8 Weeks

Chapter Ten

Chapter 10 - Shelly

I was feeling pretty good.

The rum and Cokes had gone down smoothly, and the pretty stud in my nose was only a little tender.

I laughed out loud as Gaby tried to fight off guys on the dance floor. With her long blonde hair braided down her back, and her skirt so long it grazed the floor as she moved, she looked like a free-spirited hippie. When Gaby moved, her body fluid and graceful, guys always paid attention.

"I'm gonna go save her," Sasha said with a wicked grin as she downed another shot of tequila.

I watched as Sasha sauntered over and crooked her finger at the guys Gaby was trying to dance away from. They went willingly, and Sasha was soon a blur of long legs and flashes of red as she danced seductively in between the two men.

I grinned at Gaby as she came toward me with a scowl.

"Why do guys think that because I'm dancing,I want them to grind all over me?" Gaby asked, picking up her beer as she sat at the bar next to me. "I just want to enjoy the music."

"It's one of the hazards of looking hot and dancing in the middle of a club," I said, snickering when Gaby stuck her tongue out at me.

"It's good to hear you laugh," Gaby said,touching her hand to my shoulder.

I nodded. "It feels good too."

"So, you really sure about this eight weeks thing?"

I took a sip of my drink, shrugged, and said,"He said he'd sign the papers if I did it."

"What time are you guys meeting up tomorrow?"

"Cal said he'd pick me up around five."

"Did he say what you were going to do?"

"No, just said to dress casual when I asked."

"Hmmm," Gaby mumbled as she sipped her beer."It's kind of cool though, huh? That he's going to plan surprise dates for eight weeks."

Gaby's blue eyes looked large and hopeful.

"Don't get your hopes up, Gabs," I said, putting my hand over hers. "Like I said, we're packing up the house on Sunday and it's going on the market. I fully intend to go through with the divorce when the eight weeks are up."

Gaby pouted a bit, but nodded at my words."I'm here for you."

"I know," I said with a small smile. "Now let's stop talking about this depressing shit. How about a shot?"

"Okay," Gaby agreed as she waved the bartender over. He was yet another man who was hoping for a shot with her, so we never had a problem getting served whenever we came.

I ordered three, then turned to get Sasha's attention and waved her over.

All eyes watched as Sasha picked the hair up off of her neck to allow some cool air to sooth her. Her chest heaved from exertion, and the little red dress she wore left little to the imagination. Her face held a knowing smirk.

"You're such an attention whore," Gaby said when Sasha reached us.

"You know you love it," Sasha replied,blowing her a kiss.

Gabby laughed.

"I really do," she admitted.

"Here ya go," I said as I passed out the shots.

When we raised our glasses Gaby said, "To us... To always having each other's backs, good times or bad. And to Sasha, whose sexy ass can distract the most annoying of men."

"Here, here," Sasha and I said in unison,grinning like fools.

We slammed the shot glasses on the table andI winced as the tequila burned its way down my throat.

"Shit," Gaby said suddenly.

I had barely looked up and followed her gaze when Sasha said, "I got this," and stormed off.

I looked to the front of the bar and the liquor turned harshly in my stomach when I saw Cal, Scott, and TJ walking in.

I kept my eyes on them as they all turned to watch Sasha approach. I was sure she shouted something at them, but couldn't hear from where I was sitting.

"Wanna get closer?" Gaby asked.

Sasha in full temper put on a great show.

I shook my head, my eyes locked on the scene before me.

Sasha strode up, hands on hips, and I could tell by the guys' faces that she was letting them have it. TJ broke away from the group and walked up to get toe to toe with Sasha. I could see the argument intensify. She was shaking her fist at him, and he leaned in to tower over her as he spoke back. Where Sasha was loud and feisty when she was mad, TJ was soft and menacing. They made a magnificent sight.

Gaby and I had a bet in high school over how long it would take before the two of them hooked up. I'd guessed a week, and she'd guessed before graduation. We'd both been wrong.They couldn't see what everyone around them thought was obvious.They were a ticking time bomb.

I looked to the right and frowned when I sawCal looking at me intently. I hurriedly turned my gaze back to the standoff.

Sasha was throwing her hands in the air, then she turned and stomped back over to us. I watched as the guys walked to the back of the bar, on the opposite side of where we were sitting.

"They're going to stay away from us, but they're staying," Sasha huffed when she got back.

I shrugged. "It's their favorite bar too.It's a small town, Sasha, I won't be able to avoid them."

I was sad that it felt like I had to. I hated to cause this riff between my friends.

"You know, you guys don't have to stop hanging out with them just because Cal and I are separated. They're still your friends too."

They both nodded, but I knew that the issues between Cal and I were bleeding over into our friendships, and I didn't know what I could do to stop it.