Page 27 of Love & Other Drunken Mistakes
I give her mine and Euan’s information, then confirm two more times that she means fortodayat eleven. She verifies the date and time without any change in tone. “Thank you, we’ll see him then.”
“So, today at eleven?” Euan asks, his lips twitching.
“I wanted to be sure,” I reply defensively, though I feel an answering smile try to break through. I glance at the clock. It’s just past nine, which means we have a couple of hours until the appointment. Since I took the whole day off, there’s nothing else for me to do except hang out with Euan.
I put the car in drive and start heading back to the hotel. As I do, a new thought occurs to me. “Have you booked a room for the rest of the week?”
“Not yet. I should probably talk to the front desk about it when we get back.”
“Don’t.” It’s not the most articulate protest but it spills out faster than I can organize my thoughts.
He arches an eyebrow, waiting for me to explain.
“I mean, you don’t need to keep wasting money on a hotel. You’re my husband, even if it’s only temporary. You can stay with me.”
“Should you be inviting a stranger into your home? What if I rob you blind?”
I snort. “Anything you steal I’ll take back in the settlement.”
“I don’t know if annulments have settlements. I think that’s just divorces.”
Since I can’t think of another quippy remark, I settle for sincerity instead. “Seriously, Euan. If you want to come stay with me, my home is open to you.”
He’s quiet for a moment, his gaze locked on me, as if he’s waiting for me to snatch the invitation away.
Like Nick did.
“Alright,” he finally says with a soft smile. “I really appreciate the offer.”
Every smile from him, no matter how small or fleeting, warms my heart a little. Euan said he likes having this connection to me, even with all the complications, even though we both know it will end. If I’m honest, I understand the appeal. From the beginning, we’d been drawn to each other, two people seeking a light in the darkness.
Maybe we can still be that for each other during our marriage, however short-lived it is.
Chapter Twelve: Euan
The invitation surprised me. I assumed Alex would want to distance himself from the relationship as soon as we confirmed the marriage, especially after my confession. It seems like the logical course of action if we’re petitioning for an annulment. I should have turned him down. I can afford a week in the hotel room, and even if I need to stay here longer for the court proceedings, finding somewhere to stay is my responsibility. But Iwantto be near Alex, to spend quiet evenings getting to know each other.
Even when I thought it would only be one drunken night together, I wasn’t ready to let him go. Now that we’re married, I want to stuff him in my suitcase and take him home with me. I’ll settle for visiting his home instead.
Alex drops me off at the hotel and gives me his address. I’ll need to pack up my things, check out of the room, and drive the rental car over to his place. The time apart gives me an opportunity to sort through my thoughts.
Can this turn into a real relationship? It’d be a little backwards, marrying him and then dating. There are plenty of couples throughout history in similar circumstances. Andwhile I know it’s not the same situation, my parents married only a few months after meeting each other. Of course, there’s some question about their motivations when you calculate the number of years they’ve been married based on my brother’s age.
But my father always says:I knew the moment I saw her, she was the one.
I don’t necessarily believe in love at first sight or ‘one true love’, but I do recognizepotential. It’s the difference between wanting to take someone to bed for a night and wanting to wake up next to them in the morning.
I remember waking up with Alex in my arms yesterday. How easily he fit beside me, his head pillowed on my chest. How reluctant I was, even then, to let him go.
And then I remember how I woke up this morning. Alone. The other half of the bed empty and cold. The room was too quiet, too dark, too oppressive. I’d abandoned it quickly to seek out coffee and breakfast somewhere without reminders of him.
Too bad the invitation is only to stay in his apartment rather than his bed.I’m sure I’ll be sleeping on the couch or in a spare bedroom. Still, it’ll be nice to be close to him, for as long as I can be.
When I arrive at Alex’s apartment complex, he’s already waiting outside. I pull up to his curb and unlock the doors. He opens the passenger door and slides into the car with the ease of routine, as if we always spend our days in and out of each other’s spaces.
“Sorry we don’t have time for a tour,” Alex says. “I don’t want to be late.”
“It’s fine,” I assure him and focus on navigating to the lawyer’s office.
