THAT RING

by Dodd, Jillian

  “I told you the same thing. All the time.”

  “But coming from you, it didn’t matter. The truth is, I earned every dime of what you’re giving me in the settlement because I became Danny Diamond’s wife. I lost myself in you. I’m going to marry Richard, but if he doesn’t make me happy, I won’t wait fifteen years to end it.”

  “Are you saying that you’ve been unhappy for our entire marriage?” I ask incredulously.

  “I wouldn’t say unhappy. I just never felt secure in our marriage, and that was exhausting. I’d tell myself that we were just growing up, getting older, that we had kids, that your career was different than most. I made all the excuses for us, but it boils down to one thing. You didn’t love me the way I wanted to be loved.”

  “I’m sorry you felt that way. I tried hard to make you happy.”

  “I know you did,” she says. “But I will always be the one game you could never win. It didn’t matter how hard you tried; I wouldn’t let you. Honestly, I’ve been cheating for pretty much our entire marriage. I felt the need to compete with you. It’s not you; it’s me. My insecurity. I know that now. Richard made me see that.”

  “Sounds like he’s perfect for you,” I say as a bailiff calls our names.

  We stand up, and together, we walk into a small courtroom. There’s only a judge. And us. No lawyers. No mediators. No family or friends.

  Just us.

  “I have your signed affidavits and financial and custodial agreements in front of me. Lori Diamond, do you agree to these terms and the dissolution of your marriage?”

  “I do,” she says, which is kind of funny, being that those are the same words we said to start this all.

  “And you, Daniel Diamond, do you agree to these terms and the dissolution of your marriage?”

  “I do,” I answer.

  He signs a paper and says something about how we are officially divorced.

  As we’re walking out, Lori says, “That was over faster than I expected.”

  “Just fifteen years too late,” I reply under my breath.

  Jennifer is waiting for me outside the courthouse, leaning against a gorgeous exotic car. I can’t believe my divorce is over. That I’m free to start a new life with her.

  In the courthouse, I felt sad. Sad that my marriage had come to this point. I know that it takes two to make a marriage fail, and I obviously wasn’t giving Lori what she needed to be happy. But I think she was right that part of the problem was that she wasn’t happy with herself. That her insecurities consumed her. I really hope that, with Richard, she finds what she’s looking for.

  I’m about to say something to Lori when she turns to me.

  “It’s so embarrassing, you being with her.” The hatred is clear in her acidic voice. “Acting like you’re in love.”

  Okay, we are officially divorced. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

  “No, Lori, what was embarrassing was you cheating on me. I’m lucky though. Jennifer is so easygoing. It’s such a refreshing change from life with you. And I owe you for that. So, thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For leaving me. For filing for divorce.”

  “Wow, that’s harsh,” she says, shocked I would ever say such a thing.

  “No, it’s not. I wanted a divorce many times in our marriage, but I worried about the kids. Although I don’t like the way you went about it, at least you had the guts to do what I couldn’t.”

  “Devaney said you met Jennifer a long time ago. When she was little.”

  “Yes. When I was in LA with my agent. I knew back then that she was the one, but we were newly married, and Devaney was only a few months old. I told Jennifer we couldn’t even be friends because I knew if I didn’t, I would eventually cheat on you. And that’s something, no matter what kind of ups and downs we had, I have too much integrity to do.”

  “And here I thought, Jadyn was the perfect one. Apparently, it’s you,” she snarls.

  “I really don’t get your jealousy over her. You should see a doctor about that.”

  “It’s just so sudden with Jennifer. Is that what you want to teach our children?”

  “I’ve been honest with our children. They know I met Jennifer years ago, and they know about the choices I made because I explained it to them. Have you explained your choices?” I stop. There’s no need to get into this. I don’t have to argue with her ever again. “Look, you’re happy, and I’m happy. We have two beautiful and amazing children. Our marriage wasn’t perfect, but whose is? We need to show the kids that we’re adults who can get along—just like we always have. And, now, you can marry Richard.” I don’t call him Dick like I usually do, just to be polite.

  “Jadyn once told me you broke girls’ hearts, but they all still liked you after you were gone. She thought that was an admirable trait. I wanted them all to hate you.”

  “Maybe you need to work on your confidence, Lori. Because the man you chose to marry with looks at women’s body parts all day. I only look at footballs.”

  “So, I’m a bitch?”

  “When we met, people fawned over me. You didn't. I liked that about you. Still do actually,” I say sincerely.

  She smiles. “I’m sorry, Danny.”

  “I’m sorry, too. If you’re going to be home today, I thought we’d bring the Ferrari over to Richard’s place and drop it off.”

  “Are you going to marry her?” she asks, looking toward Jennifer again.

  “We have a lot to figure out logistically, but I hope so.”

  “Well, at least I don’t have to go to any more football games and pretend to enjoy them.”

  “Have a good life, Lori,” I say.

  “Is that what this is? You’re being nice to me at the end, just like college?”

  “Life’s too short and too precious to waste it on making people hate you.”

