Page 59 of About That Rule

CHAPTER23

IT WAS AS if Nate had a death wish. Honest. Samantha walked into the lobby of the courtroom, and where did she find her soon-to-be ex-husband? Flirting shamelessly with another woman, who was also waiting to see the judge.

What an asshole.

Samantha glared when she sat down, but it didn’t deter him. All he did was give her a lazy smile, like he didn’t care if her blood was boiling. As if everything were fine. She gave him the middle finger, and he winked. It was making her regret not joining the meditation group Charlotte swore by. She needed anything to help her to stay calm.

“Samantha Nollins and Nate Haddic, the honorable Judge Shunton is ready to see you,” a shorter man with a round stomach announced from the doorway.

Samantha stood up instantly and marched over to man, tapping her foot impatiently as Nate dragged himself away from the mystery woman. He met Samantha at the doorway and smiled down at her.

“Ready to get annulled?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “Maybe not as ready as you are, as I see you already made a friend. Is that who you’re calling once we leave?”

They walked down the hall, following the man who was going over the annulment procedures, preparing them for what to expect. Or, at least, that was what it sounded like. Not that it mattered. She and Nate weren’t listening.

“Are you jealous?” Nate asked with a sly tone.

Samantha rolled her eyes. “Am I jealous of a woman you picked up in the lobby of a courthouse where people are most likely here for criminal activity? No, I am definitely not.”

He shrugged again, like it was no sweat off his back. “That’s right. You had no intention of making this work either way. Not that it matters, but the woman you’re criticizing finally has a court appearance with the judge about a sexual harassment claim at her work. She isn’t some criminal, just a woman who was asking for advice. But you already wrote it off like she was someone I was going to fuck. What little faith you have in me.”

“All rise,” the bailiff said when they merged to two different tables in the small courtroom. “Honorable Judge Shunton.”

Once the judge sat down, everyone else followed suit. He smiled once he saw the two of them. “Ah, my favorite couple who apparently still wants an annulment. Please, do share what has happened in the past ninety days.”

“May I?” Samantha asked while holding a folder. The judge prompted her to step forward with a quick movement of his hand.

“What do you have for me here?”

“These are pictures over the past ninety days for you to review.”

“Thank you.” The judge took the folder, and she went back to her desk.

He was quiet as he reviewed the pictures, most of which were of them smiling and having fun together.

“It seems as though,” the judge pushed his glasses up his nose, “you two were a happy couple. What happened to bring you both here today, ready to end your union?”

Samantha had a speech prepared because she was ready to call it quits. No thanks to Nate, as he didn’t bring a damn thing to show the courtroom they’d tried and failed to make marriage work. It was as if he was jeopardizing the annulment on purpose.

“Your honor,” Samantha gave her award-winning smile to the man, “as you can see from the pictures, we tried to make it work.”

“Did we?” Nate snarked back. She took a deep breath before giving him the evil eye. Then she went back to all fake smiles with the judge.

“Trust me, we did,” she said.

“Well, one of us did,” Nate piped up.

She turned to him, ready to fight. “You are correct. I tried, but it was hard to do when my partner couldn’t figure out what he wanted—single life or a partner.”

“Priceless coming from you.”

“You think I didn’t try?”

“I know you didn’t. Hence why we’re here.”

The judge tapped his gavel for their attention. “This is not the time to argue. If you both agree it’s over, I will grant the annulment based on the interpretation of misrepresentation at time of vows. As long as you didn’t consummate the marriage.”