Page 83 of Brutal Promise

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.