  “Oh, yes. Danny Diamond wants everyone to love him.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “I’ll be civil with you for the children’s sake, Danny, but I’m not sure I ever really liked you. I just happened to fall in love with you.”

  I don’t bother to say anything in reply. It’s not worth my effort.

  But what’s standing out in the parking lot is. I take off and run toward Jennifer, pick her up, twirl her around, and kiss her deeply.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask her.

  “I know you have to give up your Ferrari today, so I thought I’d give you something better. This is a divorce gift from me.”

  “Weren’t we supposed to pick something out together?” I say, not letting go of her. I don’t ever want to let go of her.

  “Well, I had this car in my collection, and I thought you’d like it. I mean, if you don’t love it, that’s cool. We can go shopping for something else. Mostly, I just wanted this memory of me giving you this car and telling you what we’re going to do in it later,” she says and then whispers something naughty in my ear.

  I raise my eyebrows in delight. “I love it.”

  “Perfect,” she says, “because I love you.”

  “Whoa, this car is dope,” Damon says, coming out into the driveway when we get home and taking in the black Lamborghini Centenario roadster. “Where’d it come from?”

  “Your mother got the Ferrari in the divorce, so Jennifer is letting me drive this.”

  “Actually,” she says, “I’m not just letting him drive it. It is a gift for your father.”

  “Sweet. Can I go for a ride in it?” Damon asks.

  “Sure. Why not?” Jennifer replies.

  “Can I drive?” he asks.

  “I don’t think so, Damon,” Jennifer laughs. “This car has a highly responsive V12 engine with seven-hundred-seventy horsepower on a carbon fiber frame. It’s also a limited edition. One of only twenty made to commemorate the hundred-year anniversary of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s birth. Good try though.”

  “Sounds expensive. And you’re just giving it to my dad?”

  “Yeah, I am,
” she says.

  “You’re crazy. I don’t care how in love I am,” Damon says, shaking his head and staring lovingly at the vehicle. “I’d never give a car like this away.”

  When they get back from their drive, Jennifer finds me in my study, going over the playbook for our game against LA on Sunday. And it’s got me thinking.

  Jennifer sits in the chair next to me.

  “Is it weird you haven’t shown me pictures of your house yet?” I ask.

  “No,” she says adamantly, “because I want you to experience it the first time the way I did.”

  “And how was that?”

  “I only saw a picture of the outside of it. And I knew right then that it was the one. My realtor thought I was crazy when I told him I was going to make an offer before stepping foot inside. If I show you pictures, you’ll have already seen it. It will be familiar. I want you to see it for the first time when you walk through it with me. I want to see the wonder in your eyes as each part of the home unfolds.”

  I can’t help but smile at her. “You are very passionate about this house. Do you talk about me like that?”

  “If I could tell people about you, I’m sure I would,” she sasses back.

  I lean over and give her a kiss. “You can tell the world now. And the kids and I are taking you out tonight to celebrate. Remember the barbecue we had here in the dining room?”

  “Yes, it was delicious.”

  “That’s where we’re going.”

  “I see. It’s our coming-out party?” she says with a smirk.

  “Sort of. But no one will pay much attention to us there. If we fly out to LA together on Friday after my practice and you come to my game, well, that might be a different story.”

  She leaps onto my lap and kisses me again. “Oh, Danny! That will be so much fun! Can we take the kids with us? Or Phillip and Jadyn? We could all go to the game.”

  “Hmm,” I say, running my hands up under her shirt. “I thought you might want me to yourself.”

  “It’s a big house, and the master bedroom is quite private,” she says in a sultry voice. “I promise we’ll have plenty of alone time.”

  “Let’s ask Phillip and Jay to join us then.”

  “Perfect. That way, I’m not sitting there alone.”

  “I could get you a ticket with the other football wives,” I offer.

  “You know what?” she says. “My agent has a box suite. His wife, Palmer, is a huge football fan. I’ll see if we can sit with them.” She starts to get up.

  I grip her hips. “Wait. I have something to show you. Roll up my shirtsleeve.”

  She looks at me kind of funny. “Um, okay. Why?”

  “Just do it, please?”

  She does as I asked, revealing my Jennifer tattoo.

  “Danny! Is that permanent?”

  “Yep.”

  “When did you get it done? Why am I just now seeing it?”

  “Because I’ve been hiding it from you since I got home from the game Monday night. One of the guys on the team is a tattoo artist, and he did it on the plane ride home. That’s why I asked you to sign my name before I left. And I kept it covered during the game, so it wouldn’t rub off.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she tells me, softly running her finger across her signature. “That’s my name permanently tattooed on your body for all the world to see. Forever.”

  I push her hair away from her face and lock eyes with her. “That means, you’re going to have to stay with me forever.”

  “I think I can do that,” she says, pressing her lips against mine.

  After a good five minutes of kissing, I tell her, “That, or I’m going to have to only date girls named Jennifer from now on.”

  She gives me a playful swat and leans her head on my shoulder. “I swear, this feels too good to be true. How did we get so lucky, Danny?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m not going to screw it up this time.”

