THAT RING

by Dodd, Jillian

  “Which will open your life up. More family time. More time for love. More time to relax and enjoy life.”

  “You’re thinking about it, too?” I ask him. “About selling the company to Tripp? Cashing out?”

  “Yeah,” Phillip says, taking another slug of his drink.

  “You don’t seem happy about it.”

  “I love my job.”

  I clink his glass, knowing exactly how he feels. “Don’t do it then.”

  “Getting an offer of this caliber is like winning the big game, Danny,” he explains. “We’ve had offers before. This is my third ring. And I am afraid if I don’t take it because of my personal feelings, I’ll be letting down my team.”

  “How would you do that?”

  “First of all, my parents still have most of their wealth held in company stock. They would have a much different lifestyle if they could cash out. I’ve been buying them out a little at a time, and my dad still earns a healthy board fee, but it’s not like this. I also have to consider our employees, many who have been with the company since the beginning. This deal would be life-changing. I feel like I owe them.”

  “Then, do it,” I suggest.

  “What will you do when you retire, Danny? Have you thought about that? Can you imagine having nothing to do all day?”

  “I’m hoping your wife will hire me,” I tease, but when he doesn’t grin back, I answer him seriously. “I thought I’d take some time off and see what my options are. My agent, Carter Crawford, says the offers will roll in, especially if I go out on top. Network jobs, more endorsements, speaking opportunities. And it would give me time to focus on my charitable foundation, Diamonds in the Rough. I would think that’s exactly what you’d want to do actually. Take some time off and see what offers roll in.”

  “Yeah,” he says but doesn’t sound convinced.

  “What does Jadyn think you should do?”

  “She would love it if we could work together, but she also said that, sometimes, she’d like to sell off the business side and just consult. Design buildings, but let someone else handle the rest. She’s also got a lot of mixed emotions about having more kids.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  “I’m glad they are out of diapers, mostly. After the terror that Madden was as a baby, she swore we were done. That four was enough—”

  “I always wanted four,” I blurt out as I spin my finger at the bartender, indicating we need another round.

  When he delivers it, Phillip suggests we order dinner as well.

  “Does Jennifer want kids?” he asks.

  “Yeah,” I say, not able to stop the smile that spreads across my face. I glance down at my arm, remembering how she slid her finger across the empty space between my tattoo and my wrist. I know she wants to fill that space with me. I feel it in my heart. Deep down, I know it’s right.

  It’s the shit that goes on at the surface that seems to get in the way.

  Like the fact that she’s probably with her ex right now.

  November 2nd

  Jennifer

  I wake up to more texts and messages from Troy, confessing his undying love for me, which is quickly offset by an article from my publicist, showing photos of Troy last night, surrounded by women and booze at some club.

  I drop my head back onto the pillow with a sigh that has nothing to do with who texted me and everything to do with who hasn’t—Danny.

  We had an incredible evening, followed by one of the best mornings of my life. Waking up with him was something straight out of my dreams. Although, in my dreams, I’m pretty sure he didn’t leave without so much as a kiss.

  Things have happened fast with Danny. The way I feel about him hurts as much as the first time. I close my eyes and bask in the glory of sex with Danny. Why did it have to be even better than I’d imagined? Why couldn’t it have sucked, so I could have closed that chapter on my life? Why do I want to drop everything and rush back to Kansas City?

  Well, it could be because I don’t want to face the problems I need to deal with here. I don’t want to have to face reality. I want to live in a glittering, Danny Diamond–filled fairy tale for the rest of my life.

  Except that it’s not a fairy tale.

  Although I guess Cinderella had an evil stepmother and mean stepsisters, and she and her prince still got together despite it all. And maybe that’s the part that makes it a fairy tale—that in spite of the odds stacked against them, two people came together because of their love. In the movie roles I’ve played, I’ve faced much worse than that. My characters have taken down evil governments and fought aliens. They have gone against their parents’ wishes, fought against civil unrest, racism, and terrorists.

  One ex-wife and a couple of kids shouldn’t be that hard to handle in comparison. Right?

  I decide to text him.

  Me: Hey, how did it go yesterday? I didn’t see an announcement.

  Danny: Yeah, that’s because we didn’t sign.

  My heart starts thudding in my chest, my stomach feeling slightly sick. What if, after everything, they changed their minds? What if she apologized for the affair? What if they’ve reconciled?

  I’m holding my breath as worst-case scenarios roll through my head.

  My phone rings.

  It’s him.

  “Um, hi,” I say, answering.

  Of course he wouldn’t want to tell me over a text. He’s too sweet.

  “Look,” he says with a sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you yesterday. And I’m sorry that, after everything that happened between us, I just walked out the way I did.”

  “Why did you?” I ask, my voice sounding small.

  “I hadn’t known you were going back to LA. It just hit me—you wanting to see your ex, that you were leaving. I mean, when were you going to tell me?”

  “As soon as we stopped kissing long enough to talk,” I reply with more bite in my tone than I intended.

