Your Ex In Your Home? No Way.
Your Ex In Your Home? No Way.
Day 224 of The Andie Chronicles
I went home late on Saturday night after the game and fell asleep in my bed almost instantly. I could hear James snoring from his bedroom.
They were quiet sleeping noises, but the comfort of these sounds let me know he was home. And, for a brief moment, the house felt right again.
I should've gone to the gym with Cooper this morning. I should've stayed with him, worked out, and started the rest of the week on the right foot. But I wanted to get some work done and some sketches, and I had a whole mountain of cleaning around the house.
Just because you have a beautiful love life and a man with a house triple the size of yours, it doesn't mean you can forget about your humble home. Nor does the dust vacuum itself, no matter what the other Camberwell ladies would have you believe with their army of household servants.
But today was one of those days where I wish I could've forgotten about my life, stayed with Cooper and mitigated the guilt later.
Even if it meant going to the gym, getting on the treadmill, and working out when I didn't feel like it, it would've trumped what would happen in my living room.
After pulling on my dressing gown and throwing my hair up in an undignified bun, I dragged my body from my bedroom to the kitchen. I need a coffee. But as I approached the living room, I heard a voice. It wasn’t James’ voice.
No, that voice was undeniable, unmistakable, and one I thought my weekends would have a respite from.
Turning the corner, I found James seated next to Douglas at the dining room table. They were working. Papers everywhere.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
Douglas hadn’t been facing the hall, but as soon as I bellowed, he turned to me. “And good morning to you, too.”
“No, don't be cute. Don't be sweet. Don't be funny. Don't be any of those things. Just get your shit and get the fuck out of my house.”
I didn't sound like the proper private schoolgirl with the Camberwell upbringing. My language, my tone, was indignant. But at this point, this was my attempt to control my rage, all the anger I felt for my ex. Not to mention the bubbling disdain I felt for James for bringing my ex to my house.
Why did you think this was a good idea?
James stood up at the table, slamming his hands down.
“Andie, Douglas is here to see me. You can't just kick him out.”
“I don't know, James, but the last time I looked, my name was the one on the mortgage, not yours. You're a guest here too, and this is my ex-boyfriend, and he can get the fuck out of my house when I say so.”
“Andie, don't forget that he's your boss too.” Douglas nodded along with James’ assessment.
“He's not the boss of my house and my private life. He can leave right now, and you can go to the office. Or you can see each other somewhere else but not-in-my-fucking-home.”
Douglas slowly packed up his things and moved towards the door. I looked at James and retorted, “Aren't you going to follow him? Off you go. Run off with your boyfriend.”
I didn't like the way I spoke.
I nearly apologised when I saw James's face turn from light pink to bright red, his arms staunchly taking their place on his hips. He was one step away from stamping his feet.
“What the actual fuck, Andie? You can't talk to me like that. You can't tell me what to do.”
“Oh? I might call your auntie and get her over here, and we can have a little meeting. Then you might consider what I'm saying.”
Douglas left as soon as my words destroyed any hope of reconciliation, and James stormed off to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
I know it wasn't pretty, and it wasn't the most amicable conversation I ever had in my home. But there wasn't any respect for me.
And James, as much as I loved him, still had no idea what it was like to walk a mile in my shoes.
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Just a moment! 1 Lovelock Drive is a reader-supported publication (I can’t do this without you!). If you love what you read, and want to receive the next instalment and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber!
A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?
Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx
