“Can’t I be safeandkissed?”
****
Jessica
Alan seemed thrown by my question.
“Well… sure. You’ll always be safe. I would never hurt you.”
I didn’t doubt that for a second.
“But,” he continued, “I don’t want you to feel like you have to kiss me. You didn’t exactly choose this.”
“Neither did you.”
“Yes, I did. I asked you to marry me. I didn’t have to do that.”
“And I said yes. I didn’t have to do that either.”
“Yeah, but you’re under duress.” His eyes got wide, like he’d just had an idea. “That’s what you can say when you file for divorce. I mean, not that I’ll contest it, but you’ll have to list a reason why you want to dissolve the marriage.”
Good grief, we hadn’t even gotten married yet, and he was already planning on how we could end it.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I bit out as I switched on the light. It felt like the candles were mocking me now. “Why don’t we figure out the logistics of how this is going to work.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Alan
“Did she like the candles and flowers?” Lainey asked the following morning when she handed me a mug of coffee as I sat at her kitchen table between my parents. I’d recruited her and Jade to stage the house while I was out getting ice cream with Jess.
“I think so. I mean, she said yes.”
Adam set a plate of bacon in the middle of the table. “Did you pick a date?”
“August first—two weeks from tomorrow. Lain, you’re going to have to give her time off so she can do some planning.”
Lainey gasped. “August first?! Are you crazy?”
“What? She said that would be enough time to find a dress, and order flowers and a cake.”
“There’s more to a wedding than flowers and a cake, Alan.”
“I know, but the sooner we’re married, the better. I’d marry her today if my attorney could get the prenup drawn up.”
“Wait—what? You’re making her sign a prenup?”
“It was her idea, but I don’t disagree. With a prenup she’ll know she’s going to be protected financially no matter what. It’ll spell out her spousal and child support, so she’ll know she doesn’t have to worry if we divorce. And it’ll guarantee I’ll still get to see Ruthie grow up.”
My mom quietly said, “You told me when we were ring shopping you wanted this to be a real marriage. Are you planning on divorcing her?”
“No. But you have to admit, our situation is unusual. What if she doesn’t want a real marriage? I don’t want her to feel tied to me because she’s dependent on my money.”
Jess and I’d agreed last night that we’d stay together at least until she finished her degree, and that I’d pay her tuition. Shethought she could be done in three years if she went back in January. I’d suggested she take this semester off so she could be with Ruthie; something she’d quickly agreed with. I also encouraged her to transfer, but ultimately, it’d be her decision where she went to school.
Adam stood in front of the stove, shaking his head as he cracked eggs in a bowl. “So, make her want a real marriage, dumbass.”
“No shit, Sherlock. But I gotta marry her first.”
