This Is What a Jealous Man Looks Like
She brought out two clear, stemmed glasses.
Aidan's was filled with hard liquor, and hers was filled with cola that looked just like red wine.
"Aidan, let's toast."
She downed her Coke while Aidan knocked back his drink in one gulp.
After a few rounds, Aidan, already a bit tipsy, began to sway.
Afraid he might pass out, Alison poured him another drink and whispered, "You saw Jack that night, didn't you?"
"How did you know?" He turned his head, his eyes hazy with alcohol.
He stared intently at her as if trying to see right into her heart.
"Alison, he's fallen for a woman who looks just like you. Did you know that?"
"But don't be sad, Alison. He probably still likes you better. That girl who looks like you is probably just a stand-in. He still likes you. Don't cry, okay?" As he spoke, he gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with his finger.
She wasn't crying; she was just lost in thought.
"I'm not crying. He just found a stand-in."
"That's right, just a stand-in. I got into a fight with him. I knocked him to the ground, and he didn't fight back. Later, he admitted it. That woman was just a stand-in for you. He was only doing it because he was lonely."
She gave a soft laugh and realized that Jack hadn't come home for three days following the incident. He'd probably gone to recover from his injuries.
Her thoughts were in disarray as she tried to piece together what had happened that night. Aidan suddenly slammed his glass down with a "thud."
"I want another drink."
Alison poured him a full glass and watched as he picked it up.
He stared blankly at the liquid in the glass for a while before saying in a low voice, "I shouldn't have gotten into a fight in front of Lucia. I shouldn't have made her worry, and I certainly shouldn't have let her know that I still care about you. But she found out anyway. When we got home, I still wouldn't admit it, so she got so angry that she went to sleep in the guest room..."
Aidan paused.
"Then she slipped and fell in the bathroom by herself. Alison, that fall set off her pregnancy complications. It's all my fault, isn't it?" He picked up the bottle and began drinking straight from the neck.
The entire bottle was soon empty.
"Lucia... don't leave me."
His whisper revealed how he'd been spending his days—doing nothing but drinking and missing Lucia.
"Aidan, you're drunk. Let me help you to the guest room to rest." Alison felt a mix of emotions, and tears slipped down her cheeks.
This was the first time she'd ever seen Aidan cry.
Her heart ached faintly.
She glanced back at Tyler, knowing deep down that she was the one who owed Lucia.
If it weren't for her, how could Aidan have gotten into an argument with Jack?
Thinking of Jack, a sudden wave of hatred welled up inside her.
"I'm not drunk. I want more to drink. Alison, pour me a drink. Where's the liquor?" Aidan staggered to his feet, intending to go to the bar.
Alison grabbed him.
"Aidan, we're out of liquor. There's some upstairs. Let me take you up there, okay?"
"Okay, let's go up. There's liquor up there." He staggered toward the stairs.
"This way...this way..."
After a struggle, they finally reached the guest room.
Alison pushed open the door and helped Aidan inside.
"I want more drinks," Aidan mumbled.
With a gentle tug, Alison guided his weight so that he settled safely onto the guest room bed.
She helped him lie down and shook her head in resignation as a pang of sadness welled up inside her.
"Okay, I'll go get you some right away." She replied, taking off his shoes and tucking him in.
Just as Alison was about to turn and leave, a series of heavy footsteps suddenly echoed through the house.
By the time she realized what was happening, the half-open door to the guest room had already been flung open.
"Alison, don't go. Stay with me. I want a drink..." As Alison stared in surprise at Jack, who had burst in, Aidan yanked her toward him from the bed, pulling her down beside him.
THUD!
She fell next to him.
His large hand rested on her waist as if to pull her into his embrace.
Alison panicked and tried to break free, but Aidan held her tightly.
His hand gripped her slender waist while he mumbled, "Alison, don't leave..."
Her mind went blank, and she was at a loss for a moment.
Was it permissible for him to have Gwendolyn but not for her to have Aidan?
She shook her head.
How could she possibly use Aidan?
No, she couldn't do that.
Someone suddenly yanked her up violently.
A large hand immediately gripped her collar tightly and dragged her toward the guest room door.
"Let go! Let go right now!" She was being dragged backward, her collar digging into her throat and making it hard to breathe.
Furious, Jack dragged the woman from the guest room to the bedroom.