Page 3 of How to Ruin Your Ex's Wedding
“What? You’re leaving me for dead and moving on to someone else, who’s morephysically fit.”
“Because she can take care of herself. Not because I like her better,” Pax explains.
“Uh-huh.”
“Tabatha. Don’t start.”
“I’m not starting anything, Pax. I’m just letting it sink in that future you callously tosses future me aside when push comes to shove.”
“It’s a movie, Tab.”
“It was a serious question, Pax.”
“Aboutoutrunning zombies?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. Okay, fine. Have it your way. Be pissed about it.” Pax waves his hand.
“I will,” Tabatha says. She falls back against the couch cushion and huffs. She does not lie her head back down on his shoulder or curl back into his chest.
Pax restarts the movie.
TABATHA VOICEOVER: I can’t stand sitting next to him right now. I feel betrayed and unimportant. I get that the conversation started as a result of a fake plot in a movie. I’m not a lunatic. But fake him isn’t even going to try and save fake me. He couldn’t even pretend for the sake of the argument. That hurts my feelings.
Tabatha stands to leave the room.
“Where are you going?”
“To bed,” Tabatha says.
“The movie’s not over yet.”
“Don’t care.”
“Jesus.” Pax sighs loudly, mostly for Tabatha’s benefit.
PAX VOICEOVER: Yeah, I know that loud sighs are passive-aggressive, but I don’t care. I want her to know that I’m annoyed, but I don’t want to continue this fight. I want to finish the movie.
Tabatha takes her time getting ready for bed, expecting that at any moment Pax will come upstairs to apologize. She lies in bed alone. Eventually realizing he must have started watching something else since the movie should have been over.
TABATHA VOICEOVER: So, I do what any level-headed woman would do in my situation. I pull sheets and a blanket from the linen closet, then set them, along with his pillow, in the hallway. Next, I close the bedroom door softly and barricade it from the inside with a chair. Because if he can’t even be bothered to spare my life during a major world-changing event, then I can’t be bothered to share a bed with him.
* * *
KEEPING TABS -
SEASON ONE, EPISODE NINETEEN
ANNOUNCER VOICEOVER: Tabatha and Pax have been fighting since date night, not able to get past the sore feelings that surfaced during the argument. Tabatha, expecting an apology from Pax, has gotten increasingly upset when that hasn’t happened. Confused by Tabatha’s cold shoulder, Pax has taken to retaliating by staying out late. Tonight, in this special one-hour episode of Keeping Tabs, we will see how they handle this strife in their relationship.
PRODUCER VOICEOVER: So, Pax hasn’t even talked to you since that night?
TABATHA VOICEOVER(CRYING): No. And he’s been out late every night since then. I don’t know where. I don’t know with who.(BLOWS HER NOSE)I don’t know what to do.
Tabatha’s red curls are pulled up into a messy bun, green eyes red and swollen, and plump lips turned down in a frown. The usually picturesque Tabatha looks a wreck in distressed jeans, white tank top, and flannel shirt, curled in a ball in her interview chair.
PRODUCER VOICEOVER: Do you think you need a break?