  “I guess I deserve that,” he says, sighing again. “Our relationship has only started, and it’s already a mess. All backward.”

  “You’ve said that before but never really explained it.”

  “We should be flirting, getting to know each other, dating, then sleeping together, dating some more, deciding to be exclusive, and then in a relationship—each step moving us forward. With you, I feel like I need the commitment first.”

  “What kind of a commitment?”

  “I want to know that you’re as crazy about me as I am about you. I want to know that it’s not just a fling. Not a stopover on your way back to your old life. I don’t want you to get close to my children, only to leave them. Their mother did that, and I just can’t let it happen to them again. When you told me you were seeing Troy, I felt like you were leaving. I walked out because it hurt.”

  “I feel the same way about your wife. I’m sitting here on pins and needles, wondering why you didn’t sign. Is it because you changed your mind?”

  “Gosh, no. Nothing is ever going to make me want to be with her again. I can hardly stand to be in the same room with her.”

  “So, why didn’t you sign?”

  “She brought up what happened with Devaney at the party this past weekend and basically blamed me.”

  “Danny, if you want me to commit to you, you have to be willing to do so in return. Meaning you have to talk to me. I’m going through a lot of shit with my ex. You have no idea. And I wish I could talk to you about it. And I wish you would tell me what else your wife said because I get the feeling that it had something to do with me.”

  “She blamed you for Devaney getting drunk. Said dating you has affected my judgment in regard to my children.”

  “And how do you feel about that?” I ask, my anger barely in check.

  “I think she’s using it to get more money. First, she said she wanted joint custody. I told her if that were the case, we’d go back to what was laid out in our prenuptial agreement.”

  “I take it, she’s getting
more than she should be?”

  “Yeah, I told you, my kids are my top priority. I gave her anything she asked for within reason to get sole custody. She doesn’t really want custody, so she went with a low blow. She asked for my Ferrari.”

  “I thought you said she hated that car!” I blurt out.

  “She does. And it pissed me off so much that I left the room. Told my attorney to offer her another half a million, and if she didn’t take it, I wouldn’t sign. She didn’t agree. We didn’t sign.”

  “Danny,” I say softly. “Give her the car.”

  “No freaking way. I thought you would be on my side!”

  “I am. She’s messing with you. Trying to manipulate you. My guess is that she’ll give the car to Dickrash. Why do you care if he gets your sloppy seconds? He got your wife. He might as well take the car she hates. Every time she has to ride in it with him, she’ll be reminded of you. And how much she hates the car she’s in. Only she’s in a pickle then because she can’t do anything about it.”

  “I like it.”

  “And I like you,” I tell him. “I also think you should go buy the most badass exotic car you can find as a suitable replacement.”

  “It’s just that car … has memories. It was like proof that I had made it.”

  “You aren’t giving away the memories, Danny.”

  “That’s true. I’ll think about it. Tell me about what’s going on with Troy. How long are you planning to stay out there? And, more importantly, where are you staying?”

  “I’m at the hotel right now, but I might stay at our house—well, his house for a few days.”

  “Um, no,” he says adamantly.

  “I don’t have anywhere else to stay once Jadyn goes home tomorrow. They’re closing the hotel.”

  “Yeah, you do. It’s called a different hotel. Unless you want to stay with him.”

  “I just thought it might help calm him down. But you’re right. It’s probably not smart. He’s bingeing, and when he does that, he can get a little out of control.”

  “With you?”

  “Sometimes. He doesn’t mean it—”

  “Jennifer, I’m going to say this as your friend. For your own safety, you shouldn’t be alone with him at all,” Danny says passionately and with force.

  “You’re still dealing with your ex. I understand that you and the kids are a package, and their mother will be a part of that. Why is it not okay that I have people on my side I have to deal with, too?”

  “I have not had even one occasion where I have been alone with Lori since she told me she wanted a divorce. Not once. My attorney advised against it. Probably because he was half-worried I’d kill her.”

  To this, I let out a laugh. “I doubt he was worried about that. You’re too sweet.”

  “Actually, Jennifer, you’re the one who is sweet. And I know this because the other night …”

  November 8th

  Danny

  The week flew by. Days spent at the stadium, prepping for our game at Dallas, which we lost in overtime. Evenings at home with the kids and late nights spent on the phone with Jennifer as she tries to rebuild her life in Los Angeles. Although I’m dying to see her again, I understand her livelihood is there.

  Since we’ve been apart, she’s done a photo shoot for a magazine cover, three interviews, and negotiated an endorsement deal. Her agent and publicist are thrilled to have her back in town. I’m worried though because she still hasn’t seen Troy. On one hand, I don’t want her to, but on the other, I want her to get him to rehab and out of her life and come back home to me.

  As I take a seat at the conference table in my attorney’s office, I say a prayer that this will be the last time I have to sit across a table from my wife and hash out the dismantling of our life together. We’ve covered everything from credit card points to jewelry to investment funds.

