Page 25 of The Marriage Policy

“Shut up and go save lives.”

He laughs as I end the video call, and then I spend the next little while looking up cats at the shelter because that would be a whole lot easier to take care of than a dog right now.

The cat search doesn’t take long, and I pretty much want to adopt all of them, so before I do something stupid, I close my laptop and shoot Ana a text. Donovan was right. Iambored, so why not?

Me: I broke my ankle.

Ana: What? Oh my God. I’m so sorry.

Me: Same. And bored. I’m sooooo bored. Donovan is at work, and I have nothing to do. Also, I moved in with Donovan. Surprise!

My cell rings, and with everything I just threw at her, I’m not surprised.

“You’ve been busy,” she says as soon as I answer.

“Never a dull moment with me. What can I say?”

“Wanna do lunch to catch up? Hayes has some meetings, and he gave me a couple of hours free.”

I think about my bank balance, and though I’d love to get out of the house, I say, “Wanna come here?”

“Only if we can sit by the pool.”

“Woman after my own heart.”

“See you soon. Do you need me to bring you anything?”

“Nah, I’m good. Donovan stocked up as if he’d be gone for a month and I’m physically incapable of leaving the house.”

I hear a car door close and figure she just climbed into her ride. “Aww. He loves you.”

“Can you blame him?”

“Eh. You’re okay,” she says with a smile in her voice.

We end the call, and I clean up because I’m a little ripe, sitting around pouting all day. Ana has only been here once, when we had the pool party, but she must still have the address in her phone. I’m just making my way back into the living room, when there’s a knock at the door.

I hobble over and pull it open.

“Poor Eric. You really did break your ankle.”

“Did you think I made it up?”

She gives me a hug, then sets her purse on the shelf by the door. She’s got her blond hair up in a messy bun with wisps hanging down. Ana doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, just some light pink on her plump lips and some eye stuff. She’s gorgeous, and I can’t help wondering why I’m not interested in her. She’s hot, fun, chill, and all the things, but there’s just nothing there.

“Why did you end up moving in with Donovan? Your ankle?”

For a split second, I want to tell her about the marriage, but it’s kinda embarrassing. Not being married to D, of course. Anyone would be lucky to say he’s their husband, but the reason why it happened and the reason I moved in are similarly unflattering, so I skim over the truth. “Partly. I’m not working right now, and my lease is up. Plus, I miss living with Donovan.” See? I didn’t even lie. I really do miss living with him.

“You guys are so cute together,” she says just as I’m taking a drink from my water bottle. Of course I choke and nearly die. Ana laughs, patting me on the back.

“We’re nottogether.” Just married.

“I didn’t mean romantically, though that wouldn’t surprise me.” She sits on a barstool.

“Um…I’m not queer.” Which is a pretty big obstacle. “Why wouldn’t you be surprised, though?”

She looks at me with her face scrunched up, like I’ve lost my mind.

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