Only to find out that he had run to Sara’s aid. She needed help moving her couch in the opposite direction in her room. And even though Jared had men he could send to do the work, he chose to go by himself.
I tried to put the thought aside.
Today is my birthday. Surely, Jared wouldn’t leave me for his former High School Lover, right?
It was like the universe heard my question because a notification on social media about a viral live video popped into my phone.
The caption read: Sara Morelli Written in Fireworks.
Jared’s former love was now an international model loved by all so it made sense that her video was on social media.
I clicked the video, and the first sight cut my heart in two.
It was my birthday, but my boyfriend was on a cruise ship holding hands intimately with Sara.
I didn’t know whether to cry or to bash my head against the wall.
Here I was on my birthday, alone in my small apartment with all the windows shut because Jared had insisted on privacy as part of his mafia protection, but in public view he was holding the hands of another woman and pointing into the sky.
My heart twisted even more as I watched him laugh at something she said. What could be so funny?
The fireworks exploded again. Truly, her name was written with fireworks.
Jared had never performed such a large gesture for me.
He always just told me to be grateful for what I had because many women also wanted him.
He was right about those many women. Sara was the chief of them all. She always found new ways to insert herself between us, especially when she knew that Jared and I were to be together.
I watched him lean towards her and whisper into her ears.
I decided that I had enough and called his phone.
He didn’t pick until the third call. “Ashley, why do you want to blow up your phone?”
“Excuse me for interrupting your very private date.” I was as sarcastic as I could manage without sounding rude.
“I’m busy at work.” Jared said.
Before, I would never have doubted him if he said he was busy at work, but now, I think he sees me as a fool, hoping that I would never find out about him and Sara.
“I can see how busy you are. And maybe when you’re done, you’ll propose to Sara with fireworks too.”
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“If you don’t want me to call you worse, tell me where you are right now?”
“I’m at work. I could get shot for fuck’s sake. Calm down.” Jared yelled at me over the phone.