“Well, she is trash,” Sydney huffed.
I could barely hear his next statement. “You stir up shit just to give yourself something to do. You’re a bully to these women. You do it in front of our kids. I can’t take it anymore.”
“Oh, so what are you going to do about it?” she challenged him.
Leroy caught my eye for a second, knowing I was listening. He set his jaw. “I want a divorce.”
Then a series of events happened. A drink was thrown in his face. Sydney screamed like she’d been shot, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. A series of shouts came from her, littered with embarrassing accusations about his dick and his bedroom habits, his inabilities as a father, and all the ways he wasn’t a man.
Everyone was looking, the room silent. Annie cracked her neck and took a deep breath, striding right up to Sydney and interrupting her tirade with a light touch on her arm and a broad smile.
"Hi there. I don’t know you, but this is my best friend’s wedding. You seem to be going through a difficult time, and while I’m sorry for that, I need you to stop whatever this is and get the hell out of here before I have someone remove you.”
“Don’t touch me, bitch!” Sydney shouted.
Annie cocked her head to the side with a tight smile. “Okay. Leave and I won’t need to.”
“Fuck you,” Sydney yelled, then turned to her husband. “And fuck you too, Jack. I’m sorry I had children with you.”
I swooped in and put my arm around Leroy’s shoulders, steering him outside. “Let’s get out of here, bud.”
Outside, he scrubbed a hand over his face, looking in the direction Sydney had just gone. He covered his eyes, shoulders shaking. I hugged him. “It’ll be alright, man.”
When he showed his face again, yes, there were tears, but he was also laughing. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long. She’s a terrible human being. I’m . . . I’m going to be free now.”
I laughed along with him as he grew more hysterical. Our teammate and Jack’s closest friend, Romelski, poked his head out.
“You alright, Jack?”
“I’m leaving Sydney.”
His eyebrows went up. “Okay. Wow. You’re sure?”
“Never been more sure about anything.” Jack let out more borderline-insane laughter, then sobered. “She’s gonna take my ass to the cleaners.”
Chapter 5
Annie
JULY | Balance: $52,623
“Seat taken?” Nick gestured to the bar stool next to me.
Things had settled after Guy’s teammate’s wife made a scene, Nick picking up the pieces while I got her to leave. The disturbance seemed mostly forgotten. The wedding party and guests were still rocking hard at the last bar open at the resort. Another wedding’s reception was in its late hours across the lawn.
I shook my head, patting the seat to invite him to sit. “How’s he doing?” I swung my head toward where Nick had been talking to the affected teammate.
Nick grimaced. “He had a lot to say out there. It needed to happen, though. She’s pretty toxic. I gave him my room key so he doesn’t have to stay with her tonight.”
“Nice of you, Ober. You’re a good friend.”
He shrugged. “I try. What are we drinking?”
I laughed. “I think I should probably slow down. Maybe have some caffeine if I’m going to keep up with those of you on West Coast time. I’m starting to poop out.”
Nick’s lips turned up in a smirk as he waved down the bartender. “Whatever you’ve got on draft for me, and a Diet Coke for the lady.”
I couldn’t help but grin that he remembered my drink of choice. “Thanks.” A glance around the room showed that the crew was generally quite intoxicated. “Surprised y’all are still awake after your early tee time.”
