8 Weeks

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter 35 -Cal

"Thank you all so much for coming," I said to the gang after the last person, Sasha of course, had arrived.

"Of course,"Gaby and Scott said simultaneously.

"What's up?"TJ asked.

While Sasha just raised her perfectly manicured eyebrow at me.

I looked at all of them, my best friends, seated around the garage and watching me expectantly.

"As all of you know, this Saturday is date number eight. It's my last chance to convince Shelly that she should trust me, forgive me, and continue to spend the rest of her life with me. If I fail, she is going to file for divorce. That's a fact. Hell, she would have divorced me eight weeks ago if I hadn't convinced her to agree to my plan. As promised, if that's what she decides, I'll sign the papers willingly. But ... I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure that doesn't happen."

"What are you going to do?" Gaby asked, sadness taking over her pretty face.

"That's whyI've called you all here, just like I did six and a half years ago..."

"Are you serious?" This came from Sasha, by far the most cynical of the group.

I nodded and looked around the room at my friends, as what I'm asking begins to register with all of them.

Six and a half years ago, we were all seniors in high school, but even then, I knew that Shelly was the girl thatI wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I began to plan my proposal for the night of our graduation, and I enlisted all of our friends to help me make it as special as possible.

Sasha had been in charge of dressing Shelly, because I figured she'd want to look her best for the night of her engagement. Sasha had taken her shopping for a graduation outfit, and had ensured that she looked amazing for the night that was to come.

Scott andGaby had been in charge of turning the roof of our gymnasium into a magical place. They'd covered it in twinkling lights, flowers, and candles, and had made it more beautiful than I ever could have imagined it.

TJ had been in charge of getting Shelly to the roof of the gym, where I would be waiting, in the middle of the flowers and twinkling lights, to ask her to marry me.

I still don't know what he'd said to get her up there; that had always been a secret between the two of them that they had refused to divulge,but the end result was still the same ... On the evening of our graduation, I had waited in my suit and tie, breathless and nervous, for Shelly to meet me on the roof. She'd opened the door and stepped out, her eyes surveying the area in awe, before landing on me. Her smile had been wide, but puzzled, and she'd walked toward me slowly. When she'd almost reached me, I dropped to my knee and told her all of the reasons why I needed her in my life forever.

We'd cried together, and she said yes. It was the most amazing night of my life, and all of our friends had been there to help us celebrate.

"You want to recreate that night," Scott said. "The night you proposed.

"I do," I replied. "If that doesn't work ... Nothing will."

"What if she says no?" Gaby asked softly, her face still wrought with worry. Out of all of our friends, she was the one who took things to heart the most. I knew, if Shelly and I divorced, she would take it the hardest out of all of our friends, and I loved her dearly for it.

"If she says no ... I'll deal with it, Gaby. I'll have no choice. She gave me eight weeks, I can't ask for more than that," I answered truthfully. "I'll never stop loving her, but I'll have to move on with my life."