  “Me either,” she says dreamily.

  “I know it’s not exactly a proposal or anything, but your name is tattooed on my arm. I feel like that’s a pretty big commitment. Move in with me. Today. Immediately.”

  She tenderly kisses my neck, working her way up to my ear. “I’d love that more than anything, Danny. Let’s go get my stuff.”

  Jennifer

  I’m lying in Danny’s bed. In Danny’s house. My clothes hung neatly on one side of his closet.

  We had a wonderful evening. Dinner with the kids, who both seemed genuinely excited that I was going to be living with them and who suspiciously had lots of homework to do in their rooms when we got home.

  Danny carried me over the threshold to his room, bolted the door shut, stripped me naked, and threw me on the bed. Sex with him is indescribable. He’s passionate. Bold. Incredibly hot. Full of stamina. His tenderness is the thing that probably surprises me the most though. And the love. It’s a heady mixture that fills my head with visions of our happily ever after.

  After our romp on the bed, he led me into the bathroom where there were bouquets of orange roses everywhere.

  We took a warm bath and talked about everything. Life. Love. And most importantly, our future.

  Together.

  December 8th

  Jennifer

  “I missed seeing you yesterday morning,” Jadyn says when I wander over there around nine to retrieve the pile of scripts that I left in her office. “How’s it going?”

  “I feel very domestic. I made everyone smoothies today.”

  Her phone rings. “Oh, hey, Cade. Sure. She’s actually right here.” She hands me the phone.

  “Hey. What’s up?” I greet.

  “What’s up is, you haven’t answered your phone for, like, two days.”

  “Oh, yeah, sorry. It’s been busy. Danny’s divorce got finalized, and I moved in with him and the kids, so—”

  “You’ve been enjoying it,” he interrupts.

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, the reason I’m calling is, I heard through the grapevine that you are coming to Danny’s game in LA and were maybe hoping to sit with us.”

  “The grapevine, huh? Did Danny call you?”

  “No, but he talked to Carter, so I’m calling to formally invite you and the Mackenzies to join us in our suite. And, in case you forgot amid all the amazing sex you’re probably having, tomorrow is my birthday. Palmer is throwing a little get-together at The Good Guy.”

  “Oh, very trendy.”

  “And very exclusive,” he adds. “We’ll start at the bar around seven and move to a private spot outside around eight thirty for dinner. We have you down for four.”

  “That sounds perfect. Thanks, Cade, and in case I forget to tell you later, happy birthday.”

  “Thank you.”

  “The Good Guy?” Jadyn says when I end the call. “That’s where all the celebrities go, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, it’s a cool place.”

  “Do we have anything cool enough to wear?” she asks.

  “You can wear whatever.” I pause. “Actually, that’s not true. I’ll go in your closet and pick a few things out for you. And if you don’t like them, we’ll find something when we get to the house. My assistant has had the pleasure of unpacking all my clothes and organizing my closet over the last week. And you know what? I’m going to have hair and makeup fix us up. What time will we arrive?”

  “We’re set to take off at noon, which should put us at your house around two, LA time.”

  “Perfect. We’ll look amazing.”

  “Good, because my pants are starting to get a little tight.”

  “When are you going to tell the kids?”

  “We have an ultrasound scheduled for next week. I’m thinking around Christmas. I’ll have to figure out a fun way to tell them.”

  Danny

  “This is it!” Jennifer says excitedly.

  I know she wants me to love her house as much as she does, and I don’t want to disappoint her.

  W
e pull into the drive of a beautiful home. It has a relaxed, coastal vibe and traditional lines.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I say, giving her hand a squeeze and feeling instantly relieved.

  I look around the neighborhood. The homes are spread apart on large lots with lush landscaping, and there is a mix of architectural styles from Spanish stucco with tiled roofs to clean-lined, modern mansions and more traditional, board and batten, coastal homes.

  We get out of the car, and she leads me up the sidewalk to the front door, unlocks it, and then starts to go in.

  “Not so fast, missy.” I surprise her when I swoop her into my arms and carry her over the threshold.

  She wraps her arms around my neck and sighs, “Oh, Danny. How did I get so lucky?”

  “You were dealt a royal flush,” I tease.

  “What do you mean?” She looks perplexed.

  “All Diamonds,” I say with a laugh.

  She lets out a content sigh. “I’m glad I got all Diamonds.”

  “Wow, look at this place,” I say once I finally look up. I set her down and walk straight through to the windows. “What a view!”

  She jumps up and down. “I know! Do you love it?”

  “I think I need the whole tour to be sure,” I say. “You’d better show me.”

  She leads me through the entire house, and I do love it. Mostly though, I love seeing how excited and happy she is. She was broken and not exactly herself when she first got to Kansas City. I understand all too well how it feels to be betrayed by someone you love and how it can adversely affect your life. Now, she looks whole again. The girl I fell in love with at the beach so many years ago. Her sparkle and joy is flowing through her even more so today. And once I tell her how I feel, I think she will be even happier.