Page 98 of Unexpected Shot
So about that…
Beaumont…
We aren’t ending it.
WHAT!?!
It’s a very long story. And actually, Shelby still needs some convincing. Got any advice for that?
I have soooo many questions…And as for the help, she’s a sucker for Doritos in the purple bag and Sprite. Oh, and vodka.
Vodka is how we got into this mess.
“Who’s that you’re texting? Our vow renewal coordinator?”
I take a deep breath, knowing that my own snappy comeback isn’t the answer.
I always thought Shelby’s brand of being a smartass was just her—the hardened soul she’s become over the years. And while that’s partially true, I’ve also come to realize her sarcastic humor, which oftentimes comes in the form of digs at me, is her way of taking a few extra seconds to process things. To really let herself figure out the gravity of a situation and make a decision. So if I need to be her verbal punching bag for a minute, that’s fine. Because she needs to come around.
For both our sakes.
“It was Gabi. She was checking in on us.”
Shelby’s shoulders slump as she plops down on her oversized recliner. “I should’ve called her.”
“She understands why you didn’t,” I say, falling back against the couch I’m sitting on. “But she’s worried about us.”
“Is that it?”
“And curious. About a lot of things.”
Shelby’s quiet for a few seconds, then her sad blue eyes turn to me. “Are we really doing this?”
Once Shelby realized she was the only one in the room who thought staying married was a bad idea, it only took her fifteen minutes to come around to the idea. Well, ‘come around’ is a strong description. She agreed to think about it, which, in the world of Shelby, is a win.
“I think we have to.”
That’s a lie. There’s no thinking on it anymore. We have to. It’s a must. But coming out overly strong in this situation isn’tgoing to fully convince my wife that she needs to stay married to me. I’m just hoping now that we’re away from Ethan, Kat, and Grayson—and back in her space—I can get her to see why this needs to happen.
“Can we go over this again?” she asks. “Not that I don’t trust you and why you’re saying we need to. It’s just… I feel like I’m being told what to do by every side, and I haven’t had time to process and think about it for myself.”
I’ve gotten to know Shelby better than I ever have over the last few days, but somehow, what she just asked me for feels like the biggest trust test of all. Two weeks ago she would’ve just assumed that I was out to get her. Now…now she’s asking me for help. Wanting to trust me, just on her terms.
I’ll take it. I’ll take it all damn day.
“If we get divorced, we have to make a statement that neither of us want to make,” I start, knowing I’ll be repeating a lot of what our PR team said, but also adding a few details I think will hit home a little more when it comes to Shelby’s way of thinking. “People are going to ask why we even did it, and we’ll have to admit we were shitfaced, wasted and don’t remember. That gets a lot of people in trouble. Frank because he overserved us and let me buy entire bottles of whiskey. The Clerk of Courts, a poor civil servant just trying to do his job. And then there’s the chapel. Do you want Elvis to lose his right to marry people. Think about Elvis, Shelby!”
“Dirty move bringing Frank and Elvis into this.”
“But it’s true. And then even after that, people will ask about the Thursday brawl, which will have people wondering if we should’ve been playing at all, since we were arguably still drunk from the night before. Ending this right now opens up a lot of questions…none that will do either of us favors when it comes to our image.”
I stand up from my seat and pull over the ottoman so I can sit in front of her. “Getting divorced means this stays a story. And if this stays a story, that means more of Michael. He broke it. He’sgoing to become the ‘expert insider’ on the debacle in Vegas. He’ll be in your life more than you want him to. More than I want him to. But if we stay married? If we’re happy and just living our life? Well, in the media world, that’s boring. A non story. Michael goes back to being the guy who shows up at a few tournaments a year and just covers golf.”
Shelby doesn’t say anything, letting the information I know she knows deep down process.
“If we’ve learned anything today, it’s that people want us to be in this. If we present the happy couple who got a little crazy in Vegas, but are committed, people are going to forget about the fight. They’ll focus on your new marriage, and not on the new swing you’re going to have to figure out sooner or later. They’ll ask me about you and how I’m settling into married life, not if I’m going to go ballistic because there’s a chance of rain.”
I take a risk and reach for her hand. I don’t know if she’s just too tired from the day or what, but she gives it to me without hesitation or skepticism.
