Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
You only get married once, right? The thought has me laughing because all of this is a damn disaster.
If he wants to have sex with me, I’ll be so drunk I won’t remember his hands on me. When the world tilts, and I feel as though I’m going to throw up, I realize I’ve accomplished my goal. A mischievous grin spreads across my face as he’s forced to keep me from falling on my ass. He cusses at me for ruining our wedding night, but for me, it’s mission accomplished. Tonight, I win—not Robert—regardless of what he thinks.
Monday morning comes quickly, and I’m determined to make Robert keep his word despite not being able to consummate our marriage. He suggested we could Sunday night, but I told him I still felt hungover and nauseous. That was enough to make him walk away.
I get up and dress for work, but he’s already gone by the time I roll over. He told me he’d meet me at the notary office, so I’m going to make sure I’m not late. If he tried to get out of signing the paperwork today, there’d be no honeymoon. Rumors would spread like wildfire, and he’d have to create more lies to cover that lie. Considering he invited nearly five hundred people to the ceremony and bragged about where we were going, everyone would be suspicious if it was suddenly canceled. I acted surprised and excited when he announced it on stage, and they all stupidly bought it. He continued on about the first-class tickets to Hawaii and the private villa he rented, and I was the envy of all the single women. Knowing how many people witnessed what took place still gives me hives, but he’s always wanted to be the center of attention. He finally got what he wanted, and me being sloppy drunk is what he deserved.
Just as he promised, he meets me at eight with the drafted deed agreement his lawyer finalized. I told Dad I had some errands to run this morning and would be late to work.
When we enter, the woman and all her jingly bracelets and big blond hair greets us. She pulls out her official stamps and looks through the paperwork, then asks for our driver’s licenses.
“I haven’t changed my information yet,” I explain.
Robert glares at me. “Why haven’t you?”
“Sweetheart…” My tone is venomous. “It’s only Monday. We’ve been married for two days. Don’t worry, I plan on taking care of it before we leave for the honeymoon.”
“All documents have to be signed in your full legal name and need to match what’s on your license,” the clerk informs me.
“That’s fine,” I confirm.
“Maybe we should wait until you get an updated social security card and can go down to the DMV and change your license.”
I narrow my eyes. “That won’t be necessary.” Leaning over, I whisper, “A deal is a deal. Don’t make me cause a scene.”
He acts as if I just slapped him across the face, even if my voice was only loud enough for him to hear. The smile on the woman’s face doesn’t falter, but she begins to tap her nail. Though Robert hesitates, he eventually does exactly what I need. Even if he’s an asshole most of the time, I can respect that he keeps his word, sometimes.
When the paperwork is stamped, the woman hands it over to me, and I feel like I won the damn lottery. We thank her, and I hold it tightly in my hand as if it will disintegrate. Though I never wanted to stand in front of a crowd of people, wearing the same dress his mother wore while saying I Do, having this deed makes that torturous ceremony all worth it. Before we leave, Robert makes sure to pull me into his arms and kiss me for anyone who’s looking our way to witness.
After I’m in my car, I wipe the taste of him from my lips and pop a piece of gum in my mouth. I can still smell the faint hint of his cologne on my shirt from where he got too close and rubbed against me. Just the thought of him touching me makes me want to soak in bleach. At the beginning of our relationship, I wondered why he was single because he’s good looking, has a ton of money, and seemed to want to make me happy. Now, I realize he’s crazy as hell and probably pushed every single woman away. What a disaster.
The first place I go is to the courthouse to file the paperwork. There’s no way I’m going to allow anything to get in my way. Considering it’s Monday morning, the line is long, but I don’t mind waiting. Hell, I’d wait the rest of the week right here as long as it meant this was finalized and recorded in the deed book. When I get to the window, I’m relieved to see a woman I don’t know because I really don’t want anyone in my business right now. I happily pay the filing fee to get everything transferred over to my name. For the first time in a couple of weeks, I feel as if I can breathe again.