"Whatever." She walks to the kitchen, pulling two beers out of the fridge.
"What have you been up to since the last time I was graced with your presence?" She asks, but I know she doesn't care. It's a common courtesy she offers every week. She tunes out the moment I open my mouth to respond.
"We need to talk." I say while moving to sit down on the couch.
“This should be good. What did I do wrong this time?"
"Don't start with the attitude, Sarah."
"If you don't want my attitude, don't come over anymore."
"Do you ever get sick of being pissy all the time?"
"Nope! Do you ever get sick of hanging out where you're not wanted?" I shake my head and sigh. I'm exhausted from this back and forth we do all the time. It used to be something I just accepted, but after hanging out with Jesse for a few days, I don't have the patience for Sarah's verbal abuse anymore.
"Look, I'm not doing this tonight."
"Oh, yippee!" she says sarcastically. "You know where the door is. You don't have to do anything tonight."
"I met someone." I rush out before she has a chance to unleash anymore of her bitchiness. I've become the master of ignoring her snarky comments, but that doesn't mean I’m immune. It still hurts like hell when she treats me like shit under her shoes.
"What the fuck!" she yells, shocking me with her reaction. I was expecting her to throw a freaking party, but judging by her tone I have definitely pissed her off again. "You met someone?" She jumps from her seat and leans into my face aggressively.
"What is your problem?"
"You are my problem, Brett! I have been asking for a divorce for years. YEARS!" she screams, only inches from my face. I slide over far enough to get up without having to touch her. She has that crazy look in her eye and I know if I sit there even a minute longer, she will slap me. New Sarah has zero issues getting physical during an argument. Sometimes, I think she hits me just because she knows I'll leave as soon as she does.
"So, this should make you ecstatic then!"
"You are such a dumb fuck!"
"Wow, thanks! Got any other cuss words you want to try out on me?" I know I'm not making this any better, but damn it gets under my skin when she starts acting like this. I try to reel it in though, hopefully we can have this conversation before shit completely hits the fan. "Look, can you please calm down."
"So…let me get this straight. I have been begging for a divorce and you fought me at every turn. I hired a divorce attorney, you and Caleb pulled some strings and had him drop me as a client. So, I very kindly ask you for a divorce, and you give me some bullshit reason why we needed to stay married."
"Sarah, you have no job. You need my health insurance for all your...care."
"I have money! I can pay my own damn medical bills."
"That settlement from the wreck isn't going to last forever. Why would you waste it on expensive doctors’ bills?"
"So us staying married was only so I could use your health insurance?" I can't answer her without lying, so I stay silent.
"I didn't think so. You are a selfish son of a bitch, Brett Sharp. You have made me fight to get rid of you, yet you still show up week after week like a lost little puppy dog who can't find a home. I only let you in on Thursdays because I feel sorry for you. It's pathetic! Now you stand here and tell me that you're in love with someone else, so I guess I'm finally allowed to move on with my life, huh?"
"I didn't say that I'm in love with Jesse."
"Oh goodie, your soul mate has a name. Jesse, how perfect."
"Are you jealous?" I ask, almost humorously.
"Hell, no! I'm pissed. You have been smothering me for years. Now some little tramp comes along spreading her legs, and suddenly I'm allowed to move on with my life?" she says, and her slam about Jesse makes me lose all my calm and rational thoughts.
"I'm not going to say this again, Sarah, so I want you to listen very closely. Don't you dare talk about Jess like that. You can call me whatever you want, but you will watch your damn mouth when it comes to her."
"Oh my God. You are such a tool!" She busts out laughing as if I told a joke. "She must be really dirty in the sack to have turned you into such a pussy already. If I recall correctly, that's how you like it. Dirty, right?" She continues laughing, pausing to bite her lip and questioningly lift an eyebrow.
"Screw you. Send me whatever divorce papers you want. I'll happily sign so that you can finally be rid of me once and for all."
"Yeah, that's not going to happen. You're going to have to work for it, the same way I have for the last four fucking years."