Page 175 of The Champion

“Jameson, what are you doing?” she asked in confusion,the hum from the jet caused static on the line making it hard to hear her softvoice.

“Well, I tried to catch you guys in Williams Grove but Ijust missed you. I’m on my way to Mooresville now.”

“We’re not there.”

“Where are you?”

She was silent for a few moments. “I took Arie and Castenback to Washington for a little while.”

“Then I’ll come there.”

“No, you have to be in Richmond on Wednesday. It’sTuesday. You don’t have time.”

“I’ll make time.” I quickly said. “Practice isn’t untilthree.”

Again, there was a silence on the other end before Icould hear her sniffle. “Jameson, I just need some time to think. Stay inMooresville for now.”

“Sway,” my voice broke as I tried to catch my breath.“Honey please, I need to see you. I can’t leave it like this.”

“And I need to be alone right now.”

“For how long?” I pressed getting impatient. I wasfinding it hard to breathe so I leaned forward in the captain’s chair. My handsobsessively ran through my hair. “How long?” I asked again when she didn’tanswer.

“I...don’t know.”

“So that’s it?” I snapped. “I don’t get to say nothing inthis?”

“I told you why I needed to think and as my husband, Ihoped that you could see that.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Okay stop!” she snapped. “Stop being an asshole. I don’twant to see you right now. You lied to me, again. I asked you if someone was inthere, you said no. I saw her. All you had to do was tell me the truth. Justlike in Texas when that girl kissed you. You told me she didn’t and then I seea picture of her kissing you. Or what about the time in Vegas when you woke upwith a woman in your bed? You denied it and then I later found out why she wasin there. I know that wasn’t your fault. Or what about the drink you had withNadia in the bar that I had to hear about from her? I don’t understand if you havenothing to hide, why do you lie about it?”

“Because...I neverwanted to hurt you,”

“But you did! Lying to me hurt worse than knowing. You ofall people should understand why that hurts me. I know you don’t sleep with anyof them. Hell, the entire time we’ve been together I’ve never seen you giveanother woman an ounce of attention but you can’t tell me the truth.”

The line was silent for a moment before I finally made itworse, “I don’t know what you want me to say. I said I was sorry.”

“And I said I needed time to think.”

“Think about what?”

“Everything,”

“Are you...thinkingof leaving?” The dead silence said it all. I lost it. “Goddamn it Sway, answerme!”

I threw the water bottle I had been tossing around in myhand across the cabin. I never meant to yell at her like that but the thoughtof her leaving me was not an option.

“No I’m not, but I shouldn’t being treated like this,”and she hung up.

“Sway?” I looked down at the receiver to see she did hangup. I couldn’t blame her.

I wanted to drown my sorrows. I wanted to numb the pain Iwas feeling but I also knew that wouldn’t solve anything. I had done that foryears and it had never worked in my favor anyway. This was all on me and Ineeded to just face it.

Once I got home, I did have a beer, or two or maybe itwas three but who cares?

Axel was home, which surprised me. I hadn’t seen him in afew weeks and thought for sure he was supposed to be in Terre Haute this week.

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