our marriage is going to be? Anytime we don’t agree, we argue and sleep apart? That’s not how it should be, Shayne.”
“Well then, maybe we shouldn’t be getting married!”
His words hit me hard, like a slap in the face. “Tell me you’re not serious!?”
“Are you going to see this my way and drop Ian as a client?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Well then, I’m serious! How can I have you as my wife, when it’s obvious my feelings don’t come first!?”
I can feel the tears swelling in my eyes. Did he really just tell me the wedding is off? “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Do you need me to say it again?”
“You son of a bitch! Four years, Shayne! Four fucking years we have been together! I’ve never been with anyone but you! I’ve never given you any reason not to trust me, and now you are going to throw it all away because of a disagreement!?”
“Not me, Vanessa…you! You are the one throwing it away…not because of a disagreement, it’s because you don’t want to listen to what I say!”
“Oh, I hear you, Shayne! Loud and clear! I think I’m going to stay somewhere else for a few days… you need to cool off and seriously think about what you are doing, what you are giving up!”
“Good idea, maybe you should call Ian, I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.”
“SHAYNE! FUCK OFF!” I grab some clothes to change into and throw some in my duffel, as I make my way back out into the living room I stop a few feet from the couch, Shayne says nothing…he won’t even look at me.
I turn and head towards the door… just before I close it, I tell him I’ll call him tomorrow. I don’t wait for a response. I get into my car and start driving.
I need to call Brytney to let her know I’m on my way to her house. I pull off to the side of the road, the tears are starting again… how could he do this? My eyes are blurry, so I just hit redial on my cell; the last person I talked to was Brytney. It rings a couple… times I hate waking her so late, but I need her.
“Hello.”
Oh, great Jack is there. “Jack, hey sorry to be calling so late…”
“VANESSA? WHAT’S WRONG?”
Oh, fuck! That’s not Jack’s voice! “Oh my god, Ian I’m so sorry. I thought I was calling Brytney…I didn’t mean to call you.”
“Vanessa, what is wrong?”
Great, I’m still crying…I know he can tell. I take a deep breath. “Nothing, everything is fine. I’m sorry for disturbing you.”
“You’re a bad liar, Vanessa. Now, either you tell me, or I come to your house and find out!”
“NO! I’m ok, besides I’m not at home.”
“Where are you?”
“Sitting in my car at the end of my road.”
“Do not move! You stay right there!”
“Ian, what are you doing?”
“I’m on my way to get you.”
Omg, I can’t let that happen! “No Ian, please don’t, I’m going to Brytney’s. You don’t need to come out.”
“Vanessa, if you are not waiting there for me when I get there…then I will show up at Brytney’s and how would that look?”
He’s joking, right?
“And before you think it, yes I do know where she lives. Jack told me at dinner the other night…so you stay right there.”
He hangs up the phone. What the fuck am I going to do? I can’t let him come get me, but I sure don’t want him chasing me to Brytney’s. How did I end up calling his number? I know I spoke with Brytney when I called her about Ian showing up at my office. Dammit! That’s right I called her from my office phone! Just my luck!
Chapter Eleven
My phone rings twenty minutes later…maybe it’s Shayne calling to apologize.
Nope, I look at the screen and see Ian’s number.
Maybe he’s calling to tell me he’s not coming.
“Hello,” I say with a trembling voice.
“I’m coming up to your road, do you want to leave your car there or follow me to my house?”
“WHAT!? Ian no, I can’t go to your house. I need to go to Brytney’s, I can drive myself there.”
“Not happening, Vanessa! I know something is wrong and clearly, it has to do with Shayne. Otherwise, you would be at home. Now tell me, which do you prefer, my car or yours?”
“I’ll follow you.” I blurt the words out without hesitating. Oh hell, what am I getting myself into!?
“Fine, I’m pulling up next to you now.”
I jerk my head up and see his lights just coming up to me. He stops right next to me and rolls his window down.
“Vanessa, are you sure you’re alright to drive?”
“Yes, I'm alright.”
“Okay, I’ll go slow.”
He pulls ahead of me waiting for me to start my car, then slowly sets off.
I’ll just follow him there and let him see I’m okay…then I’ll head to Brytney’s.
We are driving for nearly 30 minutes…we should have been there by now. It only took him just over 20 minutes to get to me.
We take the North Shore all the way up to Highway One. It’s not often I travel out of Duluth… this area here is vast wilderness, nothing out here to do unless you’re a nature person.
I see his brake lights along with his blinker to turn left. We turn onto a forestry road…to my surprise, it’s well maintained. Usually, the FR’s are a rough ride. We go about three miles, he slows and signals to turn right. I follow him to a gate that’s already open, just as I pass it he comes to a stop, he gets out of his car and comes to my window.
“I need to close the gate, we’ll be up at the house shortly.”
“Okay”
