AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He smirks. “You’re not supposed to.”
“You’re very frustrating, you know that?”
“I could say the same for you.”
Warmth fills my stomach, expanding throughout my limbs at the way he’s looking at me.
Ugh. I turn away from him and his perfect smile, escaping into my bedroom. Stripping out of my clothes, I bury my head under the shower. I stay like that for what feels like forever before finally peeling myself out of the room, my unicorn robe firmly back in place.
There’s a coffee on the counter and a handwritten note.
You look cute in the morning, wife. I’ll see you for lunch.
--Your husband.
I ignore the fact that Damon has, once again, suggested we have lunch together and run my fingers along the thick textured paper. I subconsciously raise it to my nose and take a deep breath of his scent.
Husband, husband, husband. The word both thrills and terrifies me. Everything feels like it’s barreling down a freeway at a million miles a minute, so fast that I can’t make out the passing buildings. So fast the world blurs.
I spin the silver bracelet around my wrist as I look around, the cool metal now warm against my skin.
Damon’s things are all around my place. There are a few bottles of whiskey that look more expensive than my rent sitting on a new table tucked against the wall. The smooth oak looks out of place with the cheap laminate of everything I own. His suit jacket is still hanging over the back of the chair from last night.
My cheeks flush at the memory of his barely there touch, and I shake off the shiver traveling over my skin. A bubbly feeling grows in my chest, spreading warmth through my body.
The plan seemed so simple yesterday. Get married, get my visa reinstated, get divorced in a year, and forget all about this.
Then he had to go and be so freaking observant. He was understanding when I didn’t want to go into his house. Now, he’s moved into my place, and he’s leaving little reminders of his presence everywhere I look. There was a softness to him that I didn’t anticipate. An understanding, like only he could see what I’ve buried deep within me.
He didn’t ask questions or try to pressure me. Instead, he bent to my level and gave me a choice in what we did. He gave me a say in his life and had no trouble adjusting. If I’m not careful, I could get used to this, and that’s not the plan at all.
My chest tenses. One year, and this will be over.
I have one year to survive with my heart intact.
First, I have to face the inevitable chaos that’s about to ensue when I tell my friends what I’ve done. I bring my coffee to the couch and collapse against it, pulling up the group chat with Piper and Mia, and take a deep breath, steeling myself for what comes next.
Me: I did a thing.
Piper: Why does that sound so ominous?
Me: I got married. Surprise.
Piper: No seriously. What’s up.
Me: Yesterday, I got married to keep my working status in the US.
Mia: YOU DID WHAT?
Piper: Explain.
Mia: To who?
My thumb twitches above the keys, and I bite the corner of my lip. It’s one thing to marry Damon. It’s an entirely different thing to admit it. I pull the Band-Aid off and type out my reply.
Me: Damon Everette
Piper: WHAT?
