3 Hours Earlier @ Club Cobra

As I looked at my watch for the tenth time this eveing, I realized she once again was not coming. Lauren was always very punctual and on time to anything. She was never one of these fashionably late girls. Which was one of the things I loved about her. There is none of this just five minutes honey. It was never just 5 minutes. Because Lauren had everything perfectly planned. She already had the back up dress planned for an event days ago.

She is perfectly imperfect for me because I am not a planner, I am more of a go with the flow kind of guy. I like things simple and classic. Of course I had my flashy days, (but we wont talk about those days ) Also, I get off topic a lot, my mind runs faster than it can process. So once I start one thing, before I am finished I have already started another. Somedays I don't get very much accomplished because of this. It has always made the fellas a little annoyed with me.

This is how I know Lauren isn't coming tonight you know the saying better late than never... Lauren chooses the never. It doesn't help we got into a pretty huge blow out earlier. It is always about the same thing lately. I never thought I would be the one to want children, I was always the one that never wanted to have kids, or get married. Here I am hitched really wanting one of my own, we have been married for a few years now, and naturally that just seems like the next step to me, to her its all about her career and it is really starting to take off.

I always thought Kitt Fitt was going to be something that was ours, our baby, our something we could do together. Instead Kitt Fitt turned into this huge success, not just overseas but everywheres. It was the biggest you tube sensation since the 'Harlem Shake epic craze, and Justin Beiber'.

Its great and all but it turned out to be more than we could handle on our own so we had to hire a manager, we choose a very capable business person with lots of passion (now im noticing he is a Vin Diesel look alike body builder.) Only hes not only interested in the company he is interested in Lauren. The worst thing is she doesn't even see the way he looks at her. Probably the thing that hurts the most is. She doesn't notice how she looks at him either. I do though, and it hurts. She tells me Im crazy but if I was so crazy wouldn't you think she would be here for our mutual best friends. It is a major accomplishment for A.J.

I sigh as I look at my phone, this has become all to familiar to me. Out at functions having to make up excuses why my wife isn't on my arm. We are just in two completely different places right now literally, she was supposed to be home from the promo in Italy and it turns out her manager Rodderick has to keep her for a few more days.

"Days" I sigh and rub my hands through my newly cut hair. "Days" I say a little louder. I can feel my body temperature rising with every word I read on the text message.

I excuse myself and go throw some water on my face, I look at myself in the mirror and contemplate taking shots and getting completely fucked. I take one last look in the mirror and notice my wedding ring and it makes me more mad. I can't stop but think she is married to me not Roderick. Whenever I think of rodderick, I always think of rotten dick. Thats my secret nic-name for him. Another reason why we were fighting.

Flashback 2 days earlier...

"LoLo, I can't believe you have to go again. You promise your going to make it back for J’s Party, it’s a huge deal for him. Rochelle is your bestfriend, you would think you would want to be there." I said as I watched her pack her bag yet again. I know she has done the same, but now it doesn't seem like she is just going for work. I layed on the bed I couldn't help but admire the simple beauty that radiants from her. She looked like a greek goddess the way the sunlight hit her face.

"You know I love you Right." I smiled up at her, getting up off the dark purple duvet. Grabbing her hands trying to get her to dance with me.

"Nick stop im going be late, Rodderick is picking me up and we are taking his private jet to Italy." Lauren glared at me. " I don't have time for this.-"

I cut her off " What Lauren you don't have time for what, time for me, time for us. What, we barely have had a conversation in 3 weeks. I am all about promotiong your brand.  What about me? Your Husband? We used to be so close and told each other everything. You are my other half, you are the one I want to grow old with". I choked back the stinging in my eyes. "I feel like Im losing you."

I looked into her eyes, I noticed she looked exhausted. She had bags under her eyes " Look Nick, your not losing me. See this ring on my finger, I am yours and you are mine."

She grabbed my hands and kissed my hands " Your stuck with me carter." I smiled and tried to hide the sinking feeling I had in the pit of my stomach I was losing her and not every realtionship ends in heartache. I kept trying to remind myself of this.

I leaned in and kissed her " I know I just miss you, I miss our frisky time." I wiggled my eyebrows at her and she pushed me away giggling, as I tried kissing her collarbone and started at her neck.

"Rodderick....stop I have to pack now, okay I cannot be late." she pushed me away with one shove and fell back onto the bed.

I wasn't sure I heard her right, but the look on her face. She knew she fucked up. She tried to blow it off, but we both knew it was more than that.

"My name isn't Rodderick, Its Nick." I felt like we were just talking in circles. "You tell me to trust you Lauren, you tell me everything is fine." This isn't the first time you said his name. Last time we had sex the night of my birthday party. You moaned his name instead of mine.

"What is going on Lauren, Im a big boy I can handle it."

"Nick, how many times do I have to tell you." She yelled " Nothing is going on" Fuck, I dont interigate you everytime you go half way across the world. Dance and grind for the lonely women in the audience. I trust you, whats the difference?" she said as she packed the last of her things.

I sighed exhasperated and could feel myself getting angrier. " I don't fucking moan their name during sex."

Neither of us spoke a word to eachother as she packed her things.

The air was thick I just watched as through things into her carry on as she scrambled running from the bathroom

"I have to go now, hes sending a car." She said barely above a whisper.

I nodded as I stood up against the doorway, hoping my frame would stop her.

"I love you Nick." She kissed me on the cheek and walked out the door. "I don't know what else you want from me."

With that she was gone I walked as the Limo picked her up. I couldn't help but wonder what she packed the lingerie for. Maybe, my mind was just playing tricks on me. Maybe it was nothing, maybe it was everything. One thing was sure, I was losing her, and to Rotten Dick.

End of flashback

So halfway from the bathroom to the table I grabbed a shot off the waiters tray, and then took another, and another.

I stopped when I realised what I was doing. Luckily no one was there to see my moment of weakness. It felt so good the buring sensation down my throat, ease the pain in my heart. Fuck listen to me I sound like one of our songs. A broken love song. The one song that sticks in my head is 'The Call' in particular.

I sat down in my seat quietly, just enough to give my brothers a nod letting them know I was okay. I stared at the bottle of wine on the table wanting so badly to take the bottle and go to the beach and just drown my sorrows while my feet were pressed firmly into the cold sand.

I heard a tiny voice snap me out of my thoughts "Penny for your thoughts?" The brunette in yoga pants and tight red t-shirt, in a side braid and flip flops asked me.

I knew we did introductions earlier but I didn't want to be rude "Need more pennys". I grabbed a drink of my water, wishing it was a gin and tonic on the rocks.

She smiled and rummeged in her purse " I got a 1.00 dollar bill." She handed it to me giggling I notice now in front of her one the table she has 3 empty shot glasses.

"Its okay you don't want to hear my problems." I flashed her my carter grin, was I flirting with her. I scolded myself on the inside. Married, stop that carter.

She rolled her eyes and slurred her speech some, It would be nice to forget mine for a night." She said as she flagged down another waiter. I only assumed it was for another shot.

She smiled she had the cutest dimple that popped up when ever she smiled her green eyes sparkling or were they glossy. 

The waiter came over and she asked for a water. " I know the answers aren't in here, if they were I would have found them a long time ago." She pointed to the empty shot glasses in front of her. She returned her attention back to the party.