It was a Friday, almost 6pm and I was sitting at a local bar, almost finished and somewhat enjoying my 5th or 6th beer. I was at a corner table and there were a couple of other guys sitting at the bar, maybe mid 30's who looked like they were there for a beer or two after work, a woman who looked about my age (26) sitting at a nearby table nursing a drink, an old guy in the corner with a beer who looked like he didn't move from that spot often and a younger couple at a table who seemed more interested in touching, hugging, kissing and some hesitant groping than in the food they'd ordered. My best guess was they hadn't been dating long, still getting comfortable with each other and likely hadn't had sex yet. I was betting that the lady was waiting for someone because she kept looking at her watch and checking her phone. Finally, she dialed a number and while I could only hear her end of the conversation, it was an interesting one.
"Hello, is Dave there? / No? / Who's this? / What the fuck! / I'm his girlfriend! / About 6 months / Ya, we've been fucking for most of it. / Oh, 'working late' was he? / FUCKING BASTARD! / Ya, I hope so!"
When she got off the phone, she mumbled, "God Damn Fucking Bastard!" and downed the rest of her drink.
I wasn't sure if I should say anything or not but finally asked, "Sounded serious, everything ok?"
She looked at me for a second before saying, "Well, if getting stood up by your boyfriend isn't bad enough, how about calling him and having his wife answer the phone."
Oh wow, no wonder she was upset and got more upset when I laughed a bit.
"What's so fucking funny? I didn't know the shit was married and now I'm out a date and taxi fare to get home."
She looked like she was ready to throw something at me so I figured I'd better explain.
"Sorry, I think this is my 6th beer but I was planning on having a fun evening with my girlfriend, Linda. We've been living together for a few months and today I got off work early and headed home. When I got there, I found her bent over the couch getting fucked by Greg, one of the slease balls she works with."
"Fuck...ya, sounds like we're pretty much in the same boat then."
"Not exactly, the apartment is in her name and the police 'suggested' that I didn't go back there tonight."
"The police? Why were they there?"
"Well, right now he's likely getting looked at in hospital - pretty sure he's got a broken arm, gonna need some stitches on his cheek and he's got two less teeth than when he got up this morning. They said the only reason I wasn't being charged with assault was that I was smart enough to turn on the voice recorder on my phone and that showed that he was the one to yell, swear and swing first."
That at least got a smile out of her and a quick, "Well, I guess getting stood up isn't as bad as walking in on your partner getting fucked by someone else."
"Yup, plus you've got a place to go back to and I'll be grabbing a room for a few days until I can get my stuff out of the apartment and find a new place."
We shared a quick look of mutual understanding and both of us ordered a new drink. Just as the drinks got there, a guy came up to her table and said, "Sorry I'm late, got held up at work."
"Really? Held up a work? You didn't answer any of my emails so I finally called you and guess what? I ended up talking to your wife - YOUR FUCKING WIFE!"
I could see the colour in his face change to white and then go a flushed red. Instead of the stammered excuse or apology I was expecting, he looked at her and said, "You called my fucking phone? I told you that was my work phone and never to call me on it."
"Ya, your 'work' phone and pretty sure I was talking to the 'boss' just a little bit ago and I wouldn't be surprised if you get 'fired' from your position."
He stepped forward, raised his hand and started to swing at her so I grabbed his wrist, twisted it around, down and back so that he ended up face down on the table with his arm painfully held behind him. He tried to get up so I applied a bit more pressure that quickly got him to stay still.
"Look asshole, maybe this just isn't my night but earlier I found out my girlfriend was fucking around on me and put one guy in hospital. The police were pretty understanding but I'm not so sure what they'd say if I sent a second guy to hospital the same night - but if you even look like you're going to hit her, I'm perfectly willing to take that chance!"
I'm not a particularly big guy, but I'm in pretty good shape and had taken martial arts so wasn't really worried about anything he might do.