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“I think I can handle it.”
“Thanks, brother.”
I hopped in my Mustang and drove down to Shelly’s dad’s house. I knew my way well, I’d spent the last two years of high school driving there as much as possible. Her dad and I had always gotten along well, but by the sound of his voice when I’d tried calling, our days of being pals were over.
I pulled up to the house and looked at it for a minute before getting out, trying to regain the courage I’d had back at the shop. Now that I was here, I was terrified that she still wouldn’t see me.
When I got to the door, I knocked softly and waited, straining to hear if there were any sounds coming from inside the house.
“You probably have to knock loud enough for her to hear you, jackass,” I muttered to myself before closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, and knocking again. Louder this time.
I braced myself when the door started to open, and held my breath as I waited to see if it was going to be Shelly or her dad at the door.
“Hey,” Shelly said softly when she’d opened the door a crack. “What are you doing here?”
I let out the breath I’d been holding and said, “We need to talk, Shelly.”
“I don’t want to talk right now, Cal.”
“Shell, how will we ever work this out if you won’t even talk to me?”
“There’s nothing to work out.”
“Nothing to work out?” I ran my hand through my hair, frustrated, and turned back toward the street so I could breathe for a minute. She looked so upset, I couldn’t stand it.
Once I was composed I turned back to her, “What do you mean, Shelly? We have a lot to work out.”
She shook her head sadly at me.
“We have nothing that can be worked out, Cal.”
I felt panic begin to rise in my throat, until I was in danger of choking on it.
“I don’t understand.”
“I want a divorce, Cal, and I’ll let you know when I’m ready to talk about it.”
She shut the door slowly in my face, as I stood there, stunned and speechless, with my life flashing before my eyes.
“No …” I whispered, unable to believe what she’d just said. I pounded on the door for a few minutes, desperate for her to come back and talk this out, but she never did.
Chapter 8 – Shelly
God, would I ever stop crying?
After I left Cal standing at my dad’s front door, I climbed into the shower and let the water run over me as I cried my heart out.
I couldn’t see any way to forgive Cal and stay married to him. I just couldn’t. And, as much as it seemed impossible to do, I knew that I was going to have to pick myself up and figure out what my life looked like without him in it.
After a few more days of moping around, I finally agreed to meet the girls for lunch.
Sasha was in real estate, and Gaby worked at a bakery nearby the restaurant we were meeting at, so lunch was usually the best time to get together. We wouldn’t have a ton of time, but a little time with the girls was better than none at all.
I took some time to make myself look presentable. I’d lost a few pounds over the last couple weeks, and I had to put my makeup on a little heavier to cover the circles under my eyes.
When I got to the restaurant, Gaby was already there, drinking what I’d bet was a diet coke and talking to a waiter. He was tall, dark, and really good-looking and she blushed slightly when she saw me walking toward the table.
“Hey, Gabs,” I said as I leaned down to kiss her cheek. “What was that about?”
