Insufferable

Gwen's POV

Seriously, Ethan was insufferable! I have no idea how I could have been in love with such a man for three years. Three years! I was very blind. Even dumb! He was just… Aaargh!

Johnny had called me for lunch and I went to it. But before, I went to the Jewelry Store to buy a gift for Jan. It would be her birthday in a few days and I knew how much she liked earrings. I saw a very cute one the other day, and that was why I went to that neighborhood to buy it. My bad luck was that Ethan decided to go have his lunch at that time.

"Don't worry so much. Lennox had always been very dramatic. Since College." Johnny said while he was choosing what he was going to eat. We were going to eat at the restaurant near Ethan's building, but in the end, we had to go somewhere else. I had no intentions on staying around there for much longer.

"He is just something else." I sighed. Johnny looked at me, smiling.

"I think he is an idiot." He said and I wasn't expecting him to talk like that, so bluntly. "He had the most perfect wife and just let her go."

I knew my cheeks were probably blushing a lot, because I felt my face get all warm.

"Oh…" I said. I was not very good at receiving compliments.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. It's just that you are so beautiful, fun, and smart… If you can cook…"

"I can." I said. "I'm very good at cooking, actually." I told him.

"See? Perfection!" He laughed. "Now, serious thing: are you free Saturday night?"

"Saturday night? I guess so, why?"

"Well, I have this event to go. And I would very much like it if you could be my date." He said and gave me a smile I could not refuse. "But, I must add that your ex might be there, since it is a fashion kind of thing."

"Oooh… that is a very important detail." I said. I didn't want to meet Ethan again.

"I know it might not be so good for you, but you can think through another perspective: you don't owe him anything. And he wouldn't dare do what he did today. It would be very bad for his reputation, among all those people…" Johnny said and looked at me. He was waiting for my response.

"True. The place is going to be full of people I don't like. And you. So.. for you, I'll go." Apart from Jan and Ethan's grandfather, I didn't have anyone else to treat me nicely in that damn city. Ethan was the worst. His parents… his father was no issue, but his mother was a nuisance. And Darla. For God 's sake. That woman was a stone in my shoes.

"The answer is yes, then?" he asked. His eyes were shining! I was not so idiot to be falling for another man, but he was good company. And I also knew I should be very cautious around someone that was kind of 'Ethan's enemy'. I as the ex-wife and Johnny might be trying to have some kind of revenge on Ethan.

I wouldn't stop talking to the man unless he proved to me he was just using me. But, if he was being nice because he liked me and did no harm about making Ethan pissed, I saw no problem at all. I didn't have to act according to Ethan's likings.

"Yes!" I answered and he closed his eyes and made those motions people do when their favorite team wins in a game. I laughed.

We ate and talked about not so important things. Then, he left for work and I went to mine.

After work I'd go to the mall to look for a gown. A suitable one for that kind of event.

Ethan never had me in one of those. People knew he was married to me, but he made no effort in spending time with me. So, he would say he was not pleased with me around him and he wanted to have a good time at those parties. So, I would just stay home and wait for him.

I chuckled at myself, while remembering those memories. Silly girl…

"Hey, Jan?" I called her and she seemed to be around lots of people.

"Gwen, love!" She said. "Good thing you called. Saturday I have an event and I would like you to come. Don't say no. You need to have fun!"

"About that… that's why I called you. I have been invited."

"No way!!" I heard her getting far from the noise. "Who?"

"Jonathan Lestrange." I replied and she gave a little squeak.

"Oh, my!! Are you two dating?" She asked, and I heard her lovey dovey voice.

"No. We met at the park and he was just a sweetheart. We had lunch together today and he invited me to the party. And I was thinking about the dress."

"No need to say more. Tonight, we will find that dress. You have only two days!" She said.

"Thanks, Jan!"

"I love you! No, I got to go. Talk to you later!" She blew a kiss and ended the call. Jan was just so Jan!

The rest of the day went by pretty fast. I had only nice news, only good things happening. All I had to do was to go to the mall, get that dress, shoes and whatever and go home. Jan would make me eat something, I'm sure of this. But I would let her know how tired I was.

Johnny sent me tons of texts, he was a dear! And then, almost by the time I had to leave, I received a message from Ethan. How the hell did he have my new number? No.. it was through social media. Damn!

'Grandfather wants to talk to you.' Pretty simple and direct. I squinted my eyes and bit my lip. I loved Grandpa, but I didn't know if I should or not see him. He was close to Ethan and I didn't want to have much contact with him, whatsoever.

'You read the message. Answer me."

He was demanding an answer. That little… I inhaled and exhaled. I was not letting him ruin my day. He almost did by lunch time. He was not going to do that this time.

'Ok'. I sent him.

'Your phone number.'

'I'll call grandpa myself, don't worry. Have to work.' I sent this and put my phone on mute mode.

Half an hour later, I was going to the garage. The elevator stopped on the first floor and I didn't look up from my phone to see who it was. I was going one more down. I only said a 'good evening' and that was it.

The elevator stopped again and I heard the person getting out as well, after I greeted her. Just now I realized that person didn't respond to me. How rude!

Suddenly, my phone was taken from my hands.

"Hey!" I turned to the person and had to take deep breaths. "Ethan!"