How had things gone so wrong? When had Henry become the bad guy? Why were things so complicated? Marley didn’t want to look at Henry’s smug face anymore. She just wanted to snuggle into Trevor’s arms. Just being near Trevor, smelling his cologne would make Marley feel better. Marley didn’t say any snide comments or make an epic last statement to Henry. She wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. Instead, she just said, “I’ll see you at work on Monday.” And then, she left. Henry didn’t even try to stop Marley and Marley didn’t look back at Henry. The past was past. All Marley wanted to do was look to her future. Hopefully, that future would be with Trevor.
Marley got into her car, sitting there for a moment, wiping the tears from her eyes. She started the ignition. Marley just wanted to see Trevor. It was late, dark, and rainy, but Marley didn’t care. She was going to see Trevor right then, no matter how crazy it seemed. When Marley finally got to Trevor’s house, she pounded on his door of his apartment, knocking as loudly as she could. The neighbors were probably going to be angry, but Marley had no remorse. Trevor was worth making a scene. Marley needed him to hold her. She needed to finally kiss him without Henry looming over her shoulder.
Trevor opened the door. “Marley, what are you doing here?” Trevor said, yawing. He was in boxers and a white t-shirt with a striped robe that he had quickly thrown on upon hearing the loud knocking at his door. He looked at his phone. “It’s nearly midnight.”
Instead of saying anything, Marley pulled his lips to hers, kissing Trevor sweetly. Trevor pulled away. “Marley, we can’t.”
“I broke up with Henry.”
Then, Trevor grinned cheekily, “Then, I guess you better come in. I don’t think we should do this in front of the neighbors, who you’ve managed to wake up. They’re already annoyed with you. No need to make them angrier with our PDA.”
Marely shrugged, “Maybe they’d like the show.”
Trevor laughed. “I don’t think so, Marley.” He said, gently pulling Marley through the doorway. Trevor grinned broadly. “Tonight, you’re all mine.” He said, winking. He hadn’t said it possessively. Trevor wasn’t a possessive guy. Instead, he said it in a way that made Marley feel special. She had only just shown up at his doorstep, but Trevor already made Marley feel loved. With Trevor, Marley didn’t have to change what she liked. She didn’t have to stop going to the movies or the carnival. Marley could just be herself. She didn’t feel like she needed to impress Trevor. Trevor loved Marley just as she was.
Marley looked at the clock and watched as the big hand overlapped with the little hand. It was midnight and the dawn of a new day. It was a better day; a day where Henry would no longer stand in Marley’s way. Never again would he try to control what she liked and who she saw. Marley didn’t think about Henry, though. She had Trevor and that’s all that mattered in that moment. Laying in his arms made Marley’s heartache disappear. She didn’t miss Henry. Henry was in her past, but Trevor was in her future. Marley remembered the day she had first talked to Trevor as he had bagged the groceries, gracefully making a fool of himself. She had laughed at him and he had laughed at himself. While Henry seemed like the ideal boyfriend, he was jealous and controlling. With Trevor, Marley could be her own person. With Trevor, everything felt right. With Trevor, everything was so easy. From the moment Marley first laughed with Trevor, she should have known to choose paper, not plastic.