Saying I Do but I Don't

Saying I Do But I Don'tA Laugh Out Loud Romantic ComedyGenie Hermoso I dedicate this book to the following people who helped with names…… Lorraine Peck Carlyn Finke Love Labnao Sheila Rivera Lee Mayette Alburro. Contents Title PageDedicationValerie’s Hump DayJules’ Hump DayValerie’s Day After Humping DayJules’s Meet the ParentValerie’s Taco DayJules’ Tattoo DayValerie’s Change of HeartJules’ Surprise Dinner GuestValerie’s PresentationJules In the House of YesValerie’s Glee ClubJules’ ConcernValerie’s HesitationJules’ not so big DayEpilogueAbout The AuthorPraise For AuthorBooks By This Author Valerie’s Hump DayI believe that there’s always a soundtrack for every significant event in one’s life. There’s the bouncy song when you have a crush on someone. Or the cheerful song, when you're enjoying your vacation or your summer. Then there's the happy song when you’re so in love. I remember the first time I met Duncan two years ago. We were introduced through a mutual friend on a double date. It was love at first sight. I remember Colbie Caillat’s voice in my head singing 'Falling for You'. The song was all ebullient and effervescent as we stared at each other across the table all ‘googly eyed.’ His blue eyes were mesmerizing, and I couldn’t wait to run my fingers through his long wavy hair.From across the table, we started holding hands, the chemistry was palpable and undeniable. Even my friend January, who introduced us could feel the pheromones oozing from our bodies. It was undeniable and very raw. We were already playing footsie under the table even before dessert. It was no surprise that I went to Duncan’s apartment later that night and we made love like bouncy bunny rabbits. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other and so every day after we each got off work, we would meet up at either his place or mine and just make love for hours while Marvin Gaye’s song, Sexual Healing played in the background. I’ve never had so much sex in my life that I was just sore all over. I didn’t mind it because I was getting a daily workout in the best way possible, and I didn’t even have to pay for a gym membership. This intense desire for each other lasted months until it was blatantly obvious that we couldn’t live without each other. Soon, after about six months of dating each other, we made the decision to move in together.I packed up my things and moved into Duncan’s apartment in Hoboken which was convenient for the both of us, since we both worked in Midtown Manhattan. We shared the expenses, and I saved a lot of money with the rent, utilities, and other bills. It was a good arrangement. Once we reached twelve months of being together, we began talking about marriage.After a year and a half, we were talking babies and buying a house in the suburbs in New Jersey. Then it was on our second year, that the record skipped and another soundtrack began playing in the background. How about a song more melancholy? Duncan came home from a weeklong case conference for financial planners and told me he was moving to California.“What do you mean we’re moving to California?” I asked him innocently.“No, I’m moving to California.”“Okay, so when do I move to California?”“No, you’re staying here in Jersey. I’m moving without you.” Duncan was looking down at me. He was tall but somehow, I felt like he was talking to a young schoolgirl instead of an adult woman.“Is that so?” Somehow, nothing of what he said made sense to me.He was just gone for a conference and when he came back, he was a different man. He wasn’t the Duncan that I knew.“It’s a one-way trip Valerie. You’re not coming. I’ve decided to break up with you.“Why?” I tried to hold back tears. “Is it because I snore sometimes?”“No,” he answered in a stern voice.“Is it because I get mad at you when I tell you to put the toilet seat down?”“No.”“Is it because I don’t hang out with your friends as much?”“Valerie, stop with this madness. I don’t love you anymore.”“Since when?” I asked.“Since, a long time now.” Duncan’s eyes were cold.“You never loved me?”“You’re making this harder than it is. Okay? I don’t love you. I don’t think I ever did.” Duncan looked exasperated.“Oh.” I felt my heart dropped to the floor.“It’s going to happen fast. I’m not renewing the lease. You’re on your own. I can’t stay here tonight. I need to cool off.”“Where are you staying?” I asked.“It’s none of your business.” Duncan turned around and left the apartment. He slammed the door so hard; I felt the sound reverberating in my now broken heart.When he left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something he wasn’t telling me. As any suspicious woman would do, I went to his social media. I went to his Instagram page and saw an unfamiliar looking woman on his page.I started snooping around Duncan’s social media and I did notice that he had posts with a girl who was supposedly just a coworker but, in every picture, she posed extremely close to Duncan. She was a brunette just like me, but she was wearing red lipstick in all her pictures. It was a pretty shade of red which is something I could see myself wear.She was posing with him along with his co-workers, but I did notice that she started appearing on his social media feed about four months ago. That’s when I first noticed that Duncan was getting cranky with me and coming home late from work.“Aha! Got you!” I said out loud as I saw the incriminating social media post. There was a selfie picture of Duncan and the girl posing together. She was taking the selfie. They were sitting on the couch with legs touching. Her hand was on his crotch. “Co-worker my ass!”And just like that our whirlwind romance went up in smoke. So, that’s where I’m at, I just found out a few hours