Chapter 7 - tracked down

It was a long drive to Fairview, but that was where Laura’s uncle had tracked Mike down to. Having a private investigator in the family was always bound to come in useful. Laura had toyed with the idea of taking Marie with her, but something made her hesitate and decide to go alone; at least this time. If Mike was open to rekindling their romance, she couldn’t really stand in their way. She just wanted Marie to be happy again. That was why she hadn’t mentioned a thing about possibly finding his location. She couldn’t give Marie false hope. She’d never forgive herself.

Laura had spent all morning trying different places: Mike’s new apartment, his workplace and supposed friend’s house, with no luck at all. It was near dinner time when she stopped in a local diner for something to eat. Her eyes spotted him immediately, sitting at a table and temporarily alone, for another person’s jacket was draped over the back of the other chair. Whoever he was here with had clearly disappeared from the table for a short while.

“There you are!” Laura stated with a mixture of relief and irritation. “I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”

Mike pulled a face, taking a second to even recognise her. Then he huffed in his usual manner and spat out: “What are you doing here?”

“Marie is devastated. You know that? She can’t understand why you just upped and left like that?”

Mike looked like he was ready to stand up and leave, but he looked around, clearly sensing that people were starting to stare. He leaned in, lowered his voice and tried to be more discreet. “I just didn’t want to be with her anymore, okay? It’s not a crime.”

“Babe? You okay?” asked an incredibly beautiful girl, suddenly standing right behind Laura.

Laura turned and saw an immaculate and remarkably striking girl. Like Marie, her face looked as if it had been carved by angels and her physique was just as enviable: tall, toned, narrow waist and large chested. Had Mike done it again? Had he somehow got himself another stunningly attractive girlfriend? And, in just over a week?

Mike stood up, with no small amount of effort on his part. His new girlfriend’s hands slipped straight onto his enormous belly and wide butt; the fleshiest parts of his body, in much the same way Marie had always held him. The contrast between their bodies was just as shocking and Laura could sense that people were looking at them curiously, in the same way that they had when Mike was out with Marie. “Just give us a couple of minutes,” Mike smiled at the girl. “Can you order me another milkshake?”

The girl nodded reluctantly and scowled at Laura as if worried that she was trying to make a move on her man. Nevertheless, she did as she was told, heading over to the sit at the counter, eyeing them both jealously from a distance.

“So, you were cheating on Marie as well?” Laura asked accusingly as they were both left alone again.

“No, actually!” Mike spat. “I met Becky the night before last if you must know. I bumped into her in a club and knew that I had to have her.”

“Marie is going to be even more heartbroken when she hears that you’ve moved on so fast.”

Mike scoffed. “She’ll get over it. They all do...” He looked almost sorry for himself. “…I learn to not get attached.”