Get Somebody New Read Free

learn she can’t do it.”
    “I just need
to keep from making her mad.”
    “Alton do you
hear yourself? You can never keep from making an abuser mad. They will just
slap the shit out of you because the sun is shining. I love you and I don’t
want you to get hurt trying to love someone who doesn’t feel the same.”
    “I hear you
Zeke. If I just understood why? I’ve been the best husband I know how to be.”
    “Alton you
keep thinking it’s you. It’s not you.”
    “Zeke if I do
leave her, can you imagine what she will do?”
    “Yes, she’ll
take care of her damn self.”
    “Looks like I
have some decisions to make.”
    “You are
coming to my house. You need time to think.”
    “Thanks Zeke.”
    Rachel
    I met Elias
my junior year of college in a sociology class we took together. I had seen him
around campus a few times but didn’t know anything about him. One day I was
walking out of class without paying attention and ran into what felt like a
brick wall. The wall turned out to be Elias’s chest.
    “Why don’t
you let me carry those for you pretty lady?”  He asked as he gathered my
books.
    “Thanks, but
you don’t have to do that.”
    “I want to.
Plus, it’s a perfect excuse to finally talk to you, since I’ve been admiring
you from afar.”
    “Why haven’t
you said anything?”
    “I didn’t
want to take a chance on you crushing my little feelings.”
    “I would have
let you down easy.”
    “Really? See
I was right.”
    “I’m just
kidding. I am Rachel Sanchez. What’s your name?”
    “Elias
Richards and if you aren’t doing anything this weekend I really would like to
take you out.” He said in one breath.
    “I am free
this weekend. I accept. Here is my number.”
    “Great! I
will call you later tonight.”
    “Okay, I’ll
look forward to it.”
    He was very
good looking at 6’3”, 220 pounds, with brown eyes, sandy brown hair, a killer
smile, the body of a gladiator, and the prettiest buttery golden-brown
complexion I’d ever seen. If I’d known then what I know now, I would have high
tailed my ass into the nearest hills without looking back. He is the most
neurotic, paranoid person I’ve ever seen and takes OCD to a whole new level. He
insists that the canned good labels in our cupboard face forward at a 90-degree
angle from the right. His bath water must be exactly 96 degrees and he actually
uses a thermometer to check the damn temperature! His pants must all hang at
exactly the same length, in order by color, and alphabetized by designer. Initially
his generous charm distracted me from focusing on his mental issues.
    He soon
became moody and soon the 2 and 3 A.M. ranting sessions began. In his last
episode Elias awakened me and started his rant.
    “Rachel you
need to change your diet. You haven’t been drinking enough water. You are
gaining weight.”
    “Anthony
Elias Richards! I know well and damn good you did not just wake me up in the
middle of the night just to tell me some bullshit like that! I am going back to
sleep.”
    “My wife can’t
be fat and sloppy. I want you to sign this contract. I’ve made your diet for
the next month. You are to adhere to this strictly and do not eat anything not
listed here. Also, by signing, you agree not to gain more than 1 pound in any
single month. I will check your weight to make sure.”
    The look on
my face was priceless. I turned over and put the covers over my head trying to
ignore him. He shook me continuously until I acknowledged him then continued
his incessant babbling. When I took all I could take, I grabbed the “contract”
he’d written, slapped him across his big dumb head with it, grabbed my pillow
and all the bed covers, and went into the guest bedroom.
    I tried to go
back to sleep but Elias repeatedly called my name as loudly as he could. His voice
began to get louder and louder. “Oh shit, he is coming in here” I thought. I
ran to lock the door, but he had already reached it. He was standing in