the identity of my husband. Chance will need to know sooner or later if he’s going to help us clean up this mess, anyway. Drawing in a fortifying breath, I let it out slowly before admitting, “It’s Jesse. It was kind of a dare-type situation.”
Chance lets out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “Jesus Christ. You two.” He looks thoughtful for a moment, before asking, “Did you use your legal names for the license? ‘Cause if you didn’t, you’re in the clear.”
I release a soft groan, remembering all to clearly Jesse’s insistence that if it wasn’t legal it wouldn’t count. Of course, that had been when we’d both assumed we could just undo it all with a simple annulment. Shaking my head, I admit, “It was legal.”
“Okay,” Chance says, his tone now matter-of-fact and very lawyer-like. “Come see me tomorrow and we’ll go over your options.”
When I finally get back to my hotel room, I’m surprised to find Jesse waiting outside my door.
“Aren’t you worried someone might see you?” I ask, offering a raised brow.
“We’re the only ones with rooms on this floor,” he says with a shrug.
Right. I’d totally forgotten about that.
“I saw you talking to Chance,” Jesse says as I let us into the room. “Is he going to fix this.”
“He’s going to try. But it might not be as simple as we thought.”
“What do you mean?” he asks warily.
“Well, it seems annulment’s off the table…” I explain to him everything Chance told me about the requirements for an annulment.
“So, where do we go from here?”
“He wants to see us tomorrow to discuss everything.”
Jesse nods. “Okay, good. Let me know what time and I’ll be there.”
I’m expecting him to leave now, but as I rush around the room tossing clothes into my bag, I realize he’s still standing there. “Was there something else?”
He draws in a heavy breath, lifting a hand to rub through his hair in a nervous gesture. “Look, earlier this morning I kind of…freaked out a little.”
My brows shoot up. “You don’t say?”
He sighs. “I’m sorry, okay? I was just a little disorientated when I woke up and then it all just hit me and…” he throws up his hands helplessly.
I shake my head in dismissal. “It’s not a big deal, don’t worry.”
“Also, um…I realize now I was wrong about you,” he mumbles, tugging at the hem of his t-shirt in clear discomfort.
“Thank you,” I say softly, trying not to let on just how much that admission means to me.
Jesse nods once and turns for the door. “Oh, one last thing,” he says as he’s about to step out of the room. His mouth curves into a soft smile. “Thanks.”
I stare at him in confusion for a moment. “What for?”
He gives a casual shrug. “Poor decision making aside, last night was a lot of fun.”
11
From the private Facebook group ‘Finchley Locals Community Hangout’
* * *
Post by Hank Latham: Has anyone seen Mabel? She went missing last night
Beth Bowry reply to Hank Latham’s post: You lost a horse? How do you lose a horse?
Alice Ackerman reply to Hank Latham’s post: This does not speak well of your animal parenting skills Hank!
Missy Goode reply to Hank Latham’s post: If Mabel’s missing who was pulling the tourist carriage this morning? Was that an imposter horse??
Alice Ackerman reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: I think Hank’s the one who’s gone missing *eye roll emoji*
* * *
Jesse
* * *
“You’re different,” Harriett declares.
My coffee mug pauses halfway to my lips. “What? Different how?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s just usually you hate being here. You always seem like you can’t wait to leave. But now, you almost seem kind of…”
“Chipper,” Livia supplies, tearing off a piece of her muffin and tossing it into her mouth.
Harriett’s eyes light up. “Yes. Exactly! Which is odd for a guy who just got dumped, if you ask me.”
Okay, I’m starting to regret joining the twins for breakfast. They’re being way too insightful for a Monday morning. For the record, I didn’t realize I was known around here as the town grump, but I guess it makes sense considering I usually can’t wait to get back to New York whenever I’m here. Right now, though, it doesn’t feel as though there’s a whole lot of awesomeness to go back to.
Also, I’m about half an hour away from getting the biggest mistake of my life sorted out. Web and I will be meeting with Chance soon and this whole mess will be done with. Hard not to be