Something Stinks Next Door

Tina's next door neighbors were an interesting clan and it was odd how small degrees of separation linked the interpersonal web between myself, friends, Tina and the neighbors.

Shortly after I'd stopped drinking, I met my friend Donovan after work in Farmington. I think it was around July or August 2017. We went to the establishment where I'd first met Tina so Donovan could drink some vodka-sevens while I enjoyed some cigarettes and energy drinks on the back patio of Pizza Man. I hadn't had any contact with Tina in a couple months, but I was keenly aware of how near she probably was. I missed her.

Donovan ran into a pretty young lady from his work and introduced us. "You're adorable," she said, taking my hand.

Before I could return the compliment, a slender and tallish man standing near her interjected, "That's high praise coming from her."

As the night went on, Donovan's coworker Carrie came around to flirt with me touching my arm, my hands. She was getting pretty drunk and pretty forward. I didn't know if the man she seemed to be accompanying was a date or a friend, so I was a little unnerved by the attention.

Brendan, I'd learned, worked down the block at a little bar and restaurant (or maybe it was Brandon or Justin/Dustin? - it was quite a while ago and there are a lot of men's names to keep track of in Tina's shadow). Carrie worked part time with him there in addition to the grocery store she worked at with Donovan. He'd suggested they go out for a drink at Pizza Man after work. He was older than Carrie, but I so was I and Tina was 18 years younger than me, so I wasn't judging! After some time, I ascertained that Justin was hoping to get a romantic connection going, but Carrie was plainly looking at it as a couple work buddies just getting a drink after a long day.

Things Cheaters Say

If your significant other ever says something like "if you accuse me of cheating, you're going to make me do it," I guarantee all of the following is true:

1. Break up and leave immediately. Your gut was right.
2. That person has no morals
3. That person has already cheated on you.
4. That person is definitely already planning to do it again.
5. That person is so malevolent that they are actually threatening you with infidelity to obtain your silence.
6. That person is so depraved that he or she is already planning to place the blame for infidelity on YOU when she eventually gets caught with her pants down.

That's a thought for the 3rd anniversary of the 1st time I got down on one knee for my own lying manipulative cheater.

When a cheater lies to you, it's a deliberate attempt to rob you of free will and keep you in a situation you wouldn't choose for yourself. If you knew what she was doing, you'd make other decisions that might negatively impact the liar. Maybe you wouldn't buy her things or provide that vital narcissistic supply. The lies are meant keep you under control under false pretenses and if it goes on too long it's extremely damaging, but the liar doesn't care who she hurts. Everyone else's feelings are inconsequential compared to the narcissist's own id-driven selfish desires.

That's all for now. I'll add to this later.

If your love interest often touts their fidelity, saying things like, "I've never cheated on anyone, ever," That person is a cheater and more than likely all of his or her absolute statements are absolutely the opposite of the truth.

Narcissistic cheaters give themselves away if you're paying attention. When something seems off, pay heed!