I came home exhausted, my whole body aching like I’d been carrying the weight of the world on my back. My shoulders felt like cement, my feet throbbed, and my head pounded in rhythm with my heartbeat. Work had drained every last drop of energy from me. All I wanted was to collapse onto the couch, maybe eat something, maybe close my eyes for just a minute.
But then, laughter.
It hit me like a slap, loud and careless, cutting straight through my exhaustion. My fingers clenched around my keys as I froze. From the garage.
I already knew what I’d find before I even pushed the door open. But I walked toward it anyway, my steps heavier with each passing second.
The smell of oil, sweat, and metal hung thick in the summer air, clinging to everything. And there they were—Mark, my husband, and Greg, his leech of a best friend. Hands greasy, sweat-stained shirts, bottles of beer dripping condensation onto the workbench. And, of course, the same damn car they’d been “fixing” for weeks.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, crossing my arms.
Mark barely looked up, his head still buried under the hood. “Hey, babe. How was work?”
How was work? My skin prickled at the nerve of that question. I ignored it. “Again? You’re still messing with this thing?”
Greg leaned against the car like he owned the place, that cocky smirk of his already curling at the edges. “Takes time to do it right.”
My voice sharpened like a blade. “Maybe Mark should try spending time looking for a job instead.”
That got his attention. Mark finally straightened, wiping his hands on a dirty rag like that made him look like a man who worked for a living. “I’m trying, okay? It’s not that easy.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “No, I guess spending every afternoon in the garage drinking with Greg is easier, huh?”
Greg chuckled, taking a slow sip from his beer before shaking his head. “Hey, maybe you could just work two jobs till he finds something. You’re already good at carrying the load.”
Something inside me snapped. I turned to Mark, waiting for him to say something, to tell his idiot friend to shut up, to at least pretend to have my back. But instead, he just… shrugged.
“It’s not a bad idea,” he said.
I stared at him, waiting for him to take it back. To laugh and tell me Greg was just being an ass. But he didn’t.
“Fine,” I said, my voice as cold and sharp as glass. “I’ll find another job.”
And I did.
One week later, exhaustion had settled so deep in my bones that even my thoughts felt heavy. The auto wash had drained me—hot water, strong chemicals, endless scrubbing that left my fingers raw and my back screaming. Even my days off weren’t mine anymore.
I pushed the door open, hoping for a little relief. But the second I stepped inside, I knew better.
The sink overflowed with dishes. The couch was buried under crumpled laundry. Dust clung to every surface like a thick layer of neglect. And there, in the middle of it all, stood Mark, arms crossed, his face twisted in a frown.
“No dinner?” he asked.
I blinked. I actually had to take a second, just to be sure I heard him right.
Then I laughed. Short. Sharp. Cold. “You think I have time to work two jobs and keep this place spotless?”
He exhaled through his nose, slow and deliberate, like I was the one being unreasonable. “That’s a woman’s job.”
My fingers twitched. Not a fist. Not yet. But something inside me burned.
I let my bag slip off my shoulder, hitting the floor with a dull thud. “Then do it,” I said, my voice flat, empty. “Because I’m done.”
His frown deepened. “I have plans. Greg and I—”
“Of course you do.” I cut him off, shaking my head. “You always do.”
The weight of my words hung between us. He shifted his feet, glancing away like a kid caught doing something wrong.
I stepped closer. “Promise me—if you get a job offer, you’ll take it.”
He hesitated. Just a second. Barely even that. But I saw it.
His jaw tightened. “Fine. I promise.”
I stared at him for a long moment, searching for something—guilt, regret, even the smallest flicker of sincerity.
But I didn’t see it.
It was late, and my whole body felt like dead weight. My feet ached, my hands still smelled like soap and car wax, and my eyelids drooped like they were made of stone. I kicked off my shoes and collapsed onto the couch, letting out a slow breath.
Before I could even think about closing my eyes, I heard footsteps. Mark.
“They called me,” he said.
I cracked one eye open, rubbing my temples. “Who?”
“The job. They want me to come in tomorrow. Mechanic job.”
I sat up a little, blinking away my exhaustion. “Wait—really?”
Mark crossed his arms, smug. “Yeah. Greg and I are going in together. See? You doubted me.”
I should have been relieved. Happy, even. But the way he was acting—like this was some kind of win—made my stomach twist.
I pressed my lips together and nodded slowly. “Well,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. “I hope it works out.”
The next day, the evening air smelled like car wax, gasoline, and the faint scent of burnt rubber. I stepped outside, scanning the group of new hires gathered near the garage entrance. And then I saw them.
Mark. And Greg.
Mark’s face went pale the second our eyes met. Greg, of course, took a second longer, his brows knitting together before realization finally hit. He let out a low whistle.
“You’re the new boss?” Mark’s voice barely made it past his throat.
I crossed my arms. “Looks like it.”
Greg blinked twice. “Oh. Oh.”
Mark exhaled heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. “Damn.”
I raised an eyebrow, waiting.
His shoulders slumped slightly. His voice was quieter when he spoke again. “I’ve been an idiot, haven’t I?”
I tilted my head. “You said it, not me.”
He let out a short, breathy laugh, but there was no humor in it. Just something tired, something defeated.
“I didn’t see it,” he muttered. “You—everything you’ve done. I didn’t see how strong you were. How much I took you for granted.”
Silence settled between us. Heavy. Unfinished.
Then, finally, he met my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
The words landed softer than I expected, but I didn’t rush to respond. I let them sit there, stretching out between us.
I sighed, shaking my head. “Let’s see if you mean it.”
And with that, I turned and walked back inside.