Katherine sat in the living room with the TV muted as she stared at her phone. Over the past two hours, she'd made nine calls to Joe and all of them had gone unanswered. Only an idiot would think he wasn't ignoring her. But then only an idiot would call him. She knew where he was, who he was with.

Only an idiot would continue to humiliate herself in this way.

She sat in silent contemplation, asking herself why she was still trying to make their relationship work. Obviously, she loved him but she never saw herself as the sort of person who could turn a blind eye to her partner's cheating. A year ago she would have insisted she'd have walked out with no regrets, now she wondered how she could have been so firm in her beliefs.

The doorbell rang and she groaned wrapping her arms around herself. The only person she wanted to be with was Joe, she certainly wasn't in the mood for company. She sat in silence, hoping whoever it was would go away but after another minute the bell sounded again, and wearily she got up thinking it might be something important.

'Hey Katie, is Joe home?' Donnie asked and her cheeks heated up as she remembered the text she'd sent him. The text she had yet to apologise for sending.

She opened the door fully and gestured for Donnie to come inside. 'Joe's gone out, no prizes for guessing where he's gone.'

Donnie frowned slightly. 'I'm sure I wouldn't know,' he said his voice lacking conviction.

Katherine scoffed. 'You don't need to spare my feelings, he's with her obviously. I'm almost surprised your paths didn't cross.' The thought made her feel nauseous.

Donnie shook his head. 'I took Shannon home last night, that's all. Someone had to get her out of that club before Danielle or Kelly pulled some sorta stunt.'

'Well aren't you the knight in shining armour,' Katherine said her voice dripping with sarcasm.

'I should go,' Donnie said turning back towards the door. 'Tell Joe I stopped by.'

'No wait.' Katherine reached her hand out and then pulled it back folding her arms. 'Don't go, I didn't mean to sound so ratty. I've got a raging hangover.'

Donnie raised an eyebrow. 'That's all.'

'How about I'm totally pissed, does that sound better?' she asked as he followed her through to the kitchen.

'I guess it depends on who you're pissed at.'

'Well obviously Joe,' she said trying not to sound sarcastic as she put the kettle on. 'He's gone to see Shannon-'

'He told you that?'

Katherine shook her head. 'No he didn't, but I know him well enough to know that's where he's gone. He didn't even try and hide it.' She let out a sigh. 'Is that a good thing or a bad thing?'

'I think it's pretty appalling,' Donnie said deadpan. 'And you're remarkably calm for somebody who says she's pissed off.'

Katherine switched the kettle off as it began to boil welcoming the minor distraction. 'I'm not calm, not at all. I guess I'm programmed not to scream and have tantrums that's all, if I thought it would make me feel better I'd be smashing plates right about now.'

Donnie held out a plate to her. 'Have you ever tried it?'

Katherine took the plate and placed it back down with a weary smile. 'No, my mom was always the plate thrower when I was growing up. Being an actress and all I think she liked to play up to the theatrical side of her personality. That's not my way.'

'Sometimes it's good to let off some steam, you should be angry Katie.'

'I am,' she insisted. 'But I need to hold it together. If I start screaming and shouting, losing control, well I don't know if I'll be able to get myself back under control. And what good would that do me? It would push Joe even further away.'

Donnie remained silent and Katherine quietly made their drinks, forgetting to ask how he took his coffee. 'What are you thinking?' she asked as the silence in the room deepened.

Donnie put his coffee down. 'I'm thinking your relationship is on life support. Why don't you pull the plug?'

Katherine winced at his words but they didn't hurt her as much as she'd have expected them to. How could they when she stacked them against everything Joe had done to her?

'It's not that easy to walk away,' she finally said looking down at her drink. She'd poured it into some tacky Valentines cup she'd got Joe one year, or maybe he'd bought it for her? She could no longer recall. 'I mean everyone has such big expectations, the wedding's still pencilled in-'

'Pencilled in?'

'Okay, the wedding is off but I have a life with Joe, a home, I don't want to lose all of this.' She waved her arm gesturing to the kitchen and she saw the corners of Donnie's mouth twitch. 'I'm serious, Joe and I have our whole future planned, one we both want. I can't believe he'd throw it away over Shannon, not when he's thought about it.'

