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Who's using Steve's toolbox?!

My builder boyfriend was always on the job - so I did some digging myself...

Published by: Dawn Murden and Paul Carter
Published on: 7 February 2013

There was a trail of mucky footprints going through the hallway.
I sighed as I followed them into the kitchen where I found my bloke in paint-splattered overalls. He was covered in dust and smelled of a hard day's work.
‘Steve,' I groaned. ‘How many times have I told you? Don't wear your work boots in the house!'
‘I'll make it up to you,' he winked. ‘Fancy spag bol for dinner tonight?'
Steve, 29, worked hard as a painter, decorator and builder. Yet every evening he'd still cook dinner for me and the kids, Chloe, nine, Connor, five, and two-year-old Lacey. And he washed up, too. Then he'd bath the kids and put them to bed. He was such an amazing daddy to them.
Although we'd been on and off for six years, Steve had really pulled himself together over the past year.
‘I'll stop going out with my mates,' he'd vowed. ‘I'll make more effort.'
He was certainly living up to his promise. Every evening he'd cuddle me on the sofa while
he let me watch a girly film. Then he'd sweep me off to bed - and I had no complaints there, either. Steve was very attentive. Our sex life was hot and steamy.
Our relationship had been given the fresh lick of paint that it needed.
‘You two seem really happy,' my best friend Sammy, 25, grinned when she popped over for a cuppa one day.
‘We are,' Steve said, giving me a big hug.
Me and Sammy had been friends for five years and did everything together. Steve really made the effort to get along with her, too. She didn't drive, so he'd often take her food shopping in his work van.
A few days later, that's exactly what me and Steve were doing together when he mentioned he was thinking of joining the gym.
‘Really?' I teased, pinching his bicep.
‘My mate Pete can get me a good deal,' he said. ‘I'd like to beef up for you, too.'
He was trying to sex himself up, well how could I say no!
Soon, he'd started going twice a week. A few months later, he was there nearly every day. When he wasn't at the gym, he'd work late.
I didn't like to say anything, but I didn't feel the gym was worth it. He hadn't exactly bulked up very much!
‘Shall we take the kids to the cinema on Saturday?' I asked him one morning.
‘Oh no, sorry, I can't,' Steve said. ‘There's a new class on at the gym and I want to try it out.'
‘Alright, suit yourself,' I shrugged.
Sensing I was annoyed, he leant across and gave me a hug.
‘Well, how about a carvery on Sunday?' he said, kissing me.
‘That would be lovely,' I grinned.
Come Sunday, I'd just done up the zip on my coat when Steve walked into the room, talking on his mobile.
‘No worries, I'll be right there,' he said, shooting me a look before hanging up.
‘I'm sorry, love,' he said. ‘But I've got to go and price up a job.'
‘What about our dinner?' I moaned.
‘He's only there today, it's an expensive job,' he said. ‘I'll be back as soon as I can.'
Moments later, he'd rushed off. Fed up, I got straight on the phone to Sammy.
‘It's like he doesn't want to spend time with us anymore,' I grumbled.
‘Don't worry,' she said. ‘He's mad about you.'
‘Hmm, I hope so,' I sighed, hanging up.
Later that night though, he got really funny with me when I tried to take his gym bag off him.
‘I'll wash it myself,' he said.

‘Don't be daft,' I pushed. ‘Your gear's been lying in your bag since yesterday.
‘Fine,' he said, finally passing the bag over to me.
But when I took the clothes out, there wasn't a spot of sweat on them. I wanted to ask him about it but knew that I'd sound like I was nagging.
Sammy will know what I should do.
‘So you think he's having an affair?' she asked me on the phone a few minutes later.
‘Yes,' I gulped.
‘Let me talk to him,' she said. ‘I'm sure it's nothing, but I'll do some digging for you.'
So we decided that Sammy would pretend she needed her skirting boards done. When
I told him, Steve was grateful for the extra work.
‘Make sure you give her mate's rates,' I joked.
Well, it certainly seemed like Sammy was giving him a good grilling because three hours later, Steve still wasn't home. I rang both their phones but there was no answer.
Concerned, I popped over to Sammy's house. After knocking on the door, her housemate Mandy answered. She seemed a little startled to see me.
‘Is Steve here still?' I asked.
‘He's been and gone,' she said, but I sensed she was a bit on edge. ‘Sammy's upstairs getting ready to go out.'
‘Okay,' I said, walking past as if to go up the stairs.
‘But she's running late,' Mandy said, trying to step in front of me. ‘Maybe you should...'
‘Don't be silly,' I laughed.
As I headed up the stairs, Mandy took it upon herself to shout up that I was there. Why did she want to do that?
Walking in her room, Sammy was nowhere to be seen. But on her bed there was a pile of clothes.
Hang on a minute... was that Steve's white shirt?
Heart hammering, my eyes darted about the room. Then I heard something move beneath her bed. Leaning down, I went to pull out the huge storage drawer underneath Sammy's bed. But it was heavy...
‘What the hell is going on?!' I shrieked, jumping back.
Huddled together, naked, were Sammy and Steve! My boyfriend and my best mate...
‘How could you do this?' I screamed, running out of the house in tears.
I'd confided in Sammy about Steve, yet all along she'd been the other woman he'd been getting it on with! He hadn't been looking at her skirting board, instead he'd got into her skirt!
Tears tumbled down my cheeks as I raced back home.
I imagined all the times they must have been at it together behind my back. Now I knew why he hadn't been bulking up at the gym. He'd been getting a different kind of workout -
with her!
Furiously throwing Steve's things into bin liners, I chucked them outside.
Minutes later, he was knocking on the door. I hung my head out of the window.
‘I'm sorry,' he yelled. ‘I love you, not her.'
‘I can't even look at you!' I cried, slamming the window shut. ‘It's over!'
More than anything though, I felt stupid. I thought I could paper over the cracks in our relationship, but it was clear now that we couldn't. They'd both betrayed me in the worst
possible way.
Steve texted me every day over the next week to say he was sorry, but I ignored him.
‘I miss Daddy,' Connor sobbed one day. I felt so guilty.
‘You can move back in for a bit,' I said, finally answering Steve's call. ‘But only for the kids sake and until I've made a decision about our future.'
But, just three weeks later, I was walking the kids to school when we passed Sammy's house. Steve's white van was parked up on her driveway. I was so shocked that I almost walked into a lampost!
When you're finished, come and get your stuff, I wrote on a note before posting it through Sammy's door.
Three months on, Sammy has apologised to me and I'm trying to forgive her.
‘I gave Steve a second chance,' I said. ‘So I'll give you one, too.'
We've met up a few times and have agreed that no man is worth breaking our friendship.
Steve still sees the kids, but no amount of paint could cover his dirty lies. We're over for good this time.