Page 155 of Unexpected Shot
“We golfed together every day,” I say. “It’s not like you never saw me.”
“Yeah, but she was there,” he spits out. “She was always there. And she never went away.”
I take a few paces around the room, because out of all the scenarios Shelby and I planned for, this was never one of them. I’m not sure what kind of crazy is going on in his brain, but I’m officially winging it at this point.
“But you dated her. You asked her out. Why would you ask her out if you hated her?”
“To keep her away from you!” he shouts, like somehow that was supposed to be obvious. “I could tell you liked her. And she liked you. And if you two would’ve gotten together, then I’d be gone. You’d never remember me. But if I dated her, then I could break her heart. She’d never want to be around me after that, which meant she’d never want to be around you either.”
Holy shit this is so fucked up.
“Chad, that makes no sense.”
“It did. Except she put up with everything. Dumb bitch. I treated her horribly. I was getting ready to cheat on her, put thenail in the coffin. Then my pops stepped in and actually did all the work for me.”
I perk up, realizing what he’s about to admit to. “The Willowmere tournament?”
Chad nods and lets out a maniacal laugh. “The old men hated that a girl won. She was going to ruin their image. They had me change the names on the scorecards. No one was the wiser. And that did the trick. You won the tournament you rightfully deserved, and she ran away crying, never to be seen or heard from again. Two birds. One stone.”
I’m actually, literally, going to need a stiff drink after this. “Chad…that was…all of that? All to have me for yourself?”
“Exactly. I did it before, now I’ll do it again,” he says, walking over to me, nothing but hope in his eyes. “It’s going to be simple. Pay her off. Send her money to divorce you, and in return, she’ll disappear from your life.”
“You’d do that for me?”
Chad nods, and I realize the man is definitely not stable. “I’d do anything for you, Beau. No one has ever had your back like I do. I’ve always wanted what’s best for you. Let me help you. I’ll ruin her. For you.”
I’m baffled, and not quite sure what to say. Luckily, I don’t have to say anything. Because my unhinged wife chooses this moment to burst from the closet.
And yup…she’s pissed.
“You motherfucker!” she screams, jumping on Chad’s back, which sends him sprawling on the floor. “You’re fucking insane!”
I should try and stop this. But I don’t.
Chad tries to roll over, but that only makes it easier for Shelby to grab his shirt and bash him back against the floor. He’s able to cover his face, but I don’t know how much good it’s doing because Shelby’s fists are flying everywhere.
Honestly? It’s pretty fucking hot.
“You ruined my life! For what? Because you’re obsessed withmy husband? Because you failed sharing in kindergarten and Beau can only have one friend? You realize how ridiculous that sounds?”
Chad tries to talk, and I think he’s trying to say something like “you ruined things” and “I hate you,” but I can’t tell for sure. Every time he tries to speak, Shelby tightens the elbow she has against his neck.
Finally she leans back a little, one hand planted in the middle of his chest as she points a finger in his face. “You tried to sabotage my career. Multiple times. You are fucking with the lives of people who were already at rock bottom. So yeah…I might be a crazy bitch, but I’m not fucking scum.”
“Beau! Get her off me!”
“Sorry man,” I say, standing back against the entertainment stand, arms crossed in amusement. “You know Belle. She can’t be tamed.”
The sound of the door being thrown open pulls my focus from the punches Shelby starts throwing, and I watch Ethan and Grayson come sprinting into the room.
“You’re just going to sit there and watch?” Ethan shouts, grabbing Shelby across her middle and picking her up, her limbs still flying. I’d ask where he came from, but I know Shelby had to have texted him.
“Honestly? Yeah,” I say, stepping off my rest and leaning down into Chad’s face. “You? Me? We’re done. Everything you just admitted to is on video. We know about your extortion and your blackmail. You’ll never be able to show your face in professional golf, or sports, again. You won’t be able to come back to Nashville, because everyone is going to know who you are. I don’t care where you end up. I don’t care about anything you do. I just care that I’m never going to see you again.”
I pull him up, holding him by his T-shirt as I bring him right to my face. “Oh, and if you ever callmy wifeany of those names again? I’ll kill you. That’s a fucking promise.”
“I think that’s about enough,” Grayson says, taking Chad outof my hold and making sure his hands are secured behind his back. “I think it’s time we go visit the head of the tour. I’m sure he’d like to know about someone who’s closely associated with his golfers doing very shady business dealings.”
