Out Of Your League, Dear Ex-Husband

n John

urned mop bucket, my knee

ith the sharp smell of bleach and damp mildew. The cramped spa

music from the NHL Awards ceremony played on,

An hour ago, she had dragged me into this utility closet, her blood-red manicured nails digging into my arm. "Carleen, your appear

ap until my knuckles turned white. It was my third-anniversa

graphic novel, The Enforcer's Apprentice. It w

ng to soothe the hollow ache in my chest. I d

ted me like her personal maid-tossed a plastic bottle of water through th

n think about coming out." Her voi

fied and electric. "Armani Tillman!" he shout

saw my husband, Armani, in a painfully expensive custom sui

of giving up my career to cook his meals and manage his family's eve

is table. The media called her his "official girlfriend." It's just a PR str

teammates, his family. His gaze swept over Cynthia and Kylie i

or a hint, a signal, somethi

never once darted

thunderous. He never once glanced

y shoulders slumping as the

closet door clicked open. Armani stood in the doorway, si

ing, ready to hand him the portfolio

devoid of any warmth. "Car

. It hit the concrete floor with a sharp

as the frantic pounding in my ears, and then his voice again

hat can you do besides cook and clean?" He looked down at me, his e

rleen. An MVP's wife shou

racking my frame. It was a chill seepi

e. It came out raw and broken. "To

ment before letting ou

curled slightly. "How fitting. C

s. The man I had given up everything for. His face,

e gentle tone he always used whenever he wanted me to give in. "Listen, Carleen. My care

ction before continuing. "

fake divorce

e solution in the world. "We'll sign the papers, but we won't reall

l still be the successful, single star everyone expects me to be. But

to erase me from his public life while keeping me

arriage, after asking me to give up the title of his wife jus

g toward my cheek. I stepped back

the world to think you're single, but you still expect me

ession d

to disappear. "This is the best solution for both of us. Sign the agreemen

toryboards I had spent countless sleepless nights creating

landing on the page and blurring the ink. Slowly,

nto Armani's eyes. My voice was calm an

s his face, the expression of

wiped it away. "No

mile

held his gaze. "An

e we're ending this marriage, we'll settle everything p

m straight

penny more than what I'm entitled t