A Woman Scorned part 1 extended preview

A Woman Scorned.

Ashely twisted her straw around in her drink. “Where is he? He told me to meet him an hour ago.” She looked at the clock above the sports bar. “James, you better have a good reason for making me wait this long.”

A young man with a torn jacket and bloodshot blue eyes walked up to her table. “Oh, hey, Ashely.” He sat down in the booth across from her. “Sorry, I’m late.”

She narrowed her green eyes. “What the hell happened to you? You look horrible.”

He laughed as he pushed his dark bangs to the side. “Oh, you know. The time with the boys ran a little late.”

She crossed her pale arms. “So instead of making the dinner date that you set up for us, you were out with “the boys.” She tapped her fingernail on the table next to her piece of chicken.

He pulled at his jacket. “I’m sorry, honey. It was a bit of a crazy night. I had to make time for both them and you.” He laid back and looked at the ceiling. “Oh, that Henry. He wanted one last beer with me before he got hitched. I couldn’t say no to that.”

“And how did this one beer for Henry lead to you being late here and looking like you were dragged out of a gutter?”

James scratched at his head. “I umm don’t really know. You know how I get when I drink. Everything happens so fast.”

“And that is why I tell you not to drink.”

He took her hands into his. “But I couldn’t say no to Henry. Today was a big day for him. You don’t just say no to your friend.”

“I don’t know. When you keep your wife waiting at a fancy restaurant for over an hour, maybe you should think about these things.”

A waiter walked up. “So, I see your partner has finally showed up, miss?”

Ashely nodded her head. “Yes.” She stood up. “I am ready to go now.”

“What!?” James shook his head. “I haven’t even ordered yet.”

She looked down at him. “I waited an hour for you. What did you think I was going to do? Just eat the complimentary pretzels?” She sighed. “This place is too fancy, and these people would kick me out if I didn’t order some real food. I am lucky they let me slowly eat my food waiting on you.”

“Look, I am so sorry. Let me make it up to you later tonight.”

Ashley brushed her red bangs to the side. “I don’t know. It is pretty late.”

He jumped to his feet. “Come on, honey. I feel terrible.”

She pushed him back. “You can start by keeping that beer breath away.” She turned her gaze at the waiter, patiently staring at them. “What do you want?”

He held out his hand. “Ehem.”

Ashely flared her nostrils. “If you think you are getting a tip, forget it. I saw you hovering around me like a buzzard. Shoo, shoo.”

He rolled his brown eyes and turned around. “I should have kicked you out of here a half hour ago.” He set the bill down on the table and walked away.

She shook her head. “Lovely gentleman.” She picked up the bill and handed it to James. “So, I think it’s only fair if we split this.”

“Excuse me?”

Ashely nodded her head. “You heard me. You kept me waiting so long I think it’s only fair.”

“But I haven’t eaten anything here. I didn’t even get their free food.” He slammed his foot onto the ground. “I am not paying a dime for this shit.” He shoved the bill back into her hands.

“You can’t just.”

James walked away. “Sorry, but I already am. See you outside, honey.”

She gripped her hands into fists. “Ughhh. What is wrong with him today.” She looked at the check in her hand. “He is lucky that I love him so much.” She walked up to the front desk. “I am this close to losing it.” She held her fingers inches apart.

A young lady greeted her at the front desk. “Hello, and how was your night here at Jerry’s Love Nest?”

Ashely sighed. “Lousy?” She set her purse on the desk.

“Oh, I am sorry. Is there something we can do next time to improve your stay? Was it the food? Was it Ivan? He can be such a jerk sometimes.”

Ashely shook her head. “It has nothing to do with your restaurant.” She handed the lady a few twenties. “It is the person I came here with.”

“Oh. Well, we can’t do anything about that.” She looked down at the money and counted the bills. “Here.” She gave her a dollar and fifty cents back. “Have a good rest of your day.”

Ashely picked her purse up and sighed. “I will try. You know it is supposed to be my anniversary. I just hope I can enjoy it.”

The lady smiled. “Well, I hope you do. Have a good night.”

Ashely turned around. “You too.” She walked out of the restaurant and into the cool evening air. “Ahh, at least the night air can’t disappoint me.” She twirled around in the dim light, a young couple giving her an awkward glance before rushing towards the restaurant entrance.

“Hey, hope you enjoy your visit.” She laughed. “They will understand how I feel someday.” She sighed.

She put her hands into her pockets and entered the parking lot. “I just hope that what I said to that young lady is true and I can recover some of this evening.” She looked up to see James by her car. “What is he doing?” He waved as she approached. “I don’t like this.”

“Hey.” He walked over. “I have been waiting for you. What took you so long?”

“I had to pay the bill you left for me.” She put her hands on her hips. “That is what took me so long.” Ashely blew her bangs to the side. “Why are you just waiting out here for me? Why not meet me at home?”

“Well. . . I have some more bad news.”

She rubbed at her forehead. “What now?”

“I lost my car.”

She threw her hands into the air. “What!”

He shrank back. “I’m sorry ok? I didn’t mean to. I was well, you know.” He twiddled his fingers. “Out of it.”

She took long deep breaths. “You are really, really pushing it right now, James.”

“I know. I’m sorry, honey. This isn’t how I should be treating you on our anniversary.” He reached out and rubbed her shoulder as she watched him with flaring eyes. “I am so, so sorry.”

She pulled away from him. “I can’t believe you did this. Ugh.” She rubbed her forehead. “Are you trying to make today a horrible, horrible day?”

“No, I promise.” The phone in his pocket began to ring.

She looked up. “What in the world is that?”

