Page 13 of Scarred Temptation

At least he had the common sense not to try to deny the affair. “I’m sorry, Izzy. I really am. It just happened.”

Right. Like every STD in existence.

“Whatever. I just can’t do this any longer. No, that’s not correct. I won’t deal with your lies and laziness, your penchant for using whoever is close to you. Never again. Just go.” He still didn’t seem to be getting the message, so I went to the front door, throwing it open and pointing into the hallway.

“You’re really going to give up on us?” His big brown eyes held a moment of sadness. I’d fallen hard for those eyes all the way across a bar during a winter storm. For a little while, our relationship had been amazing.

Until it hadn’t been.

“You gave up on us a long time ago.” I kept a determined look on my face, now thankful I hadn’t fallen into the trap of allowing him to move in with me. I couldn’t imagine how difficult everything would be right about now.

In a move so very much like what I’d become used to with him, he grabbed his jacket and the bag of items, storming out. “You’re going to regret this, Izzy. You’ll come crawling back. I know you will.”

Perhaps I’d been done a long time ago because I found it easy to laugh. “Let me give you a tip. Don’t hold your breath.”

As soon as he’d cleared the landing, I slammed the door and pumped my fist. I’d held fast to the promise I’d made myself late the night before.

No longer would I settle for seconds from anyone. Not in my profession. Not with my friends. And especially not from a man.

I leaned against the door, half expecting him to knock, truly believing I’d forgive and forget.

Thankfully, I heard footsteps and was finally able to breathe again.

Even so, I walked to the window of my apartment, peering out at the street while the beautiful afternoon sun cast a golden haze across the tree-lined street. Steve couldn’t keep a decent job, but he’d maintained his beloved Cougar. Oh, no, she remained washed and polished at all times.

As he drove it away, the relief turned into a strange sense of loneliness and that angered me more than the personal pain suffered by feeling so utterly stupid.

“No, Izzy. You will not stoop to that level. You are much stronger than that.”

I turned around, reminding myself I’d taken the afternoon off for all the wrong reasons. Why in the world had I used any precious time for him? At least tossing him to the curb hadn’t taken as long as I’d thought. As soon as I glanced around my living room, I resisted going for a glass of wine.

Why not a nice long walk instead? That was exactly what I would do. Fresh air should help get me out of my funk. Maybe after that I could mentally toss him aside just as I’d done physically. Late summer in Charleston was almost always stifling, making afternoons mostly intolerable, but a cold front had swept across the low country, the air almost crisp in the light breeze.

Fall would arrive soon enough, my favorite time of year. Perhaps the change in seasons was a sign from the gods I’d made the right decision.

I headed into my bedroom, throwing on my running shoes instead of my flats. I’d already changed clothes after a grueling morning at work, my comfy jeans exactly what the doctor had ordered.

After tossing my keys in my fanny pack, I headed out, jogging down the stairs until I reached the sidewalk. As usual, the street was busy with activity, the location not only holding residential units but also corner bars and restaurants. I’d fallen in love with this part of the Charleston from the day I’d come to take a look at the vacant apartment.

Every apartment in the historic area reflected moments from the past. With high ceilings, decorative fireplaces, and the original heart pine floors, the aging buildings were a mecca for eclectic tastes, especially artists and musicians. Music could be heard eighteen hours a day, jazz and classic rock competing with the softer strains of classical music.

I felt an intoxicating sense of autonomy here. A lone woman wandering through the layers of someone else’s history, completely anchored in my own present. There was a quiet perfection in the air, a fleeting late-summer magic that felt poised on a knife edge, urging me to soak in the warmth before the autumn winds arrived to sweep it all away

With the rent being reasonable, the area considered safe, I’d found immediate happiness and a place to call home. The light breeze accentuated the rich scents of coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon from my favorite bakery where I’d spent way too much time and money dreaming about the future. With more spring in my step than I’d expected, I headed to one of my favorite places, which was only a few blocks away.

The private elementary school had the most gorgeously landscaped grounds of anywhere I’d seen in Charleston, the pristine area located just beyond the playground. When the school was open, the gates were as well and while there were security guards, they’d never stopped me from enjoying some time by the koi pond or the massive mermaid fountain, which the kids adored.

The area was peaceful, a respite in an otherwise busy part of town.

I picked up my step, feeling freer than I had in a very long time. Maybe losing the heavy weight had helped make my steps lighter.

By the time I reached the gates, at least one class of students was getting out for the day. They were so adorable in their uniforms, the boys in their staunch khakis and blue blazers while the girls wore checkerboard skirts, crisp white shirts, and the same way too large jacket. All with the school’s emblem sewn on the breast in gold.

They appeared so grown up, their eager faces a tiny reminder of the girl I’d once been.

All were chattering as limousines and Beamers, Mercedes, huge SUVs, and even a couple of Ferraris were waiting to whisk the children back to their posh homes.

While a few parents made the trip themselves, there were also several nannies and what I suspected were butlers.