I'm looking for a story but have no idea about the title or author. I'll summarize it below in case it rings any bells:
James (aka Jim) and Mark (a bit hazy on the best friend's name but I think it was Mark, because isn't always?) are best friends in high school and decide to not go to college after school but do vocational training instead. Wisely, they use freely available Federal data to determine what trade is highest paid + most in demand in their area and discover that they should learn plumbing. They do the program and graduate, then convince an elderly plumber guy to take them on as apprentices. Eventually he sells them the business and retires. They go on to build it up into a very successful enterprise. Mark got the money to purchase his part of the business from his parents as a one time gift, but James' parents didn't have that kind of cash available so they co-signed on a loan for him instead. Worried about the debt hanging over his head, James works like a maniac to earn the money to pay off the loan. Meanwhile, Mark is more of a 9 to 5 kinda guy and thinks James takes things too seriously.
When they were in high school, Mark briefly dated a girl named Kate, but they didn't really vibe so it ended quickly. However, in the short time the two were dating James and Kate hit it off in a big way. After the break up James asks Mark permission to ask out his ex, which Mark readily grants after James has to remind him who Kate was (Mark is real popular with the ladies and he's like 3 girls past Kate already.) James and Kate start dating, become very happy, and quickly marry after Kate graduates (I think she was one year behind them, so she was finishing high school while they were learning to be plumbers.) James is the man of Kate's dreams and she is totally in love and committed to him. Her only "career" ambition is to be his wife, get pregnant with a million children and be a homemaker. As a side note, James normally goes by "Jim," but Kate's dad is also, "Jim," so to avoid confusion Kate's plumber-guy husband becomes, "James," while her dad remains, "Jim."
James is obsessed with the stupid loan he took, and works long hours. Kate needs to work in order to help with finances since James uses as much of his income as he can to make loan payments. Kate works as an assistant for a slimy lawyer that she hates, and when he starts coming on to her strongly she complains to James. Distracted by work and his obsession over the loan, James simply asks if she can handle it, and when she says yes he proceeds to ignore the situation. Kate begins to become unhappy. She keeps asking to quit her job and let them start a family but because James is a dip shit obsessed over a damn business loan he keeps saying they need to wait just a little longer. Kate descends into the depths of depression. The physical intimacy between Kate and James decreases to almost nothing. Because he has blinders on regarding what the real problem is (that fucking loan,) James tries to cheer her up and be understanding but nothing really works. Eventually she cheers up and starts becoming amorous again without any warning. In fact, their sex life goes into overdrive and she starts doing sex stuff he's never seen before.
Confused and a little worried, James talks to his best friend Mark about the situation, revealing his fears that Kate might be cheating. Mark is surprised at this given the strength of the romance between his two friends, and assures James that there is no way in hell that Kate would cheat on him. When James derisively mentions that "somebody" is teaching Kate a bunch of new tricks that are disgusting and perverted, he accidentally notices that Mark gets insulted and his face momentarily becomes angry for a split second. At this point James realizes that he doesn't have to worry about what one of the two most important people in his life is doing behind his back...he actually has to worry about both of them. Deciding to confront the situation head on, James sets a trap by telling Kate he has an out of town job and won't be home until late. He then leaves a message at work for Mark saying the same thing (since its well before 9 in the morning and 9 is the absolute earliest that Mark ever shows up.) He then drives to the other side of town, has a long, leisurely breakfast at a cafe, then goes home attempting to catch the two of them in the act.
James finds them sitting at opposite ends of the couch, not touching, and there are tons of used tissues littering the floor and coffee table because Kate has been crying her eyes out. They are shocked to see him but both immediately try to explain what is happening although unfortunately it mostly comes across as, "it's not what it looks like." James won't have it and goes nuclear. He kicks Mark's ass and throws him outside and makes Kate pack a bag then kicks her out to so that she can go live with her lover, Mark. Both Mark and Kate make numerous attempts to explain what is going on to him in the aftermath, but he will not listen. At one point Mark approaches him again to try to talk to him and ends up getting his teeth knocked out. After the divorce Kate moves in with her parents and ultimately ends up in the hospital since she refuses to eat. Complicating matters is the discovery of her pregnancy (by James) and the danger not just to her but to the baby from malnutrition.
Obviously there is more to the story, but I think that's enough info for someone to recognize it. The story is infuriating (fuck James for real,) and is notable to me for being the very first time I ever sympathized with the betraying spouse and wanted to reach into the story and choke the living shit out of the betrayed husband. Another person I know also read the story and the first thing she said to me was, "I can't finish it...I just hate James' dumb ass too much to continue."
