Because (Seven Year Itch #4)(8)
Throughout the night we’d kept quiet about our earlier fight, though I knew at some point it would be brought up. For now I was content we’d all go home and sleep.
It was a huge shock to my husband when he walked in the house and it reeked of vomit. I stripped the bed, fetched the bathroom towels, and tossed everything I could fit in the washing machine. He helped Aberdeen get changed while I put fresh linens on the bed and spray Lysol everywhere she came in contact with.
The moment I put Aberdeen in our bed and plopped down next to her I knew it wouldn’t be long before I found solitude. Right before dozing off I could feel the bed move, letting me know Brandon had joined us. We were together. Our daughter was going to recover. For just a little while I want to pretend everything will be okay, even though I know we were far from it being true.
Chapter 4
I lay awake in bed feeling like I’m a piece of shit. I only ignored Shay’s calls because I thought she was trying to interfere in my night out with the guys. I had no idea there was an emergency at home. Every time I went out in the past she had some crazy excuse why I needed to come home. I had no reason to assume those phone calls were more important than anything else in my life.
I don’t even recall the drive to the hospital. One minute I’m ordering another round for me and the boys and the next I’m pulling up in the emergency room parking lot. Unlike what my wife accused me of, I wasn’t at a strip club hooking up with chicks. If I wanted some strange * I’d find someone worth my time, not someone who enjoys taking her clothes off for money. Contrary to her vivid imagination, I wasn’t a cheater. Sure, I’ve had opportunities and even considered them, but I knew what I’d be losing if I stepped over that invisible line of right and wrong.
Shayla was never going to change, nor was she going to change me. She’s determined to ruin every relationship I have with my friends. She’ll stop at nothing until I’m stuck at home with her because no one wants to be around me. My friends make fun of me. They don’t know what it’s like to be married. Only one of them are in a serious relationship and she trusts him to come home to her without argument. The rest of the guys just want to have a good time. They’re still living as though they have all the time in the world to settle down. They place bets on if I’ll be able to slip out long enough to share a couple beers while watching a football game. It’s gotten so bad that I’m hardly ever invited anymore. The time before this she showed up at one of the bars and caused a huge scene, going as far as to accuse me of hitting on the barmaid.
Tonight we’d been celebrating. My best friend Toby popped the question to his long-time girlfriend. The topic of a bachelor party came up, and since I’ve agreed to be the best man, I’m obligated to take charge. This won’t go over well with Shayla. I have it in my mind that I’m probably going to have to keep it from her. It’s a month away, but I’m worried. I don’t want to have to choose one or the other. I’ve been friends with Toby since Kindergarten. Letting him down would be a hard blow to our friendship. I don’t know if he’d ever be able to understand, especially since his girlfriend, Cara is so cool about them both having their own social lives. In a lot of ways I wish Shayla could be like Cara. It would solve almost all of our problems.
I’m not saying I’m the best husband. I know I’m not what she wants. I don’t think I’ve been that bad of a guy. It’s not like we started our marriage on good terms. She got pregnant right out of high school. I felt trapped and tried to do the right thing. Don’t get me wrong. I love Shayla, I always have. It’s just not the same as marrying for the right reasons instead of because certain circumstances expect it.
It’s also not a secret that Shayla wants me to be like her father. She needs a man who devotes every waking second to her, and it’s not possible for me. I wasn’t the kind of guy who settles for anything. I like new things. If I want a dirt bike I’ll get one. If I feel like trading it in for a jet ski, I’ll do that too. I make the most money so I can buy what I want. I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal when I’m taking care of the bills and making sure my family has what they need. I get bored easily. I’m fickle like that.
I’m not saying I’ve been secretly cheating on my wife for our entire marriage because I can’t stay satisfied, which is what she’d like people to think. Sure, I’ve accepted numbers while I’m out, and I’ll even admit to having a few late night chats online with some old conquests back in the day, but I’ve never acted on any of them. I gave my word that I wouldn’t stray. Since she doubts me I’m determined to prove her wrong, even if it means going through hell on a daily basis just to stick around. I work my ass off five days a week and expect to come home and unwind. Instead she’s on my ass. If I’m not stressing her out about something, she’s complaining about all the things I haven’t done.
After two years of college, where I decided I didn’t want to major in business, I’d picked a trade in order to provide my family with a roof over our heads and a career everyone could be proud of. I never expected to become a mechanic, and certainly not move up within the company to get a better paying service writer job. It fell into my lap. The money is great. The benefits are even better. I have a pension plan, health insurance, and we even get end of the year bonuses from the owner of the dealership. I’ve accrued three weeks of vacation time since I started, and am positive I’m set for life. Unless the dealership goes under, my family will be taken care of.