Flip the Switch

John sat in the back of the church as he watched the ceremony unfold. A small portion of him wanted to speak up as he heard the call for objections, but he knew it was pointless. He had his shot with Jen, but he wasn't enough for her back then and while things had changed, he wasn't going to flout his new circumstances around just to impress a woman... even if it was the one of his dreams.

Jen and Thomas exchanged rings and their self-written vows... John didn't think they would last. He knew Thomas was an ass and at least one of his recent conquests was actually standing in the bridal party. But he really didn't care. He was there because he and Jen had remained friendly and despite his warnings, she was marrying that asshole.

The kiss came and the church erupted in cheers as they acknowledged their friends and family and made their way back up the aisle. Jen caught a glimpse of John as he was grabbing his coat and heading out the side door. She wanted to catch him and thank him for coming, but he dipped out before they finished the procession.

As he was walking away from the church, John heard his name being called. He looked up and it was Thomas.

'What the hell does this guy want...' He imagined Thomas wanted to talk about warning Jen about him banging her bridesmaid.

"Thomas, congrats. Why are you out here? Shouldn't you be sweeping your bride off her feet?"

"I just wanted to thank you for not telling Jen about what happened. I know you two are friends, but that was real bro of you."

"Real 'bro' of me? Listen, I did tell her. She's my friend and you're a piece of shit. Why she still married you, I have no idea. But, not my problem."

"Wait, you told her? Why would you do that?"

"Again... she is my friend. You are not my friend. I have no duty to protect you. I could not care less about being your 'bro'."

John turned to open his car door when Thomas grabbed him by the arm, spinning him around.

"Thomas... are you sure you want to do this? Do you really want a fucked up face before your wedding photos?"

"What... do you think I am scared of you?"

There was terror behind Thomas' voice. It wasn't a surprise. John was six inches taller, probably seventy five pounds heavier, and significantly fitter than Thomas. Thomas, an accountant who worked for a large CPA firm, spent his off time playing Call of Duty... John, a former police officer, spent a majority of his time training at a local boxing gym.

"Yes, Thomas... I do think you are scared of me and you should be. Now go back to your bride... pray to anyone who will listen that she doesn't leave you in six months."

Thomas took a step forward and John immediately stepped up to him. Nose to forehead, Thomas quickly realized the stupidity in his decision. Trying to maintain the facade, he raised his hands up and pushed John on the upper chest hoping to move him backwards. But John barely registered the push and instead, Thomas ended up stepping backwards.

John tried very hard not to laugh, but couldn't help but smirk slightly. Thomas stepped backwards and eventually walked off, moving quickly through the parking lot, rubbing his hand through his hair.

"What a jackass... Six months... tops."

John climbed into his truck and checked his phone. He had six missed calls from Jen in the last five minutes, but only one voicemail.

"John, its me... look Thomas is looking for you and I am not sure what its about... Fuck, he's walking out in the parking lot... please don't do anything stupid..."

He dropped his phone onto the charging pad and pulled away. He gave Thomas a death stare as he pulled past, turning right out of the lot so he wouldn't have to wait for the light. The electric motor quickly getting him up to speed and away from that shitshow.

As he made his way back home, his phone started going crazy with text message after text message. He figured it was common friends who were trying to figure out what had happened. But John didn't care. Had Thomas not come to him with that 'bro' bullshit, he never would have talked to him, probably ever. But the audacity to try and thank him, that was just too much.

John grabbed his phone and turned it off. He had a long drive home and had no patience for any of it. He settled in and drove in silence.

Two hours later he was pulling into his space beneath the condo building. He rode the elevator up to the top floor and stepped out into the hall. Taped to his door was an envelope with only 'John' written in familiar script. It was Jen's handwriting. His neighbor must have put it there.

"God Damn You Carl!"

"Sorry John" he heard from a distance... "You know I can't say no to Jen!"

"Its fine Carl! Sorry she dragged you into this!"

John unlocked his door and stepped in, closing and locking it behind him. He dropped his keys, wallet, and phone on the counter and headed for the liquor cabinet. Reaching past the stuff he kept for company, he grabbed the bottle of Blanton's he had tucked in the back. It wasn't that John wouldn't share it... but not enough people appreciated it vs something a bit more modest in price.

Regardless, he grabbed a rocks glass, and debated pouring a heavy three fingers but he didn't. He had another plan. He sat on his leather chair, looking at a piece of art that hung in his living room. It was a painting of horses that his father had done before he had passed. A cherished possession of John's and something he felt a connection with... especially when he felt he needed advice from his dad.

After taking from the connection what he could, he grabbed the letter and tore the envelope open. It was a short note... written in her impeccably neat cursive;

'Dear John,

I am sorry for how things were left with us. I hope you know I never meant to hurt you or lead you on. While I trust you completely and understand why you told me, I wish you had never mentioned that Thomas had slept with Whitney. I am still going to marry him. I love him... and I know he loves me.

I hope you understand and will move on.

Jen.'

John paused a minute after folding the letter back up. He casually ripped the letter into four equal pieces before throwing it on the table in front of him. He grabbed his phone and turned it on, ready for the onslaught of notifications and missed calls.

Seventy seven missed text messages and fifteen missed calls. He scanned the previews of the text messages, most of them started off as 'WTF' or 'Why would you'. As he scanned he swiped to delete. He had no intention of interacting with any of these people.

But the second to last message caught his eye. 'I'm happy someone said it...' He opened the full message and read through.

'I'm happy someone said it to her. How she didn't already know what he was doing in the office is beyond me. If the copy machine was warm enough, he would have tried to stick his dick in it! The only thing you did wrong was not knock him out in the parking lot. A few of us ladies agree... a black eye in his wedding photos would have a great karma!'

John read it a few times and a smile crept across his face. He would have loved to drop Thomas in that parking lot, but he knew... in that situation, violence would have been the wrong decision.

The message came with a number attached, but he didn't recognize it. He debated responding, but figured it wouldn't make a difference if he responded today or next week when things cooled down. Plus, he knew he had places to be.

He scanned the text of all the voicemails, the only one that interested him was one from Jen's dad, Phil. Phil wanted to meet him. John listened to the message to gauge his anger, but Phil's words were very calm. He seemed more tired than anything. As if he knew what had happened... but didn't understand why. John made a mental note to call him back... and soon.