Page 54 of Broken Rules
“How do you know we actually got married?”
“If the photos and rings aren’t proof enough, this is.” Pulling a paper from his back pocket, he unfolds it and hands me the crinkled sheet. “We’ll receive our marriage certificate in three to four weeks.”
I look the forum over and groan. “No, we won’t because this marriage isn’t happening! We’re getting it annulled. We weren’t in the right state of mind.”
He stays quiet for a moment, staring into his mug, then looks at me. “What if I don’t feel the same way?”
“What? Lex, we can’t stay married—we’re not even together!”
“We can be. We’ll make it work somehow.”
A laugh bursts through my lips as I shake my head. “No way, not happening.”
My head feels like it’s going to explode as I climb off the bed, dragging the top sheet with me, and the coffee spills on Lennox as I yank the white fabric out from under him. He jumps, pulling his drenched shirt away from his skin, and I feel awful.
“Shit. Sorry.”
Grabbing my phone, I continue to the bathroom and lock it behind me. This can’t be happening right now. I can’t believe he wants to stay married. That makes zero sense. Looking in the mirror, I scrunch my nose at my pale cheeks, dark circles, and smudged makeup, in need of a long hot shower. Letting out a shaky breath, I look at the ring closer and slip the silver band attached to the oval diamond off my finger. It’s simple yet beautiful—exactly something I’d pick out. I set it on top of my phone and head straight to the shower, putting the temperature on high. There’s a knock on the door, and I wrap the sheet around me before I pull the door open a smidge.
“I ordered room service. Lunch is on the table,” he says.
Staring at his bare muscular chest, I gaze lower to the deep lines peeking out from the band of his underwear. “Um, lunch?” I ask, then look at his smirking face. “What time is it?”
“It’s one in the afternoon, Peaches.”
“What? We’re gonna miss our flight!” My temples pulse, and I press my hand to the side of my head. “I should take those pills.”
“Don’t worry, I—” Lennox stares at my hand, his heavy gaze pulling back to mine before he walks away with his head low. “I called and booked us a later flight. Hope you like burgers.”
My stomach sinks as I touch my bare ring finger, then watch Lennox plop onto the couch, rubbing his hands over his face while staring at the wall.Why does he feel so strongly about all this?There’s nothing between us besides a few intimate encounters. Why would he possibly want to stay married to me? Closing the door, I sit on the toilet, carefully relocating the ring onto the vanity, then grab my phone, pulling up over fifty unread messages in the group text with Enzo and Luca. These don’t look too good. I skim through numerous blurry photos and texts, reading some of them.
Luca:You let her get married!?
Enzo:I was beautiful…I mean, look, Evie’s beautiful, isn’t she?
Luca:You’re drunk! You’re a fucking dead man!
Oh no. Skimming a few more, I stop at a voice recording from me.
“Lorenzo...where did you go, Zoey? I need you, my maid of honor.”
I snort at the nickname he hates, and Maid of Honor? How much did we all drink?
“Luca, you’re gonna be so mad when we tell you...ohh, wait, we don’t tell him!”
There’s a variety of emojis, including champagne with a long row of eggplants, and I groan, rubbing my eyes. “Fucking idiot I am.”
Pressing on the message bar, I hesitate before sending a sober text.
Me:Please, give me 24 hours before any new replies. I know. I’m in deep fucking shit.
I open a text for Enzo and type a message.
Me:I’m safe. Please text or call me to let me know you’re okay.
Scrolling through my contacts, I stop on Dad’s number, wanting to call him so badly, but set my phone down instead, laying my face in my hands—what a mess I am.I should’ve kept my ass in Oregon. The room fills with steam, so I enter the shower, letting the water roll out my stiff neck. What happened after the fight? I know there was an after-party, and things get fuzzy after—I gasp.
Jared.