Donnie cleared his throat. 'I can't believe you're still with him after what he's done. You're gonna trade your self-respect for a cookie cutter house.'

Katherine bristled. 'It's not literally about having a house, although yeah, I do like the fact that Joe's financially stable. I'd never have to worry where the next paycheck is coming from with him.' 

She flushed realising how mercenary that sounded, how unromantic, but growing up she knew there were times when her parents struggled because of the unpredictable nature of her mom's career. And they maybe did live beyond their means at times. That wasn't something she ever wanted to go back to.

'Katie, even if you are willing to forgive Joe, I don't think it's what he wants,' Donnie said awkwardly. 'You're setting yourself up for a fall.'

'I'm not sure how you can be so certain of that,' she said trying to make her voice sound firm. 'Shannon's not even his type, not anymore.' Donnie raised his eyebrows and she cringed. 'Okay, so what does Joe see in her then, in your opinion?'

Donnie shrugged, his eyes focused at a point past her head. 'Well they go way back,' he said and Katherine rolled her eyes. 'And Shannon lets him be who he wants to be, she understands him.'

'I understand him!' She let her anger flare up. 'And I certainly don't try and control him.'

Donnie smiled at her indulgently. 'You might not think you do,' he said and Katherine could tell he was holding in a laugh. 'But it's like Joe's dad. He had his future all mapped out and Joe went along with it. It was only when he got together with Shannon that he started questioning his dad, until then it was yes sir, no sir. Adam absolutely hated her for it.'

'Oh?' Katherine couldn't help having her interest sparked. 'I thought they were all close.'

'They are but Adam's always hated Joe being friends with Shannon, even when they were little kids. He thought it was weird.' Donnie chuckled to himself. 'He was probably scared he was gonna wind up with a gay son.'

Katherine shook her head. 'But what does this have to do with letting Joe be himself?'

'After Shannon dumped Joe he pretty much reverted back to being the obedient son. Straight As, captain of the sports team, that kinda thing. He's gone along with his dad for years. Then you come along, and you want the same kind of things for him that Adam does-'

'Don't you dare compare me to that old bastard,' Katherine hissed.

Donnie spluttered. 'I'm not comparing you, I'm just saying Joe isn't exactly the person you thought he was.'

Kat frowned, remaining silent as she contemplated his words. Intellectually she understood it but she'd never tried to control Joe, not really, he'd always been happy to go along with her plans. She wasn't some sort of Lady Macbeth figure twisting his arm.

'I hope I haven't upset you,' Donnie said awkwardly patting her arm.

'No, of course not,' Katherine said looking at his hand on her arm. Her muscles tightened as she wondered whether she should hug him or snatch her arm away.

Donnie removed his hand. 'Okay, good.'

She looked at him and she had to bite her lip to stop herself laughing out loud at her own gawkiness.

'What's so funny?' he asked but she could see a smile playing on his lips.

'I-' She stopped hearing her phone ping, Joe's name flashing on the screen. Her fingers flew the text message opening it with record speed.

Sorry, can't talk. I'm sorting out some work stuff, it's gonna take a while. I might stay over at my mom's, she wants a catch-up. Joe.

She squinted at the text, since when did Joe sign his messages off to her? And so abruptly at that. She passed her phone to Donnie, no longer caring about the humiliation.

Donnie's brows came together in a frown. 'Do you believe him?'

'About as much as you do,' she scoffed. 'But he knows I won't call his parents, for all the reasons I wouldn't tell anyone that he'd cheated. He knows me well, I'll give him that.'

Donnie grabbed her hand. 'For your own sake Katie, you have to finish with him.'

Katherine gave a slight nod of her head. 'I think that message was pretty much finishing with me, don't you?' She let out a sigh. 'He doesn't even care enough to come up with a plausible lie.'

Donnie gripped her hand more tightly. 'It would be worse if he did. Promise me you'll end it.'

'Yeah, I will.' She squeezed his hand and tried to smile. 'I need to try and salvage what little self-respect I have left. Do you fancy helping me pack?'

~~~

Thank you for reading, please consider voting.