'Some people enter into marriages for all the wrong reasons. I think Angie might be right in wanting to hold onto her marriage with Evans if she isn't ready because maaan!'
"I doubt it, but if you say so, who am I to say otherwise?" Karen said, attempting to create humor. Her parents' marriage was good, and so was her brother's.
She only heard of bad marriages from others and had never experienced any. What could she say?
The night Carey had called Karen during her date with Sam, Carey had minutes before had a serious argument with Liz, who ended up walking out of Carey's house, vowing to never return and to destroy his life completely.
They had just gotten home, though at different times. Liz didn't talk much. She prepared their food, set it on the table, and started eating without informing Carey, who was in the living room, that dinner was set.
"You've been so quiet today," Carey asked, making an observation.
"There isn't anything to say," Liz replied, eating.
"Oh, maybe," Carey answered, serving himself. He thought he would eat in the living room instead.
He carried his food and had barely walked out of the dining room when she asked her question.
"Are you still with her?" Liz asked Carey.
"What are you talking about?"
"Karen. Didn't you say you ended things with her, for good?" Liz asked.
She was so annoyed, and Carey thought that she could beat him up anytime if she wanted to.
"No. I only talk to her because of my son. Nothing more," Carey said.
"Then why do you call me by her name at times, especially when we're talking about something so happy?"
"I told you it was a mistake? Are you still holding onto that? Are we going to have this conversation again?"
"Yes. It would be understandable if it happened once, but it has over and over, so I want to know what I really mean to you," Liz said. "Why are you pretending to be out of love with her? Distance alone doesn't make people break up."
"Well am not people, I am Carey, and distance made us break up. She isn't willing to come back to New York. What am I supposed to do? Carry her in a bag and bring her here?"
"Are you using me to forget about her?"
"I didn't say that. You did. Plus, I didn't ask you out. You came to me. I don't even know you, and you are the one who has been pursuing me. It is you who might be using me to get over someone," Carey said.
"I have emotionally invested a lot in this relationship that I cannot take such disrespect," Liz said.
"Then fucking leave. Who is tying you here? It's definitely not me. I am okay with or without you. Leave if you think I am not worth you. I am disrespectful and such," Carey shouted.
It then seemed like a shouting competition had ensued because no one was no longer listening to the other.
Liz turned physical and started throwing whatever her hands could get on, and Carey did the same. The scene was like that of madmen.
Neighbors heard the noise and knocked on the door, and the two suddenly stopped fighting.
"I'm leaving, but you will pay for this. If you don't, then I am not Liz Cullen," Liz said, going into the bedroom and packing up her clothes in her suitcase.
Liz had always heard Ken talk about Carey and how devoted he was to his girlfriend and kid and that he was bored with his girlfriend being away.
That had been the type of man she wanted for herself, one who would be devoted to her.
Ken inviting Carey over for a drink had been a plan. They had gotten him drunk, and Liz could then make her move by pretending to help.
When she had seen Carey, she had thought he was more handsome in person than he was in pictures.
It was like love at first sight, and she had foolishly tried to assert her position in his life.
What she didn't know was that Carey honestly loved Karen and that he had only been avoiding her because of the guilt he had as a result of cheating.
With Liz gone, Carey felt his life was empty. He had called Karen but was disappointed to hear a male voice beside her.
The following morning, he got out to find his favorite car vandalized.
He got to work late since he had to use a Uber, whose driver chose to use a route full of traffic so that he charges more.
As if that wasn't enough, his colleagues looked at him strangely, and even Ken wouldn't talk to him.
It's only when he got behind the teller's desk and looked straight before him that he knew why.
There was a large manila paper with the writing:
'Carey Smith is a cheat. He used me. Avoid him like a plague.'