the wrong kind of love #20

Chapter 20
Nicky had now left for his trip. After a tearful goodbye, Mandy cleaned up the house a bit and relaxed on the sofa. She leaned to the side and looked at her new car outside. She still couldn’t believe that he had bought it for her. She felt like she didn’t deserve it. Not after sleeping with Brian. A tear escaped her eye. All she could think about was how hurt Nicky would be if he ever found out about this. She felt so guilty. There she was accusing Nicky for cheating on her when all along he was working hard to get her that car. She lay on the sofa, pressed her face against the cushion and sobbed loudly. She stopped as soon as she heard the phone ringing. Composing herself and wiping her tears away, as if the person on the phone would see her, she cleared her throat a few times and answered it.“Are you crying?” came Brian’s voice.“No I am not!” she sniffed, cursing herself for not sounding more normal.“You so are! What’s happened?” he asked.“Nothing Brian. I am fine!” she sighed.“No you are not. I am coming over!” he said, genuinely worried about her.“Brian, no…” she argued, but she was too late. He had already hung up. Mandy sighed and remained on the sofa. A few minutes later, she heard her doorbell ring. She could not believe he had arrived so quickly. Slowly she walked to the door and opened it. Brian looked at her red swollen eyes she had tried so hard to get rid off. Even though she had splashed freezing cold water on her face like a thousand times, it still showed evidence of crying.“What’s happened?” he asked.“What are you doing here?” she sighed.“I was worried about you. I knew you were crying on the phone!” he explained.“I thought I said we shouldn’t see each other anymore!” she sighed.“May I come in, please?” he asked, avoiding answering her last comment.“Brian, did you even hear what I just said?” she shrieked.“Yes I did. But I need to explain something to you!” he sighed.Mandy opened the door wider and allowed him in. Brian walked into the living room and sat down. Not long after, Mandy walked in and sat opposite him.“Well? What was it you wanted to explain?” she asked.“First tell me why you were crying?” he shrugged.“I was not crying!” she argued.“Oh no? Then what’s with the puffy red eyes and runny nose?” he asked cleverly.“Hay fever!” she shrugged just as cleverly.“In the middle of winter?” he sighed, raising an eyebrow.“Fine ok. You win. I was crying. You happy now?” she yelled, getting up and pacing around the room.“Why were you crying?” he asked.“It’s none of your business is it?” she hissed.“Come on Mandz. You used to tell me everything!” he sighed.“Yeah that’s when we were mates. We are not friends anymore Brian, nor can we ever be again!” she mumbled.“Oh come on. Don’t shut me out, Mandz. So we both made a mistake. No need to call off our friendship is there?” he argued, “I just want to help you!”“Are you always this nosy?” she shrieked.“Only when my mates are upset. Now tell me!” he said looking straight into her eyes.“Ok. I feel guilty ok?” she shrieked.“About us sleeping together!” he guessed.Mandy bowed her head down and nodded.“Babe. There is nothing to feel guilty about. Is he here now? It’ your anniversary and he’s not even around!” he sighed.“It’s not his fault. He had to go on that trip!” she sighed.“Oh you’ve changed your tune, haven’t you?” he rolled his eyes.“He is not cheating on me Brian!” she sighed.“Oh right. And you can prove that, can you?” he smirked.Mandy walked to the window and opened the curtain.“OK, what am I looking at?” he asked, looking around.“You see that bright blue convertible VW beetle there?” she asked.Brian nodded, “What about it?”“That was what I got for my anniversary. That was my present!” she smiled.“Nice!” he smiled, still looking at it. He then walked away from the window and stared at her, “but what does that prove?”Mandy rolled her eyes, “That proves that all those nights at the office, he was saving up to get me that car. He was not having an affair. I got it all wrong. He was just thinking of me!”“Is that before, after or during the screwing session with his secretary?” he snarled.Mandy gave him a not very impressed look, “Don’t, Brian!”“Oh come on Mandy. You think that just because he got you that car, it means he is being true to you? Wake up and smell the coffee babe. He is softening you up coz he knows you know about him cheating on you. He has got you that car coz he feels guilty about what he is doing to you!” he argued.Mandy stared at him, “Why are you being like this? Why are you doing this to me?” she whispered.“Coz I hate seeing a man making a fool out of you” he hissed.“Nicky is not making a fool out of me. Why else would he have got me that car?” she growled.“As I said, guilt. If that proves anything, it’s that he has bought you that to ease his conscience.!” He shouted exasperatedly.“I think you should leave, Brian!” she whispered.“I am not going anywhere!” he shook his head and folded his arms defiantly.“Why are you doing this to me?” she screamed.“Coz I love you!” he yelled back.Mandy looked at him, stunned. He bit his lip and looked away from her.“You what?” she gasped.“I love you!” he mumbled, “Ever since I saw you at the pub the other night when we first saw each other, I cannot get you out of my mind. And then yesterday…Well…Wow! You took my breath away Mandy. I have fallen for you big time!”“I am married, Brian!” she sighed.“Yeah. To a first class wanker!” he hissed.“Enough of that Brian. He is my husband and you have no right calling him that!” she scolded.“And you have no right to sleep with me just to get back at him and then forget all about me coz you thought it was all a mistake!” he shouted back.Mandy stared at him and sighed, “I cannot do this Brian. I made my vows to Nicky that I would love and cherish him forever, for better or worse, and all that!”“Shame he cannot stick to those vows himself!” he snarled.“Now that’s enough Brian. If you have nothing good to say then there’s the door. I a not having you in here putting my husband down!” she snapped.“We could be good together Mandy. I will treat you like a princess. with nothing but respect! I’ll give you everything you want. I will be there for you every day!” he pleaded.“No Brian. And that is my final answer. Now please leave!” she answered looking away.“You feel the same way about me and don’t deny it!” he growled.“No I don’t!” she answered, swallowing hard.He walked over to her, grabbed her arms and looked into her eyes, “You tell me that you don’t love me and I will walk out of your life, forever!”Mandy looked into his pleading eyes. They had a hopeful glint in them. His brows were slightly raised and his lips tightly shut in anticipation.“Tell me!” he whispered, shaking her slightly.She looked into his eyes and swallowed hard again, “I…I don’t love you!” she coldly said, without taking her gaze away from his. Brian gave her a hurt look and loosened his grip on her. He took a few steps back and shook his head, “I don’t believe you!” he whispered.“Now can you please leave?” she asked.Brian just stared at her, “You are lying. You are just saying that to get rid of me!”Mandy sighed and shook her head.Brian sighed, and walked to the door as Mandy followed. He suddenly turned around and looked at her, “Good luck with Nicky. You’re gonna need it. He will hurt you, Mandy. He will hurt you badly and don’t come running to me next time it all goes pear shaped!”“It’s not gonna go pear shaped!” she sighed.“Yeah. We’ll see eh?” he frowned. He continued walking and then turned around again, “Oh, by the way. I talked to my boss. You have an interview tomorrow at 10 o’clock. Good luck!” he flung his denim jacket over his shoulder and walked away. Away from Mandy’s house and away from her life.