"She's beautiful," Valyria said, running her hand along the Impala's fender. "You've done incredible work on her. This takes real skill and patience."
That might have been the moment I knew I was falling for her. Amanda had never once said anything positive about my car project. And here was Valyria genuinely appreciating both the car and the work I'd put into it.
Meanwhile, I was keeping up my new routine. Gym four times a week, extra projects at work, poker nights with the guys, weekends dedicated to the Impala. I was actually feeling better about myself than I had in months. I was getting in shape, making more money, and genuinely enjoying my free time instead of walking on eggshells around Amanda.
Bruno noticed the change immediately. "Damn, man. You went from looking like a kicked puppy to looking like you just won the lottery. Valyria's got you glowing like a quinceañera candle."
Amanda definitely noticed the changes. She started making comments about how I was never around anymore and asking why I was suddenly so busy, but with this entitled tone like I owed her my schedule. The irony was incredible. She was the one who wanted space to explore other people. But she seemed bothered that I was actually using my time productively instead of sitting around waiting for her.
"I thought the point of this was for us to still prioritize our marriage," she said one night when I told her I was going out. "You're acting like a single man."
"Isn't that what you wanted?" I asked.
"Not like this. You're supposed to still care about coming home to me."
Her questions about my dating life became more frequent and pointed. She wanted to know where I was going, who I was meeting, what we did together, but she'd ask in this condescending way, like, "I hope you're being safe out there." Or, "Just remember, some women are only interested in what they can get from you."