Page 12 of Monster Mistake

So, imagine her surprise when he did not give his enthusiastic consent. Instead, he shifted his eyes to Justine and muttered, “I want…what Justine wants.”

Justine’s jaw dropped. This was the second time he’d insinuated that maybe he didn’t want this annulment. She’d been sure he was making a little joke when he said he could do worse than her. But she couldn’t ask for clarification now. Not in front of Lila, and not when she wasn’t even sure howshefelt about his reluctance to annul their giant drunken mistake.

Lila, however, had no such compunction. “That’s not a yes, pal. Before I waste my time on paperwork, I’m going to need consent from both of you. So, I’ll ask again. Do you want this annulment, Khill?”

And still he didn’t answer. Justine sputtered, “Of course he does.” She turned fully in her seat to face him. “Right?”

A muscle in his jaw jumped. “If that’s what you want, then yes.”

Lila’s eyes bounced between them like she was watching a tennis match. “Jussie? You want the annulment, right?”

Some part of her somewhere deep inside wanted to scream no. Khill was an amazing guy. He was hot, kind, great with dogs, hardworking, smart, and every other thing she could ever want in a husband. But the way they got married was just…wrong. If she ever got lucky enough toactuallymarry Khill, she wanted to do it right. Or sober, at the very least. “Yes, I want the annulment.”

The longest silence in the history of long silences followed. Not a sound could be heard—not a heartbeat, not a breath, nothing. Until Lila cleared her throat and muttered, “Close enough, I guess. OK, so here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to file a petition and a summons with the court for an annulment on the grounds that both of you were unable to consent to the marriage. Namely, because you were drunk off your asses, but I’ll phrase it as ‘mental incapacity’.”

Justine frowned at her. “You’re enjoying this a little bit too much.”

Lila nodded. “Fair. Then, we’ll get a court date. When we show up, the judge signs off and grants the annulment. Bada bing, bada boom, you’re all done with each other.”

Why the idea of beingbada-bing-bada-boomdone with Khill felt like her heart was being curb stomped, she had no idea. “Great,” she said with absolutely zero enthusiasm.

Khill merely grunted.

Justine was suddenlynotliking her odds of coming out of this marriage/annulment without someone getting hurt.

Especially not her.

CHAPTER 8

Everything went reasonably back to normal after their meeting with Justine’s fancy lawyer cousin.

They continued to work together at the rescue and the clinic. Other than Justine occasionally looking at him like he was a particularly challenging puzzle she was trying to figure out, their relationship was…friendly.

Khillhatedit.

He missed the more intimate connection they’d had in Vegas. Not that he was going to tellherthat. Not after he’d agreed to the stupid annulment.

Why he couldn’t seem to tell her that hewantedto stay married, he had no idea. He kept opening his mouth to say it and…nothing came out. The words just withered in his throat and died. It was annoying. Infuriating, really. He blamed his upbringing to some degree. Orcs were not a species known for communicating their feelings. Or forhavingfeelings, for that matter.

Still, he was living among humans and needed to start acting like it. Especially if he wanted to have a relationship with one.

And,oh, how he wanted a relationship with Justine.

So, like usual, he’d practically attached himself to her side all week. If she needed to treat an aggressive dog brought in for treatment by the local dog catcher, he was there to protect her. When she got a call to evaluate a potential neglect situation, he was there to protect her. When she wanted tacos from that truck that liked to park in the sketchy part of town, he was there to…well, he went with her because he wanted tacos, too. But healsowanted to protect her.

His constant vigilance was how he learned that her ex-boyfriend—the dumb fuck who’d cheated on her—was harassing her, trying to win her back.

She’d performed ten surgeries that day at the free spay and neuter clinic. She was so damn tired that Khill practically had to hand feed her dinner and carry her to the car when she was ready to go home. And when they arrived at her place…there it was.

A giant bouquet of red roses from her idiot ex, sitting there on her doorstep.

Khill snorted at the way her little button nose wrinkled in disgust when she saw them. Justine wasn’t a fan of cut flowers. She’d always said they were a waste of money, because what kind of expression of love was a cut flower that was on borrowed time and would be a dried out, withered husk of its former self in three days’ time? Anyone who supposedly loved her should knowthat.

She let out an exhausted sigh as he walked her to her door and she scooped the flowers up. “This is the fourth bouquet so far,” she said. “I feel like such an asshole for throwing them away.Think I should take them to the nursing home or something? Give them to someone who doesn’t have any family to visit?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. I’ll take them for you if you want.”

The sad little smile she gave him as she handed over the flowers did unspeakable things to his heart.

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