Chapter Twenty-Two
Sherry stormed across the gym floor and planted her feet beside the one hundred pound boxing bag Rob was laying into. "So that's it? You're not coming?"
"Nope." Rob kept his eyes on his target. Sweat streamed down his face and arms.
"You need to come. It'll do you good." Sherry held her palms out at him, scrunched up her face and lightened her tone as she added, "To relieve some stress and all that."
"I'm relieving stress." Rob hit the bag hard, it swung on its chain and tapped Sherry's hip.
"Ah... huh," she murmured dryly. "Killing a boxing bag is relieving stress. I get it, but, I was thinking of the relaxing kind. Like having a few drinks or getting laid like your two timing bitch is probably doing right now."
Rob threw his last punch with more force. The bag jolted on the chain. He caught it on its backward swing as he glared her. "Fuck off. Right now." Rob turned his back on her and made to move towards the showers but she clamped his shoulder with her fingers.
"Wait. Sorry. That was really harsh but, Rob, she told you she was fucking someone else. Cal told us that's what you told him. He's worried about you. We all are. Especially Genevieve. You haven't spoken to her or any of us for nearly three weeks. It's time to move on."
"I really need you to fuck off." Rob spun as he ripped the boxing gloves from his hands and pinned her with his eyes. "If you hadn't posted that fucking Facebook shit none of this would have happened."
"Uh." Sherry's mouth fell opened. "You're blaming me because your girlfriend played up on you. What the fuck?"
"She hasn't and she didn't." Rob took a step closer until he looked down his chest at her. "She lied because I lied and your Facebook post is the reason she lied."
"Don't you dare fucking stand over me like that." Sherry shoved him hard in the chest so he staggered backwards. "You might be bigger than me, Rob Jarvis, but I am not that easily intimidated." She jabbed him in the ribs with each word she spoke. "You're the one who lied. You're the one she lied to. Whether she fucked someone else or not, the whole thing is a lie and you started it."
Rob grabbed her wrist and stared at her as he clenched his jaw. He couldn't speak. She was right. It was his entire fault, but he was blaming everyone around him. "I'm sorry." He loosened his hold on her adding, "I just need to be left alone. I can't move on. Not yet. I have to see her. I'm leaving early tomorrow morning."
Sherry gaped at him. "You're driving to Adelaide?"
"Yeah."
"What if she's not there? What if she's gone away for the weekend?"
"She'll be there." Rob let go of Sherry's wrist and sighed, "Sorry. I truly am."
"And if she's not, Rob. Or if she really has moved on, what then?" Sherry cocked her head at him and smirked. "We want Rob back. Our Rob." She swept her hand up and down in front of him. "Not this arsehole, piece of shit who thinks he's Rob."
For the first time in three weeks Rob smirked as he nudged his head at her. "I'll see if I can find him."
Sherry raised an eyebrow as she pointed at him. "You better, boy, or your balls will be kicked so hard that they'll be earmuffs." She turned on her heels and headed to the door. When she reached it she looked back at him and yelled, "I'll text you the address of the hotel we're staying at. You can sleep on the foldout couch."
*****
Rob looked at the clock on his dashboard as he drove through the gates of the RAAF Base. Three am. He had a ten hour drive to do the nine hundred and forty eight kilometres to get to Becky. Good Friday wasn't the best day to be on the road. Every person and their pets would be heading somewhere for the long weekend. Rob hoped by leaving early he'd miss the heavy traffic as he made his way through Melbourne to get onto the Western Highway.
He made it to Ballarat in less time than predicted according to his GPS. The trouble was he needed fuel and this was Good Friday. Rob pulled up in the drive-through of one of the big petrol chains. "Fuck." He thumped his hand on the steering wheel. The place wasn't going to open until six-thirty and it was only eight past. Rob climbed out of the car to stretch his legs while he waited.
Once he'd filled up, checked his water, oil and air, Rob washed the windscreen. He used the toilet and stocked up with snacks and drinking water so he wouldn't need to stop again until he got to Adelaide and Becky.
*****
The university campus car park was close to empty when Rob pulled up at three-forty in the afternoon. Becky's little blue car was parked in a back corner. His heart raced but he couldn't work out if it was anxiety or excitement. What the hell had he been thinking when he'd lied to her so he could have a wild weekend in Melbourne. Becky was his everything.
Rob climbed out of his car and made his way across the grounds. He took the pathway that skirted the office and lecture-hall buildings, and on, towards the accommodation pods. He glanced toward the resident car park where he'd picked up and dropped Becky off when they'd first brought her to Adelaide. The memory of their last day together put a smile on his face. They'd spent all afternoon in bed and his parents had surprised her by buying the little blue beast, as she called the car. Rob shook his head and clenched his fists at how stupid he'd been by lying to her. He didn't blame her for breaking up with him but he didn't believe a word of her reasons for doing it. He had to win her back.
As Rob followed the path, which meandered through lush gardens, he heard laughter. Something compelled him to hide in the bushes beside the trail. Becky was walking beside a tall blonde dude with dreadlocks. When they stepped off the kerb to cross an on campus road, the prick took her by the hand.
Is Rob doing the right thing going to see Becky?
Yikes! Kane taking a hold of Becky's hand. Bad timing or what??
Copyright for photo. Freepik.com
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