Give Me Pleasure Chapter 4 Part 1
CHAPTER 4 · PART One
Give Me Pleasure
Addison
The sky looked so bright through the window of my room, painted in soft strokes of orange, pink, and purple. The clouds were wispy and scattered like someone had brushed them lightly across the horizon with a delicate hand. It was the kind of sky that made you believe in good things and promise beauty and hope.
Mom used to say that every time the sky was bright, something good was bound to happen. So, I’d been hopeful—especially with Ronald asking me on a date after so long.
But here I was, sitting on the edge of my bed, twisting the hem of my dress between my fingers. Ronald was an hour late. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, smoothing invisible creases on my dress, trying not to feel frustrated.
Maybe something didn’t go according to plan. Perhaps they promoted someone else instead of him. That would have crushed him. And yet, here I was, planning a date and feeling slightly hurt without stopping to think how he might be feeling. If he hadn’t gotten the promotion he’d been working so hard for, it would have been like pouring years of effort into a bottomless pit.
I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and dialed his number. It rang, rang, and rang again before going to voicemail. I tried two more times with the same result.
Martha's message popped onto my screen before I could dial his number for the fourth time.
How’s the date going?
I stared at the message for a moment before quickly Googling a fancy restaurant nearby and typing back a response:
It's going absolutely fine. We’re currently drinking a two-hundred-year-old wine.
I set my phone down but kept glancing at it, hoping for Ronald's call or text—something, anything.
What the hell was going on?
Another text from Martha lit up my screen.
Has he told you he loves you yet?
He promised to show me instead. 😉 I replied.
The bubbles appeared as she typed again.
Oh, on days like this, I unfortunately miss my useless husband.
I knew better. Martha didn’t have the strength to miss her ex-husband after what he’d put her through. It was just her usual sarcastic quip.
I started typing a reply, but stopped when my phone buzzed. Finally, Ronald was calling.
“Hope you’re okay, honey?” I asked, my breath catching in my chest.
“I’m okay...” His voice trailed off. Then, after a beat of silence, he added, “Actually, I’m not.”
“Why? Someone else got the promotion?”
More silence. I could practically see Ronald nodding, his usual response when he couldn’t speak.
“Shit, those people are so ungrateful—”
“That’s not why I called you.”
Of course, he cut me off. Ronald had never been the type to sit down and talk through his feelings.
“Why did you call then?” I asked, deciding not to push him. I’d press for answers when he was home, not over the phone.
“I won’t be home for a few days. We just had an impromptu business trip to Florida, and we’re heading there now.”
“This is nine minutes past fifteen, and you’re traveling to Florida at this hour?”
“Yeah. Like I said, impromptu. Had to buy the tickets at a ridiculous price.”
“They didn’t give you the promotion you deserve, but they’re sending you on a business trip?”
“That’s how real life is, honey. Cold. So freaking cold.”
His tone was calm, but something about it didn’t sit right. It felt rehearsed,d like he was holding something back.
Was he isolating himself again? Planning to bear the weight of his disappointment alone?
We were a family. Families were supposed to lean on each other, not shut each other out.
I had to do something. There was no way I would let him handle this on his own.
But what could I do?
I had no grand plan apart from figuring out Ronald’s location. If I could track him down, we could both get home and cry about this mess together.
Now, how could I get his location?
“Are you sure you can handle being there right now? I want you fine,” I asked, my voice laced with worry.
God, please be honest with me for once. Just come home.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “You just take care of yourself. I have to go now. We’re about to board the plane.”
And with that, he hung up before I could get another word in.
Frustrated, I stared at my phone, my mind racing, when Martha’s text popped up.
Hello!!! Hope you guys are not doing anything silly in that fancy restaurant.
I rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself. But then an idea hit me. Martha could help. She had a knack for sneaky stuff, and this situation called for it.
Of course, that meant admitting to Martha that the entire fancy restaurant story was a lie. Not only were Ronald and I not at a fancy restaurant, but we hadn’t even had our date—and I had no idea where he was.
I typed out a text: I have to tell you something.
Her reply came instantly. What’s it?
I took a deep breath and explained everything, leaving no detail out.
Her response was swift:
I was waiting for you to tell the truth.
My eyebrows furrowed. What the hell do you mean? I typed back.
Before I could get a response, my phone buzzed. Martha was calling.
“So you knew I was lying and just played along?” I said the moment I answered.
“You wanted to play, and I wanted entertainment.” There was a pause before she sighed. “Right, I’m sorry. That sounded horrible. So, where do you think he is?”
“I have no fucking idea. That’s why I need your help. I need to find him. I want to be there for him.”
The line went quiet momentarily, save for the faint sound of her sipping something.
“I hope it’s not what I’m thinking,” she said.
I rolled my eyes, irritation bubbling to the surface. “Martha, just because I think my husband is lying about where he is doesn’t mean he’s cheating. Jeez.”
“Okay, then. I think it’s time I tell you the truth, I know.”
My heart skipped a beat. What truth was she talking about?
“What are you on about?”
“I’ve just sent you where I think your husband is.”