Please help.
James (aka Jim) and Mark (a bit hazy on the best friend's name but I think it was Mark, because isn't always?) are best friends in high school and decide to not go to college after school but do vocational training instead. Wisely, they use freely available Federal data to determine what trade is highest paid + most in demand in their area and discover that they should learn plumbing. They do the program and graduate, then convince an elderly plumber guy to take them on as apprentices. Eventually he sells them the business and retires. They go on to build it up into a very successful enterprise. Mark got the money to purchase his part of the business from his parents as a one time gift, but James' parents didn't have that kind of cash available so they co-signed on a loan for him instead. Worried about the debt hanging over his head, James works like a maniac to earn the money to pay off the loan. Meanwhile, Mark is more of a 9 to 5 kinda guy and thinks James takes things too seriously.
When they were in high school, Mark briefly dated a girl named Kate, but they didn't really vibe so it ended quickly. However, in the short time the two were dating James and Kate hit it off in a big way. After the break up James asks Mark permission to ask out his ex, which Mark readily grants after James has to remind him who Kate was (Mark is real popular with the ladies and he's like 3 girls past Kate already.) James and Kate start dating, become very happy, and quickly marry after Kate graduates (I think she was one year behind them, so she was finishing high school while they were learning to be plumbers.) James is the man of Kate's dreams and she is totally in love and committed to him. Her only "career" ambition is to be his wife, get pregnant with a million children and be a homemaker. As a side note, James normally goes by "Jim," but Kate's dad is also, "Jim," so to avoid confusion Kate's plumber-guy husband becomes, "James," while her dad remains, "Jim."
James is obsessed with the stupid loan he took, and works long hours. Kate needs to work in order to help with finances since James uses as much of his income as he can to make loan payments. Kate works as an assistant for a slimy lawyer that she hates, and when he starts coming on to her strongly she complains to James. Distracted by work and his obsession over the loan, James simply asks if she can handle it, and when she says yes he proceeds to ignore the situation. Kate begins to become unhappy. She keeps asking to quit her job and let them start a family but because James is a dip shit obsessed over a damn business loan he keeps saying they need to wait just a little longer. Kate descends into the depths of depression. The physical intimacy between Kate and James decreases to almost nothing. Because he has blinders on regarding what the real problem is (that fucking loan,) James tries to cheer her up and be understanding but nothing really works. Eventually she cheers up and starts becoming amorous again without any warning. In fact, their sex life goes into overdrive and she starts doing sex stuff he's never seen before.
Confused and a little worried, James talks to his best friend Mark about the situation, revealing his fears that Kate might be cheating. Mark is surprised at this given the strength of the romance between his two friends, and assures James that there is no way in hell that Kate would cheat on him. When James derisively mentions that "somebody" is teaching Kate a bunch of new tricks that are disgusting and perverted, he accidentally notices that Mark gets insulted and his face momentarily becomes angry for a split second. At this point James realizes that he doesn't have to worry about what one of the two most important people in his life is doing behind his back...he actually has to worry about both of them. Deciding to confront the situation head on, James sets a trap by telling Kate he has an out of town job and won't be home until late. He then leaves a message at work for Mark saying the same thing (since its well before 9 in the morning and 9 is the absolute earliest that Mark ever shows up.) He then drives to the other side of town, has a long, leisurely breakfast at a cafe, then goes home attempting to catch the two of them in the act.
James finds them sitting at opposite ends of the couch, not touching, and there are tons of used tissues littering the floor and coffee table because Kate has been crying her eyes out. They are shocked to see him but both immediately try to explain what is happening although unfortunately it mostly comes across as, "it's not what it looks like." James won't have it and goes nuclear. He kicks Mark's ass and throws him outside and makes Kate pack a bag then kicks her out to so that she can go live with her lover, Mark. Both Mark and Kate make numerous attempts to explain what is going on to him in the aftermath, but he will not listen. At one point Mark approaches him again to try to talk to him and ends up getting his teeth knocked out. After the divorce Kate moves in with her parents and ultimately ends up in the hospital since she refuses to eat. Complicating matters is the discovery of her pregnancy (by James) and the danger not just to her but to the baby from malnutrition.
Obviously there is more to the story, but I think that's enough info for someone to recognize it. The story is infuriating (fuck James for real,) and is notable to me for being the very first time I ever sympathized with the betraying spouse and wanted to reach into the story and choke the living shit out of the betrayed husband. Another person I know also read the story and the first thing she said to me was, "I can't finish it...I just hate James' dumb ass too much to continue."
Please help.
