“You want to stay married, so I’ll go out with you?”
“When you say it like that it sounds so pathetic.” He offers me a small grin. “I like you and I know I probably screwed everything up, but if you give me another chance, I won’t blow it this time.”
It might be the nicest, most bizarre way someone has tried to ask me out. Scratch that, it’s definitely the most bizarre. And the nicest?
“You didn’t blow it,” I tell him. If anyone did, it was me. It was my decision to drink too much and throw caution to the wind.
He tips his chin down and gives me an expression that calls bullshit.
“Listen, I’m not in a place to date right now. I’m barely holding things together with the new training regimen and settling into a new place. All my remaining emotional availability goes to Wren. Our parents died when we were young so I’m responsible for her. Getting involved with so much happening wouldn’t be fair to you.” I don’t know why I’m dropping all this on him now, but it feels important to me that he knows I’m not turning him down easily.
His mouth opens like he’s going to argue.
“Trust me. I’m doing you a favor.”
Saturday afternoon, I meet Travis at the lawyer’s office as planned. The lobby is all white marble and gold accents. An attractive man in a suit sits behind the curved desk (also white) to the right of the entry doors.
“Good afternoon,” he says, all polite and cheery. Somehow that makes my nerves increase.
“We’re here to see Bill Hughes,” Travis says.
“Third floor.” His smile is big and as blindingly white as the marble.
Travis thanks him and then places a hand at my back to lead me toward the elevators. My heels clack and echo in a quick rhythm with my pulse.
“Relax.” Travis punches the button for the third floor and the steel doors close me in with him.
“I’m relaxed,” I squeak out.
He grins. “Liar.”
I let out a whoosh of air, which does make a little more room for calm thoughts. As the elevator whirrs and starts up, my phone rings.
“Sorry,” I say, reaching into my purse to silence it. “It’s probably…”
I don’t get out Wren’s name before I see who it is. “Everly.”
“Everything okay?” Travis asks as I continue to stare at the screen but not answer it.
“Yeah. I’m sure it’s nothing.” I drop it back into my purse and the doors open onto the third floor.
The white and gold theme continues up here but the cubicles that stretch out in the middle of the floor make it feel less intimidating. There’s a receptionist desk but it’s unmanned. In fact, there isn’t anyone up here at all as far as I can see.
“Are you sure we’re in the right place?” I ask Travis at the same time a deep voice calls out, “Bennett!”
I whirl in time to see an impeccably dressed man with salt and pepper hair walking our way with a smile.
Travis steps forward to greet him. “Hey, Bill. Nice to see you again.”
“Same.” Bill’s gaze moves to me. “And you must be Hannah.”
“Hi.” I stretch out a hand for him and he shakes it with a nod.
He leads us to a large conference room with a giant white table in the center. The lights flicker on automatically as we step inside.
There is water and a fruit platter laid out beside a stack of papers. An annulment with snacks. Classy.
“I have everything ready to go. Just sign and I’ll take care of the rest,” Bill says. He looks down at the papers and frowns, then checks the pocket inside his jacket. “A pen would be helpful, huh? Be right back.”
