Page 153 of Unexpected Shot
Okay, I know the main point of this conversation is to get Chad to say out loud that he’s extorting and blackmailing players. I also know Shelby has said she’s over the past and is focused on the now. But Chad is the horse that’s led himself to water, and I’m going to make damn sure he drinks.
And get him to admit every single thing he has ever done to us in the process.
“Can I ask why?” I tiptoe, not knowing what my leash is here. “If you hated her so much, why did you agree to work with her?”
Chad tries to size me up. “And I’m supposed to tell you? The dutiful husband?”
Please don’t cut off my balls, Shelby…please don’t cut off my balls…
“Listen, I don’t tell her everything,” I say in a whisper, reallytrying to sell this that we’re still friends. “Plus, I know she’s a pain in the ass. I married her.”
Chad is clearly wary of me. Which I get. I’d be too. Which is why I pray yet again that Shelby realizes what I’m doing is part of setting a trap. Otherwise, I’m never having sex again.
“Listen, I know Shelby is difficult. I can’t imagine working with her. You can tell me. Believe me. I’m a safe space.”
“She’s the worst client I’ve ever had,” Chad blurts out, and I have to remember to keep my face straight now that I know he’s never actually worked with a professional golfer. “She didn’t want to do anything I told her. Completely pointless.”
“Yeah, she’s hard-headed,” I add. “But I have to know…I saw what you were trying to do for her swing. That reverse grip? That wasn’t supposed to help her, was it?”
I expect him to at least take a second to think about his answer. To see if he can actually trust me. I guess he doesn’t need it.
“Hell no, it wasn’t,” he says smugly, sitting back on the couch, much like he does when he’s surrounded by pick-me guys at the hotel bars. “It fucked her up more than she already was. And it was a joy to see.”
It takes every fiber of my being to keep my control. Because I knew it. I fucking knew it. I knew he was messing with her. Trying to make her worse. But I can’t pat myself on the back now. I need more. I need him to bury himself.
“And she never suspected?”
“Hell no. Dumb bitch,” he says. “And the caddy thing? That was icing on the cake. Can you imagine if I actually helped her with her shots? Or should I say, not helping her.”
“Damn,” I say in disbelief. Which isn’t a lie. But now I need more. “Can I ask why? What did she ever do to you?”
I’m surprised that this is the question he decides to subvert. “I had my reasons.”
Okay, minor setback there. I need to get him back on track.And I need to start leading him to the bigger goal. “Can I be honest with you? Since you were so open with me?”
I swear the man’s eyes light up. “Absolutely. You can tell me anything.”
I swallow a lump in my throat for dramatic effect. “We’re staying married because Ethan told us to. We still hate each other.”
Yup. This man is glowing like a Christmas tree. “You do?”
“Of course,” I say, hating the taste of every word that’s coming out of my mouth. “It’s me and Shelby. You think we’re suddenly going to be getting along just because we accidentally drunk-married each other? And I had to fucking kiss her. That’s against everything I stand for.”
“Not going to lie, my man, I bought it for half a second,” Chad says, everything about him screaming smug asshole. “Especially when you attacked me Monday night.”
“All part of the act,” I say. “I mean, what was I supposed to do? I need to convince the world we’re happily married. I had to go after you. Make a scene.”
“Let me guess, she forced you to go on the record with that reporter?”
“Basically held a gun to my head.” I hang my head in pretend shame, gripping my barely-touched beer bottle with both hands. “She said I had to stand by her. That if we're going to keep this sham marriage going, we need to be a united front. You know I never would have talked about you like that. You're my boy. I've known you longer than I've known her. I had to.”
“And Vegas?”
The way he asks it, it’s like he’s…hopeful? I, unfortunately, have to play into it, and pray this whole thing isn’t for nothing.
“She had me all fucked up in the head,” I say. “I had to play with her. You remember what it’s like playing with her? She's a pain in the ass.”
“Completely,” he says, overly-sympathetic look taking over his face, like he knew exactly what I was going to say. “Hey, Iforgive you, Beau. It’s one hundred percent her fault. It always was and it still is.”
