Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(37)

Brett

WHEN THURSDAY night rolled around, I was in no mood to go visit Sarah. Things had been getting worse with her recently. She's hated me for a long time. I like to think that I have gotten used to that over the years, but every time I see her it still burns. When I look into her eyes, I can still see the wild and crazy woman hiding underneath her sad, broken exterior. She is only a shadow of the woman I used to love. She's lost too much weight over the years, and for a woman who used to love shopping, she is almost always wearing yoga pants and t-shirts these days.

Two years ago, Sarah cut off all her beautiful blonde hair and dyed it red. I'm not talking just any color red either. She dyed it a shade of red that is not found naturally...anywhere. It's definitely not like Manda's deep vibrant shade of wine. Sarah's hair is the color of a fire engine. Ronald McDonald would probably sue for trademark infringement.

The first time I saw her new hair, I picked up a vase that was sitting on her kitchen counter and shattered it against her living room wall. I turned and immediately walked out, slamming the front door and causing a nearby picture frames to fall to the floor. I had already lost her mentally, but that was the first time I didn't recognize her physically.

I mourned her loss all over again that night. I stayed up for hours alternating between drinking beer, breaking things, and punching holes in my walls. It killed me, and not because I'm one of those superficial *s that cares when my woman cuts or colors her hair. It was just one more thing about Sarah that was lost to me.

"Wow, is it Thursday again already?" Sarah asks, pulling the door open.

"Yep." I walk in carrying take out gyros. Her favorite.

"Did you get extra Z sauce and feta?"

"Don't I always?"

"Whatever." She walks to the kitchen, pulling two beers out of the fridge.

"What have you been up to since the last time I was graced with your presence?" She asks, but I know she doesn't care. It's a common courtesy she offers every week. She tunes out the moment I open my mouth to respond.

"We need to talk." I say while moving to sit down on the couch.

“This should be good. What did I do wrong this time?"

"Don't start with the attitude, Sarah."

"If you don't want my attitude, don't come over anymore."

"Do you ever get sick of being pissy all the time?"

"Nope! Do you ever get sick of hanging out where you're not wanted?" I shake my head and sigh. I'm exhausted from this back and forth we do all the time. It used to be something I just accepted, but after hanging out with Jesse for a few days, I don't have the patience for Sarah's verbal abuse anymore.

"Look, I'm not doing this tonight."

"Oh, yippee!" she says sarcastically. "You know where the door is. You don't have to do anything tonight."

"I met someone." I rush out before she has a chance to unleash anymore of her bitchiness. I've become the master of ignoring her snarky comments, but that doesn't mean I’m immune. It still hurts like hell when she treats me like shit under her shoes.

"What the f*ck!" she yells, shocking me with her reaction. I was expecting her to throw a freaking party, but judging by her tone I have definitely pissed her off again. "You met someone?" She jumps from her seat and leans into my face aggressively.

"What is your problem?"

"You are my problem, Brett! I have been asking for a divorce for years. YEARS!" she screams, only inches from my face. I slide over far enough to get up without having to touch her. She has that crazy look in her eye and I know if I sit there even a minute longer, she will slap me. New Sarah has zero issues getting physical during an argument. Sometimes, I think she hits me just because she knows I'll leave as soon as she does.

"So, this should make you ecstatic then!"

"You are such a dumb f*ck!"

"Wow, thanks! Got any other cuss words you want to try out on me?" I know I'm not making this any better, but damn it gets under my skin when she starts acting like this. I try to reel it in though, hopefully we can have this conversation before shit completely hits the fan. "Look, can you please calm down."

"So…let me get this straight. I have been begging for a divorce and you fought me at every turn. I hired a divorce attorney, you and Caleb pulled some strings and had him drop me as a client. So, I very kindly ask you for a divorce, and you give me some bullshit reason why we needed to stay married."

"Sarah, you have no job. You need my health insurance for all your...care."

"I have money! I can pay my own damn medical bills."

"That settlement from the wreck isn't going to last forever. Why would you waste it on expensive doctors’ bills?"

"So us staying married was only so I could use your health insurance?" I can't answer her without lying, so I stay silent.

"I didn't think so. You are a selfish son of a bitch, Brett Sharp. You have made me fight to get rid of you, yet you still show up week after week like a lost little puppy dog who can't find a home. I only let you in on Thursdays because I feel sorry for you. It's pathetic! Now you stand here and tell me that you're in love with someone else, so I guess I'm finally allowed to move on with my life, huh?"