Page 169 of Beautiful Collide

Yeah, this place doesn’t bode well for me. If the lawyer can’t afford a sturdy table, how am I supposed to trust them with my divorce?

I press my foot against the leg of her chair to stop the shaking, but she shoots me a glare.

“What?” I whisper, knowing full well why she’s shooting me a death stare.

“Nothing,” she seethes back.

The third attorney in our pathetic attempt to find proper legal counsel is a balding man in a slightly too tight suit.

Again, I’m not at all impressed.

His tie is aggressively green as if he’s trying to prove he has a personality despite his monotone voice. The only thing it’s doing is making my eyes hurt. Like, I get it, you want me to think you’re “cool.” But I’m not buying it.

Here’s the thing, I don’t need this ridiculous man to have a personality. I just need him to know the law.

He adjusts his glasses, looking at the folder on the table between us like it contains the meaning of life. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. Unless the meaning of life involves regrettable decisions made while in Vegas.

“So,” the attorney says, flipping a page for no apparent reason, “you’re looking for help with . . . annulment matters?”

I glance at Molly, who is staring hard at the man like he’s about to accuse us of something. She’s about one glare away from standing up and abandoning this whole meeting.

I’m with you, Hex. This is bad.

We’d agreed not to spill too many details during this consultation. Not because we’re embarrassed.Okay, I’m not embarrassed. Molly, on the other hand . . . but I digress, the issue is this guy doesn’t exactly scream “trustworthy.”

“Yes,” Molly says curtly, her voice clipped.

The attorney nods, his face expressionless. Way to calm her nerves, buddy. Stellar bedside manner. Do they teach this in law school? “You mentioned it was a marriage that occurred . . . recently?”

I resist the urge to smirk. “You could say that.”

“And you believe annulment is the best course of action?” He looks up at us for the first time.

Molly stiffens beside me; her knee starts to bounce again. Great. “Yes,” she says too quickly for my liking.

I narrow my eyes at her and notice that her chest is rising and falling too quickly. She’s about to have a panic attack. The thing is, people might think I’m the team clown, but I’m very good at reading people, especially Molly.

I clear my throat, stepping in before she does. “We just need someone who can handle it discreetly. No unnecessary questions, no leaks to TMZ.”

The man’s expression doesn’t change, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity, maybe? Or greed. Definitely not confidence. This isn’t a good look for him.

“Of course.” His tone is as bland as his office decor. This isn’t going to work. No way can I put up with this man for however long it takes to get this annulled. “Discretion is a priority in cases like this.”

“Great.” I lean back in my chair. “So, hypothetically, if we hired you, how long would this process take?”

“That depends on the specifics.” He folds his hands on the table. “The circumstances of the marriage, the jurisdiction where it occurred—”

“It was Vegas,” Molly blurts, then immediately clamps her mouth shut like she’s said too much. I bite back a laugh when her face turns cherry red.

The attorney arches an eyebrow. “Did you say Vegas?”

Despite how tightly I’m pressing my lips together, a small laugh leaks from my mouth. I turn my attention to Molly, who doesn’t find this situation nearly as funny as I do. She looks like she wants to melt into the floor.

My stomach twists at her reaction. It’s not like I thought she’d be thrilled about being married to me, but I also wish she didn’t have such a bad reaction to being married to me. Sure, it’s a mistake, but she doesn’t have to act like it’s the end of the world.

“Yeah.” Never breaking her gaze, I lean forward. “Quickest weddings in the country. They’re like drive-through burger joints but with vows.”

Molly glares at me, her cheeks flushing.

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