saddened she was to have to part ways with Trini. She was totally professional, but behind closed doors she let Trini have it. Trini was all crying, puffy-eyed taking her sorry ass into the elevator. It was classic.”

“Glad I could be a great source of amusement today. So, you coming by?”

“I wish I could, but,” she pauses and her voice lights up, “I have a date.”

“With whom, pray tell?”

“Noah, if you can believe it. Things have been so crazy I completely forgot to tell you. I guess it isn’t so much as a date since I think he’s actually my boyfriend. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to jinx it.”

“Oh, Mel. I’m so sorry that my shit show has overshadowed your good news. I’m glad you gave it a second chance. Just watch out for those oscillating fans.”

“Totally. Try and relax tonight, okay?”

“I’ll try,” I say. But I don’t. I sit and obsess about the swarm of paparazzi that are parked outside my house and seem to be growing larger with every passing second.

Bob shouts, “I brought food,” as he strolls through my front door. “There’s a shit ton of paparazzi outside your house. Don’t worry, I pissed on one guy’s car while he was busy taking pictures.” He drops the bags from my favorite Mexican place on the table. “Gotta wash my hands,” he says winking at me.

“Bob! What is wrong with you? You can’t go peeing on someone’s car!” I glare at him as I remove a soft shell taco from the greasy bag.

“Sure I can. If they think it’s okay to camp outside your house then surely I can take a piss on their car. Hopefully they’ll leave.”

“Good point,” I reply finding it hard to argue with the man who brought me tacos.

“I gotta say, honey, you look like hell. I know you’ve been through hell and back but you gotta pull it together. All this sobbing isn’t going to make you feel any better. It just makes you look like shit and the media is going to eat you alive if you leave your house looking like,” he stops and points a finger at me, “that.” His nose wrinkles up and I shake my head at him.

“I thought you were here to support me? It doesn’t seem that way.” My tone is coming across more annoyed. “I don’t exactly have the kind of control over my emotions that you’re expecting of me,” I say as I point to my ever-growing belly. “Pregnant, remember?”

“I know, but he’s not worth your time or your energy.”

“Do you think I like being a blubbering fool? I’m trying my best. I’ll get it together. I promise.”

“That’s my girl. Don’t let him do this to you. You’re better than this and you know it.”

“I’m going crazy. I’m not like this. I don’t know why Tyler brings out the worst in me. I hit someone today. What was I thinking?”

“Um, you were thinking she deserved it and rightfully so, but it’s over now.”

Just as I begin to rationalize my feelings all over again someone knocks on the door. Bob startles me with his booming voice. “Don’t answer it,” he practically screams.

“Why?”

“Because you have a slew of paparazzi outside your house, you hit Trini today and your a*shole husband just admitted to cheating on you. Nothing good can come from opening that door.”

Just to clarify,” I say, “he never actually admitted to cheating on me. An admission would have been too easy.” I finish my thought and make my way to the door.

“Oh, that makes it...” he stops before he continues with his sarcastic comment. “What the hell are you doing? Don’t open that door!”

Bob starts after me and when I turn around the anger in my eyes scares him back into my kitchen. “I know I asked you to come here, but just shut up for a minute.” I open the door to find Tyler staring at me. He’s perfectly dressed in a suit that looks like it was just pulled from a dry cleaning bag. Neatly pressed and creased, even though I know he has been wearing it since we had it out earlier today. It’s just not fair. This is what a breakup looks like on him. I, on the other hand look like Baby Jane Hudson. I don’t know why, but he catches me off guard. I stand there staring back at him unable to speak.

“I need to get a few things that you forgot to pack,” he says quietly. “You alone?”

“No,” I blurt out.

“Can I come in? I really would like these a*sholes to stop taking pictures of me.” He motions toward the driveway.

“Those a*sholes are here because of you.” I step aside and he ignores my comment as he enters the condo. “Hurry up, please. I don’t really want you here.”

He heads into the bedroom without acknowledging Bob. I follow after him not knowing what to do or say. I make eye contact with Bob who mouths, “What the hell?” I shrug my shoulders and hold up one finger signaling to him to hold on. Tyler emerges from the bedroom carrying the box of pictures he gave me shocking me even more.

“What are you doing with my pictures?” I half shout.

“Your pictures?” he questions, his tone lacking any seriousness. “I don’t think so. I might have given them to you, but the last thing I want is for you to have a reminder of how great things were and try to come crawling back to me.”

I’m livid now. The fury is building and is nearing a frenzied peak. “Are you kidding me? Are you f*cking kidding me?” I scream, following him to the front door. “You’re mistaken if you think for one second that you are worth my time. My point was already made clear. We. Are. Done.” He laughs in a condescending tone that just adds to my blind rage. “Don’t you f*cking laugh at me!” I follow him as he proceeds down the stairs to the driveway. I can hear Bob behind me yell, “Don’t follow him. Please don’t follow him,” which he follows up with a breathy, “F*ck”.

The flashbulbs begin their blinding glare as the two of us make our way to his car. I stop dead in my tracks when I see her sitting in the passenger seat of his car. Everything around me goes black and I lose any self-control I have left, which is almost none. Seeing her sitting in the car looking away like she has no idea who I am, like I didn’t spend the last eight years of my life with her. Like we were never even friends. I follow my first instinct, probably not for the best. I grab the first thing I can get my hands on and launch it at the passenger window of Tyler’s car. Hitting it dead on, the window shatters into a million little pieces, scattering glass all over my driveway and covering Trini. My pulse is racing and I’m breathing like I’ve just finished running ten miles. Every bit of my behavior is surprising and Bob’s voice jolts me back into the now.

“Jesus Christ! What are you doing?” he screams as Tyler backs out of the driveway without responding to my retaliation.

I turn to face him, the anger still apparent on my face because he takes a step back. He puts his hands up in a defensive posture. “You need to go back in the house and calm down.”

“No!” I scream back at him. “Did you see who was with him? How dare he bring that bitch to my house.” All the while I’m stalking down the driveway in pursuit of his car. The cameras in my face, flashing and recording my every move. Bob grabs ahold of my arm and begins to yank me back to the house like a tantrum-throwing kid being dragged out of Disneyland. Defeated, my shoulders slump and I follow him willingly. He closes the door behind him and the tears begin to fall. I press my face into Bob shirt and his arms come around me in a comforting hug.

“Oh honey, I know this is hard, but you really need to stop publicly humiliating yourself. It’s bad enough that Tyler did it to you.”

“Bob...” I sob. “I really am going crazy.”

“No, no,” he says, but with little conviction. “Just a momentary lapse in judgment. Regardless, let’s never mention this again. You were like one of those girls on The Bad Girls Club.” I laugh as I slump down on the couch. “The worst part is that it was all caught on camera.”

“Oh my God! Don’t remind me,” I say covering my face with my hands.

“Why don’t you lie down while I make us some popcorn? We can watch The Notebook and cry at the ending.”

Bob joins me a few minutes later on the couch and I grab a handful of popcorn. Turning to him I say, “I’m really sorry. That was pretty awful.”

“It’s fine. Everyone needs at least one bat shit crazy friend, right?” He makes me laugh as he leans down and kisses my head.