Page 100 of Marrying Off My Husband

“Not going to happen,” I said again, this time aloud as though that would make it more real.

With a sigh, I let my head fall back against the cushion behind me. “And neither is a relationship with Eve.”

The words shattered my heart despite my best efforts to steel myself against it.

“Stop grieving a relationship that never was, Spencer. You’re setting yourself up for pain again with another relationship that never was and likely never will be.”

I grabbed the remote and flicked on the television before I snatched my game controller from the coffee table. A few hours in Mystic Realms should distract me from my heart sickness.

I waited for the game to load, drumming my fingers against my thigh as I waited, mentally logging a note that I should address the too-slow loading page.

Finally, the world populated on my screen. My nose wrinkled as I spotted my character sitting next to Eve’s on the couch. Her eyes were closed, indicating that she wasn’t playing right now.

My thumb hovered over the buttons on the controller before I set it aside, deciding I didn’t want to play the game after all.

With the remote in hand again, I flipped through the hundreds of stations I paid for yet never watched. Bypassing the game shows and raunchy talk shows, I landed on something that looked emotionally intense.

A woman, her features pinched and tears rolling down her cheeks, hugged herself as she sniffled. I wondered what had happened. Did her dog die? Her husband?

The camera flicked to a lanky man standing opposite her. Outside of the shaggy haircut, he reminded me of me. “That’s not true. Ava, I’ve seen you at your best, and at your worst, and everything in between. I love all of it. I love how you’re just as comfortable in that unicorn onesie as you are a designer evening gown. And I love that you are smart and savvy.”

“I love how you always have my back no matter what. And how you unapologetically admit you can’t cook. And the way you get this little crease right here when you concentrate.” He gently poked at a spot between her eyebrows.

“I love your love for orange soda. And how you cry at those stupid rom-coms. I love everything about you, Ava. I just…love you.”

Surprisingly to even me, I sat there through the entire monologue, glued to it. What had prompted this outpouring of emotion? And would he get the girl? She was way out of his league.

As the scene continued on the screen, I grabbed my phone and searched the title to determine the premise of the movie, reading it aloud. “Still under fire from a shadowy organization called The Board, a tech billionaire seeks not only answers, but love in a marriage that was supposed to be fake.”

With a scoff, I snatched the remote and turned to another station. Another couple declared their love for each other. “I’ll never let you go again, Sera. Marry me.”

The redhead grinned up at the man, agreeing to the wedding.

He seemed surprised. “That was easier than I expected.”

“Chris, I left Heaven for you. What did you think I would say?”

“What in the world is this?” I murmured before I searched the titleChris Gets the Girlto read another synopsis. “When an angel falls for a jaded doctor, Heaven knows what will happen.”

I pursed my lips. “Cute, but no. Things don’t work that way.”

With a sigh, I shut off the television, more content with the silence than all the happiness people inexplicably found in books and movies. The real world didn’t work like that. I wouldn’t find my happy. Not with Louise, not with Eve.

As I resigned myself to a life alone, my phone jangled on the cushion next to me, vibrating across the sleek fabric.

I glanced at the caller.Louise.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I grabbed it to take the call. “Lou? Hey, I hope you don’t need me to bail you out–”

“No time, Spence. Meet me at the hospital. Eve’s been in an accident.”

The words sliced at me like a butcher’s knife. How hurt was she? Hurt enough to be in the hospital, I thought as I leapt from the couch and raced to grab my keys.

Seconds later, I was in my car, aiming for the local hospital, my mind whirling over what I’d find when I got there. Panic twisted my insides into knots.

I had to face the fact that Eve mattered to me. And that scared me more than anything. Because eventually, I was going to end up with a broken heart over this.

I swung into the hospital’s drive, spotting Louise’s sports car in front of me. When she screeched to a stop outside of the emergency room, I spotted Audrey with her, too.

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