“Do you?” he snaps. “Because you showing up here and telling me you want to move in makes it seem like you have only a very slim grasp on reality.”
The words sting more than I expect.
“I’m sorry, Jake. I panicked.”
“So let me get this straight,” he says slowly. “The annulment deadline passed.”
“Yes.”
“We are still legally married.”
“Yes.”
“And your solution is to move into my house.”
“Yes.”
He turns back to me, eyes blazing.
“You’re crazy.”
I lift my chin and meet his gaze.
“We’re married, Jake,” I say quietly. “Whether you like it or not.”
His chest rises sharply.
“And I’m not going back home.”
9
JAKE
Roommate
Istare at her like if I look long enough, she’ll glitch.
Like this is some kind of stress-induced hallucination brought on by preseason pressure and too much caffeine.
But she doesn’t flicker. She doesn’t fade.
She just stands there in my living room, chin lifted, eyes stubborn and bright, like she’s daring me to try and move her.
“So let me get this straight,” I say slowly, because if I don’t slow this down, I’m going to lose whatever control I have left. “The annulment deadline passed.”
“Yes.”
Her voice is steady. Too steady.
“We are still legally married.”
“Yes.”
Each answer lands like a hammer to the ribs.
“And your solution is to move into my house.”
“Yes.”