“I umm don’t know.” He pulled out his phone. “I don’t even remember getting this phone.”

Ashely rolled her eyes. “What do you remember from today?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s hazy.” He looked at the phone in his hand. “Look, I have to answer this.”

“No, you don’t. Let it go to voice mail.”

He turned around. “I have to. I’m sorry.”

He held the phone up to his ear. “Hello. This is James.”

A loud shrill voice erupted out of the phone. “James’s darling. Where did you go?”

He held his hand over the phone. “I think I hit the speaker button.”

Ashely crossed her arms. “You think?”

He chuckled. “Sorry.” He took his calloused hand off of the mouthpiece. “Who is this?”

“How could you already forget me? It’s Amy. You know your wife.”

Ashely’s eye’s shot open. “What!”

Ashely lunged at him, but he ducked out of the way. “Wife? I don’t remember getting married.”

“Oh, come on now. I have the ring on right now. Now, where did you go, lover boy? You said you were going to take care of something so you can show me around your big old house.”

Ashely formed her hands into fists. “You are dead!”

“I umm will have to call you back, Amy. I have a bit of an issue on my hands.” He hung up. “Hey, honey, I am so, so sorry.”

She pulled a heel off her foot. “You jackass.” She threw it at his head. “How could you marry a tramp behind my back on our anniversary?”

“I didn’t know what I was doing!” He ducked to avoid her shoe. “You have to believe me; I was out of it. Pooky bear.”

“Don’t you pull that shit on me?” She grabbed him by his jacket. “You are lucky I don’t kill you right here and now.”

James gulped. “What are you going to do?”

“For starters, you are going to walk home. And when you finally get back, we will figure out how to get you divorced from that tramp.” She walked over and picked up her heel.

“But it is twenty miles to our house.”

“I don’t care. You should have thought about that before getting drunk and screwing me over.” She took a deep breath and walked over to him. “And I am taking your new phone as well.”

“Hey!”

“Don’t hey me. Just be happy I don’t take your scalp.” She turned around and opened the door to her car. “Enjoy the walk home.” She slipped inside and slammed the door.

***

Ashley tapped her fingers on the wheel. “I can’t believe James. That lying cheating. . .” Her eyes widened as a giant overturned truck appeared in her headlight. “What the hell?” She slammed on the brakes. “Ahhhhhuuuugghhh!” Her head bounced off the wheel as she came screeching to a stop. “Phew. What the hell is out there?”

She unbuckled herself and pushed the car door open. “Hey. Whoever left this piece of junk in the middle of the road, come out here and remove it already.” She turned her head back and forth. “Hmm, strange.” She walked up to the truck. “Wonder Studios?” She winced as she felt something sharp crack beneath her feet. “Ugh.” She looked down to see she had just crushed a glass bottle, the blue contents oozing onto the ground. “Ughh. Gross.” Ashely looked around. “There must be thousands of these things. Hello? Is anyone going to come and get your products? They are just lying around on the ground here.”

She walked up and picked up one of the bottles. “Strange. I wonder why no one is here?” She looked at the bottle in her hand. “Wonder Studios presents Wonder Serum. Experience a new and bigger you. Produced by Vess.” Ashely sighed. “Well, I hope this stuff is some kind of alcohol as I need something to take off the edge of today.” She pulled off the cork of the bottle. “I know I shouldn’t drink and drive, but at this point, I just don’t give a damn.”

Ashely held the bottle over her head and drank it dry. “Ahh, that hits the spot.” She threw it to the ground. “But it sure doesn’t taste like alcohol.” She shivered. “In fact, I don’t really know what it tastes like.” She hugged herself as her skin started to crawl. “I hope this Vess person knows what they were doing when they made their product. Ugh, I need to get home” She turned around and walked to her car. “So, I can figure out what to do about my cheating husband.”

She slipped back into the car. “I just wish I knew what to do with James.” She slammed the car door shut. “What drunken jerk just had to go and get himself married?

He’s married to me.” She winced as her body tensed up. “Ughh, why do I feel so weird.” Her feet pressed against the sides of her heels. “Fuck these shoes.” She pulled at her jacket. “Why is everything so fucking tight all of a sudden.”

Ashely backed up. “I need to get around this damn truck.” She narrowed her eyes. “Ughh, this tightening feeling just won’t stop. Can’t anything go right today?” She took a deep breath as her nipples pressed against her blouse. “Oh fuck I feel so hot. Ugh.”

She noticed her vehicle was speeding up. “What is going on?” Her head brushed against the top of the vehicle as her foot slammed down on the gas. “Ughh. What is going on?” Ashely gripped the wheel as her knees pressed into the bottom of the dashboard, and her breasts pierced her blouse. “Ugh, make it stop.”

A car on the other side of the road honked as it swerved to avoid hitting her. “Learn to drive, you moran!” She used her elbow to break her window and extend her growing arm into the wind. “You are lucky I am having a hard time slowing down, or I would hunt you down right now.” She sighed as she felt her feet rip through her heels. “This is just not my day.” Ashely winced as she felt her feet snap both the gas and brake pedals. “Oh shit. This day just keeps getting worse and worse.” Her chair suddenly fell backward, and she used her right hand to rub her head. “Ugh fuck!”

She sat up and shook her head. “Damnit all, this car keeps shrinking.” She tried to pull her left arm back into the vehicle. “You stupid thing. I’m stuck.” Her knees began to pierce the dashboard, causing sparks to fly. “Why, of all places, did I have to get stuck in my car?”

She slammed one hand on her dashboard and the other on the side of her car. “Come on, slow down.”