Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Straightforward. Sure. Because nothing about this has been straightforward so far.
We leave the office half an hour later, and I don’t have to even look at her to feel the tension. She’s like a ticking time bomb, one that’s ready to explode.
As we walk through the parking lot, she still doesn’t break the silence.
She actually doesn’t utter one single sound until we’re both in the car, and even then, she just sits there with her arms crossed, staring out the windshield.
“Well,” I say after a long silence, “that was a waste of time.”
Molly turns to me, her eyes narrowing. “You think?” she deadpans.
Do I think? I still think getting a root canal would have been more pleasurable, but I hold back that answer.
“He wasn’t that bad.” I shrug. “I mean, he didn’t offer us a Groupon for his services like the first guy. Or a BOGO like the second guy. As if I’d get hitched again by Elvis and need another annulment. What kind of man does he think I am?”
“I think it’s kind of obvious, don’t you think?” She lets out a sigh. “None of these lawyers inspire a lot of confidence.”
I sit back in the driver’s seat. “No, but at least this office didn’t smell like burnt popcorn.”
Molly slumps back in her seat. “I can’t believe we’re doing this again. I thought the third time would be the charm.”
“Third time’s never the charm,” I say. “That’s just something people say to make themselves feel better. Like ‘love at first sight.’ Or ‘just the tip.’” I laugh.
She gives me a side-eye glare, but there’s no real heat behind it. “You’re not helping.”
“Sure, I am,” I say, flashing her my best grin. “I’m keeping things light. You’d be miserable without me.”
“I’d be less annoyed without you.” She’s trying to sound angry, but I don’t miss the faint smile tugging at her lips.
I laugh, starting the car. “All right, where to next? Do we find lawyer number four, or do we just wait for Elvis to call us and offer his legal expertise?”
Molly groans, covering her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I’m stuck doing this with you.”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” I say, pulling out of the parking lot. “You said yes, remember? This is a fifty-fifty partnership, Hex.”
“Do you ever take anything seriously?”
“Sure.” I glance at her quickly before focusing back on the road. “Like hockey. And my fantasy football league. And this weird little marriage we’ve got going on.”
She lets out a sharp laugh. “It’s not a marriage, Hudson.”
“Technically, it is.” I grin, and I’m sure if I were looking at her, I’d see my favorite scowl that she often gives me. “We’ve got the paperwork to prove it.”
“Which we’re trying to get rid of,” she points out.
“Doesn’t mean it’s not real,” I tease. “In fact, I think we might set a record for the shortest marriage in history.”
Molly groans again, but this time it sounds like she’s trying not to laugh. “We’re not even close to the shortest marriage. Remember that celebrity couple who lasted fifty hours?”
“Ah, true,” I say, nodding. “Then we’ll have to settle for something more impressive. Like longest annulment process. At this rate, we’re going to hit our one-month anniversary before we get this sorted.”
“That’s not funny,” she says, and I sneak a glance at her and see her lips are twitching.
“It’s a little funny,” I counter. “I mean, think about it—if we keep this up, we might outlast my parents’ marriage.”
That gets her. Molly finally allows herself to laugh, her head falling back against the seat. “God, you’re impossible.”
“Yep,” I say, grinning. “But you still married me.”
“Remind me to never drink with you again.”
“Noted,” I say. “But for the record, you’re the one who said, ‘I do.’”
“One more word, and I’m calling the next lawyer by myself.”
I remove my right hand from the steering wheel and mock surrender. “Fine. I’ll behave.”
“That’ll be the day.”
We drive in silence for a while.
The awkwardness from earlier fades away. It’s strange—this whole mess should be unbearable, but somehow, being stuck in it with Molly makes it . . . tolerable.
Maybe even fun.
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, watching as she absentmindedly taps her fingers against her knee. She catches me staring and raises an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly, focusing back on the road.
She doesn’t press, but I can feel her watching me for a moment longer before she turns back to the window.
Yeah, this whole situation is ridiculous.
But if I’m being honest with myself, I’m not in any rush to fix it.
Not yet, at least.
61
Hudson
Mason: Where the hell have you been, Wilde? You’ve been MIA.
Aiden: We haven’t heard from you much. Not even texts. Did you join a cult? Blink twice if you need help.
Hudson: I’m alive. Thanks for the concern.
Mason: Barely. I’ve seen ghosts more social than you lately.