“What the fuck did you just say?”
“Yeah, and apparently the girl was questioned yesterday by some reporter outside her house. She denied everything of course, and you know coach, I think he told her to fuck off. Scorned woman and all that. I just thought you should know.”
“Yeah, thanks for telling me.” I hung up the phone almost in a daze. Why hadn’t she told me that something as serious as this was going on?
I was about to call her when I saw her pull up outside and had the door open before she made it down the walkway. She had a bright cheery smile on her face which disappeared when she got a look at my face.
“Get in here. Why didn’t you tell me what happened to you yesterday? That you were questioned by a reporter in front of your house?” She looked troubled and a little scared I guess.
“I didn’t know…I wasn’t sure how to tell you. I didn’t want you to be mad again and…” I took her hands in mine, some of my anger leaving me at the misery on her face.
I reminded myself that she was still young in more ways than one. I’m gonna have to remember not to treat her with the same distrust as I did the lying hag I’d just divorced.
“Okay come ‘ere, don’t cry. I’m gonna take care of it. Did you tell your mom?” She nodded her head against my chest.
“I had to, they kept calling this morning.” Dammit.
“And what did she say?”
“I told her the truth, that we hadn’t done anything back then, but now…” She looked at me as if expecting me to be mad that she’d shared our secret.
“I’m glad you were brave enough to be honest with your mom. I’ll have a talk with her later. Right now we have somewhere to go.” It was a spur of the moment decision but one that worked for me. I had no intentions on proving anything to anyone, but I wasn’t about to let her walk around this town with a target on her back.
Those who knew me knows that I would never have broken my vows, and I damn sure wouldn’t have fucked a sixteen year old.
I’m guessing the reason the cops hadn’t shown up at my house is because sixteen happens to be the age of consent in this state. Still it’s the principal of the matter.
I didn’t worry about what people would think after I made this move. My only interest was in reassuring her, and her mom maybe, with the added bonus of sticking it to Tanya. Like I said, there isn’t shit she or anyone else can do to me.
She balked when I pulled her into the luxury jeweler. “Stop it!” I tugged on her hand and pulled her over to the case I was looking for.
Beneath the glass were the engagement rings with rocks the size of marbles. When I got married the first time I was still young and was careful with my first paycheck. I’d always planned to upgrade Tanya’s ring, but never got around to it. I know this shit would make her green as fuck.
I chose the one I wanted, it was a simple cushion cut, four carats with another carat of pave diamonds around the center stone. It was huge on her little hand, in other words, just right.
She stared at that thing and then at me for a solid five minutes, her mouth hanging open and not saying a word. Then she fell into my chest and burst into tears.
From there I called up a reporter buddy of mine, who’s been following the team for a good few years. I gave him an exclusive which I knew would be going nationwide by the next day.
It’s like I said, in the beginning I’d kept my head down and did what I had to-to protect my kids. But once all Tanya was had come to light, the gloves came off. One thing I will never be is a patsy for any fucking one on this earth.
“Happy?” We were in the car on the way back to the house. I’d dragged her with me to the interview but refused to let them question her. I’m the one in the spotlight, not her. They don’t need to be in her shit.
“Yes very. But are you sure…”
“Don’t ask me that question again. After yesterday I’d already made up my mind to marry you, this thing just escalated my plans is all.”
And I wasn’t even mad. My kids already knew and so did her mother apparently, and that’s all the fuck I care about. In fact I felt very relaxed and at peace with this turn of events.
It was good that we’d gotten out of the house anyway, because I didn’t want her to think that all I wanted from her was sex. At least with my ring on her finger she should be a lot more at ease with what we were doing.