  “Mrs. Diamond is offering three options,” her attorney says, getting the process started again. “As a show of good faith, we have prepared all three documents, and she has already signed them. We have also taken the liberty to prepare the press release that will go out upon filing with the court. If we come to an agreement today.”

  She slides them across the table, first to the mediator and then to me.

  “Before I look at these, I want to talk about the press release. I don’t want to do one.”

  “Why not?” Lori’s attorney asks.

  “Because he doesn’t want to admit he failed,” Lori says simply and probably accurately as she studies her manicure like this is all so incredibly boring.

  “Because it’s no one’s business,” I state.

  “I’ll agree to it,” Lori says, sliding the press release over to my attorney. “And I’ll go a step further and allow Danny to release this whenever he feels the time is right.”

  I grab the paper off the table before my attorney can, and I read it. It’s short, sweet, and impassive—fitting really. But it’s well written and places no blame.

  “Let’s get back to the agreements in front of us. I have reviewed them,” my attorney states. “They are identical to our original agreement other than three variations. In option one, you and Mrs. Diamond will share custody of the children. In option two, you retain custody but pay Mrs. Diamond an additional sum of one million dollars. In option three, you retain custody while Mrs. Diamond receives an additional piece of personal property—the Ferrari. Would you like to recess and discuss?”

  “No, I think I know which one to sign. No reason to drag this out further.” I try really hard not to smirk as I grab option three. “Lori, I know how much you love the Ferrari,” I say, quickly signing, “and I want you to have that wonderful reminder of our life together.”

  “Wait!” she says as I set down the pen. “You said you’d never let me have it!”

  “I’ve changed my mind,” I say with a shrug. “I realized that my love for it came from the memory of purchasing it with my friends on a special weekend. I didn’t realize you shared that love. So, really, it’s my special parting gift to you.”

  She doesn’t say anything; her mouth just hangs open. She probably already decided how she was going to spend the extra money.

  “And it’s the best financial option,” my attorney says, adding insult to injury. “It’s only valued at about a hundred fifty grand.”

  Lori doesn’t say another word, just storms out.

  I’m on my way home from practice later when Jadyn calls me.

  “Hey, you want to come over for dinner tonight? I’m making cornbread and chili.”

  “Save it for tomorrow.”

  “Do you want to go out?” she asks. “It’s been a long week already, and I’m just—”

  “I thought I’d bring dinner over—champagne and a couple buckets of chicken. Devaney told me it’s how you all celebrate. I didn’t know you carried the tradition on after you were married.”

  “Yeah, well, your wife wouldn’t have approved of something so gauche.”

  “We signed the papers. They were admitted to the court this afternoon. I opted not to do a press release yet. It’s no one’s business. If it comes up, I’ll deal with it.”

  “Danny! Oh my gosh! I don’t really know what to say though. Do you think it’s chicken-worthy? Like, celebrating the demise of your marriage?”

  “No, but getting full custody of my kids is.”

  “Does that mean you gave her the extra money?”

  “Well, I would have, but when I got there, she had signed three separate documents. One offering joint custody, the other an extra million, and another with me giving her the car.”

  “You didn’t!” she squeals with delight.

  “I sure did.”

  “I’m so proud of you. Danny! And you’re right. Bring on the chicken!”

  The kids are shocked when I call them into the dining room at the Mackenzies’ house before anyone else.

  “Do you know what they are celebrating tonight?” Devaney asks, her eyes wid
e with excitement.

  “Actually, we’re the ones celebrating. I thought it would be nice for the Mackenzies to join us. Today, your mother and I agreed on our settlement, and I got full custody of the two of you. It’s all I wanted in the divorce.”

  “Does that mean we don’t have to go stay at Richard’s anymore?” Damon asks, looking relieved.

  “Not if you don’t want to. It’s important that you maintain a relationship with your mother, but it will be up to us what kind of relationship that is, not something forced by the court.”

  My kids jump into my arms and give me happy smiles, which are worth more than a fleet of Ferraris.

  We have a great celebratory dinner with lots of laughing and joking and storytelling. And I’m thrilled that the kids are taking things so well. That they seem happy. Everything seems to finally be coming together for us.

  I’m sitting in the study, having a second glass of champagne with Phillip, when Jadyn comes to the door and says, “Um, Danny, can you come here for a minute, please?”

  “Uh, sure.” I set my glass down and make my way to the kitchen island where I find Devaney with tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “When the kids stayed with Lori while you were in Dallas,” Jadyn says, “she told Devaney that you and Jennifer had been having an affair, and that’s why you got divorced.”

  “She said what? Why would she say that? Devaney, honey,” I say, sitting down next to her. “I would hope that your mother wouldn’t lie to you outright about something like this. I’m hoping it’s a misunderstanding, but I promise you that our marriage did not end because I had an affair.”

  “She said you would deny it,” Devaney says, her head down. “Why else would Jennifer have come here? She’s a movie star, Dad.”