She crinkled her nose in response to my words, a slight smile spreading across her cheeks. I waited for what I was certain would be a smartass remark when she simply said, “OK. Finish.”
Wrong again, buddy.
I breathed out a long, steady sigh before picking up where I left off.
I leaned against the couch in my newly rented Arizona apartment. Spring training for pitchers and catchers was in full swing, and I was still a married man.
“We should really start on divorce proceedings, Jack.” Marc’s uneasy voice buzzed from the phone at my ear.
“Is that your professional opinion?”
“We’re only dragging this out further. She’s never going to sign something that makes her look as bad as the annulment does. As it is, there’s a thirty-day waiting period after we’ve filed the divorce paperwork.”
My head pounded as my rage exploded. “Thirty days? Fuck!”
“I know. Let’s just get this over with for you, OK? Let me withdraw the annulment and start the divorce paperwork. Although I have to warn you, she can refuse to sign the divorce papers too.”
“Jesus Christ, Marc. Just give her whatever the hell she wants and get me out of this.” I jammed my finger into the End button before pitching the phone full speed against the wall of my apartment. Pieces of plastic flew into the air, leaving a hole in the wall behind it.
Shit.
The next day I opened my e-mail inbox to see a message from Chrystle’s best friend, Vanessa.
Jack,
We need to talk. I can help you. Call me as soon as you get this.
Thanks,
Vanessa
I stared at the e-mail with her phone number for a good half hour before remembering I’d shattered my phone. Before practice, I picked up a new one and almost knocked the salesman out when he suggested I change my number to a local one. I’d never change my phone number to a number Cassie didn’t have, and the mere suggestion almost cost that guy his pretty little face.
“Jack?” Vanessa said when she answered my call.
“What do you want?” I asked abruptly. This girl was Chrystle’s best friend. She knew everything Chrystle lied about and did nothing to stop it.
“I can’t let her keep doing this to you, Jack.” Her voice broke, but I remained unconvinced and questioned anyone who could stay best friends with a person like Chrystle. “I didn’t know she faked her pregnancy,” she whispered before continuing. “I mean, at first I didn’t know.”
“Did you know at the wedding?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“No. She was still lying to everyone then.”
I didn’t care. “Get to the point.”
“After seeing you at the bar and hearing the things she said to you, I tried to talk to some sense into her. But she won’t listen. She got even crazier after that night. Like more determined or something…” Her voice trailed off.
Annoyed, I huffed into the phone. “Vanessa, I don’t have time for this. Either get to the point or I’m hanging up.”
“I’m trying to say that I’ll testify on your behalf. I’ll talk to your lawyer, or judge or whomever. I’ll tell them that everything you wrote in those annulment papers is true. And I’ll tell them everything they need to know that not even you know, Jack.”
My chest heaved as disbelief and elation coursed through me. The air around me thickened as I struggled for a response. “Why would you do that?”
“Because you don’t deserve what she’s doing to you. It’s wrong, and I don’t want to be a part of it anymore.”
I wanted to believe her. “If you’re serious,” I paused, still unsure of truth versus lies when it came to those girls, “I’d like to pass your phone number along to my lawyer and have him call you. Is that OK?”
“Yes, of course. I’m really sorry, Jack. I hope this helps.”
“Thanks, Vanessa.”
Cassie swiveled her head back and forth in disbelief. “This story. Seriously. Crazier and crazier.”
“I know, but thank fucking God Vanessa e-mailed me when she did. Marc was just about to file the divorce papers when I called him.”
“Of course. Just in the nick of time, like a well-played movie.” She raised her eyebrows.
“A well-played Lifetime movie,” I added with a smirk.
“So, Vanessa followed through? She wasn’t lying?”
I knew Cassie’s mind wandered to the same places mine had originally. Was this another trick, a lie, another baited hook I was sinking my teeth into? “Not only Vanessa, but she got their friend Tressa to make a statement corroborating my claims on the annulment. Chrystle signed the papers that week.”