8 Weeks (Time for Love 1)

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, neither of us will be able to afford it on our own, and I need to start fresh. I’d like to rent something for now, an apartment or condo or something.”

“Okay, but you will have to discuss this with Cal and come to an agreement. The house is in both of your names.”

I nodded. I knew I’d have to talk with him eventually. I was just really not looking forward to it.

We paused our conversation and ordered lunch from the dark-haired waiter who kept looking at Gaby longingly.

“Gaby, dude’s got a fine ass,” Sasha said with a wicked grin as she watched him walk away. “You should take him around back and give him what he’s asking for.”

“Shut up, Sasha,” Gaby said with a laugh.

I laughed with my friends and knew I wanted to spend more time with them, so I wasn’t miserable and alone at my dad’s.

“We should do something Friday night,” I said.

“I’m free, what did you have in mind?” Sasha asked.

“I don’t know … something different. Something I’d never do with Cal,” I said the wheels in my head turning. “I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo, get my nose pierced, and I’ve been thinking of cutting my hair.”

“Slow down, sister,” Gaby stopped me before I could throw out any other ideas. “How about we do one crazy, body-altering thing at a time. We wouldn’t want you to do something that you’d regret to get back at Cal.”

I frowned at her.

“I don’t want to do any of it to get back at Cal, I want to do it for myself. Those are things that I’ve always wanted to do, I just didn’t think he’d approve. It’s about my independence, and the fact that I don’t need Cal’s approval anymore.”

“Well, when you put it that way, I’m all in,” Sasha said loudly, causing the other patrons to turn and look at us.

“Okay, well, how about we start with the piercing, then go out for drinks and show it off?” Gaby said in a softer tone.

“Sounds good,” I said, clasping my hands together nervously. It would be good to get out and stop moping around, but I was a little nervous at the same time. I tried to put on a brave face and said, “I’m excited.”

“In the meantime, you need to sit down and talk to Cal,” she said sternly.

I nodded sadly, “I know.”

Chapter 9 – Cal

I was on my way to meet with Shelly. My palms were sweating and my stomach was rolling. I’d never been so nervous in my life.

I’d been a wreck since the last time I’d seen her.

I couldn’t believe she was

talking about a divorce; it was the last thing in the world I wanted. Shelly was everything to me, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

I was so messed up, I worried that Scott was on the verge of kicking me out. He said he was tired of my stinky, miserable ass, permanently indented on his couch. I knew he was fuckin’ with me, but he had a point. I needed to get my shit together if I ever even hoped to get Shelly back.

I had to come up with a plan. A plan to make her give me a chance to make up for the mistake I’d made. There had to be a way that we could get past this and heal.

Yes, on paper it seemed unforgivable.

But … I had to believe that she could. She’d always been it for me, and nothing was more important than keeping her as my wife.

I pulled up to the park Shelly’d told me to meet her at. She’d wanted to meet somewhere public, but without a lot of people around.

I was pretty upset that she seemed to distrust me on every level, but understood that she was hurt.