“Dude, what the fuck? I thought you were dead.”
“Why?”
“After you left yesterday, I nipped back to grab a book I forgot, and two dudes were taking all your stuff.”
“Yeah, I erm…” I scrub at the back of my neck because how do I explain it to him? I don’t even understand. “I got married yesterday.”
“Married?”
“Shhh, keep your voice down. I don’t want anyone to know.”
He snatches my hand. “Well, maybe you should take that off then.”
“Shit.” I snatch my hand back and pry it off my finger. I pull out my car keys and start to clip the ring to the keyring.
“Holy shit,” Darius barks out, snatching my keys from me. “Is this? Is it yours?”
“Yes, will you keep your voice down?” He pulls back and stares me up and down. “Is that why you look like an Abercrombie and Fitch model and why you smell?” He leans in and takes a deep inhale. “So fucking expensive.” He chuckles, “Fuck man, you got yourself a sugar daddy.”
“Piss off. This is not, it’s just, fuck off.” I reach into my bag and pull out my books, scowling at Darius as he chuckles to himself. I try to focus, but it’s a little uncomfortable sitting, and all I can think about is, is this my life now? I don’t know how to navigate a marriage, and the more I think about it, maybe I can actually get an annulment. I have a black card. How much money is on that?
I start to pack up my books, and Darius grabs me. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I’m going to a solicitor to see if I can get an annulment. I don’t want this. I need to get out of this. I can’t do it.”
“With what fucking money, Leo?”
I grab out my wallet and show him the card and the cash.
“Holy shit, Leo.” He starts grabbing his things, too.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“You’re not doing this alone, plus you can take me out for dinner.”
I scoff because, of course, he wants something. We try to avoid eye contact with the lecturer as we make our way outside.
“Jesus, could you have parked any further away?”
“I didn’t want anyone to see the car.”
“Holy shit, Leo, this is fucking gorgeous. Are you sure you want to get this annulled? Fuck, I think I might marry him.”
I punch him in the arm as we step towards the car, looking so out-of-place out here in the back of the car park. I click thedoor open and slide in, pulling out my phone to search, and Darius snatches it out of my hands.
“Seriously, a new fucking phone too?” He starts flicking through the screens and checking it out, turning it over in his hands.
“Just search for annulment lawyers.” I start the car, and he pulls up the maps. I follow the map to the first place. I park up and walk inside. The receptionist is chirpy. Blonde, slightly older, but pretty eyes.
“Good afternoon, do you have an appointment?”
“Shit, no… I need to see someone about an annulment.”
“I’m sorry, sir. Unfortunately, you’ll need an appointment.”
“Okay, how long before I can get one?”
She scrolls through. “I have an appointment with one of our juniors in… five weeks.”
