I freeze like I’ve been caught with my hand down my pants. The fantasy didn’t go nearly that far but I’m still embarrassed about the brief images.
She removes her earbud and focuses on Euan and me. “Everything appears to be in order. Barring any surprises in the final document review, you two are legally married.”
“Even though we were drunk?” Euan asks.
“That’s where things get complicated. If you were drunk, that can invalidate the marriage because both parties need to give their informed consent.” Her earlier enthusiasm drains away and without it the room seems a little dimmer, the whites dingier. “However, it’s not an automatic process, you’ll need to file for an annulment.”
“Alright, an annulment.” I look at Euan again, but his expression is too difficult to read.Is he in shock?“Can we do the annulment with you?”
Stephanie shakes her head. “No, you need to file it with the court. And I highly recommend you consult a lawyer first.” She opens her desk drawer and withdraws several business cards. “These are from local lawyers who should be able to help you.”
I accept the cards, then flinch at the name on the very first one:Theresa Ackers.I carefully set that card back on her desk and review the others, also removing any who workat Theresa’s firm. No reason to involve her or any of her coworkers in my annulment.
“Thanks,” I say as I slip the cards into my pocket.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you better answers,” Stephanie says. All her opinions on weddings and marriage are now securely hidden behind a wall of professionalism.
She stands up and I take that as my cue to stand as well. Euan remains seated for a moment before he joins us and walks to the door.
Euan still hasn’t said anything by the time we reach the parking lot. Once we’re in the car and have some semblance of privacy I ask, “What’re you thinking about?”
The question finally pulls him from his reverie, and his dark eyes focus on me. He reaches out and brushes a thumb over my cheek. I freeze at the touch, not sure what he means by it. It’s so light it tickles and yet the weight of it lingers like a permanent mark on my skin. “Selfishly, I’m happy it wasn’t a normal one-night stand. That I’ll have you in my life a little longer.” His hand drops into his lap. “But it’s not that simple. There will be legal fees and court dates. We have no idea how long the process takes, which will complicate dating.”
My heart clenches at the idea of him dating someone else. I imagine him brushing me aside, explaining ‘Oh, him? He’s nothing. Just a drunken mistake. You’re the one I really want, baby.’ A surprising jolt of jealousy surges through me.
“What are you going to tell Theresa?”
I shove the imaginary figures off a cliff and refocus on the real Euan in front of me. “What?”
“About the marriage,” he says. “You’ll need to tell her before you get back together.”
Oh shit, he was talking about me.I was so focused on his hypothetical relationships that I’d forgotten about my own. “I don’t know. I think …” I trail off as I try to wrangle my thoughts back toward Theresa. “That even if you and I weren’t married, I’m not ready to revisit my relationship with her. It’s too soon. If you’re going to break up, you should at least stay broken up for a week, right? Or maybe a month. Really give yourself time to think about it.”
“My personal rule is ten years,” Euan offers.
“Ten years?!” The concept is baffling. I sometimes struggle to picture myself five years from now, let alone ten. For some reason, it feels different to put a timeline on it rather than thinking about the vague notion of ‘forever.’
“Long enough for them to change and grow without you, so it feels like you’re meeting a whole new person.”
“Oh, so you’re saying that if we stay married for ten years, I’ll be married to a whole new Euan?” The question slips out before I realize I probably shouldn’t joke about remaining married while actively seeking an annulment.
He grins, the air of solemnity slowly melting away. “And I’d be married to a whole new Alex.”
“How about we focus on this Alex and Euan’s marriage first?” I pull out the business cards and hold them out to him in a fan. “Pick a card, any card.”
Although his smile has faded, amusement clings to the corners of his lips. He plucks a card from the fan and offers it to me. “This one.”
“Alright, we’ll call Richard Beiler first.” I call the number on the card and wait for the receptionist to pick up.
“Bailey, Beiler, and Pratchett, how can I help you?”
“Hi, my … husband and I were hoping to meet with Richard Beiler to speak to him about an annulment.”
“An annulment?” The only hint of her surprise is a slight inflection. “Let me check his schedule.” She puts me on hold for a few minutes before returning. “If you’d like to speak with him today, he has an opening in his schedule at eleven a.m. Otherwise, he has some availability next week.”
“Today would be perfect! You said eleven?”
“Yes, sir. Can I get the name of you and your spouse please?”
