Page 46 of Mr. Big Mistake
“Yes, Your Honor. We’ll make it work,” Brenden said.
The judge nodded. “Good. Now, get out of my courtroom. I’ve got another couple just like you to see in the next few minutes.”
I murmured beneath my breath. “Try not to ruin their lives, too.”
“What was that?” the judge asked.
Brenden started scooting me towards the door. “Nothing, si--Your Honor. Nothing at all.”
“Mhm. And if you continue to argue with me, you two will spend the next month in jail for contempt of court. Your case is dismissed.”
I felt Brenden guiding me out of the courthouse. I felt him leading me to his car. But, when he opened the car door for me, I turned to look back at the courthouse. The brick facade had worn down with time and looked as cold and unforgiving as the judge. Brenden placed his hand on my shoulder as a tear streamed down my neck, and I felt him brush it away with his fingertips.
“Four weeks will fly by, okay?” he asked.
I was in too much shock to make a rebuttal, though.
“Mr. Hearthstone!”
I slipped into the car as the woman from the front desk came rushing up to Brenden.
“Mr. Hearthstone! You forgot your formal orders from the judge.”
I shook my head. “You can burn them for all I care.”
Brenden took the papers. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“And I don’t,” I snapped.
He closed my car door and quickly walked around to the other side. After sliding behind the wheel of the car, Brenden’s eyes danced over the sheet of paper. Even from the corner of my eye, I saw his face turn white as snow. So, I plucked the paper from his hands and read it myself.
“My God, he really is serious,” I murmured.
Brenden swallowed hard. “At least we don’t have to share finances or anything.”
“And I suppose this means I’m moving in with you since there’s no room for you at my place.”
“Most likely.”
I squinted. “It says here that we are ‘required to file a weekly report’ with his clerk? Is this man serious?”
“Apparently.”
I scoffed. “At least it can be done online.”
“This is such horse-shit.”
I handed him the official paperwork. “I know. But, it looks like there’s no way out of it.”
He cranked up his car. “I guess this means we should go start packing you up for the next four weeks.”
“What in the world are we going to tell everyone? What am I going to tell Roxy? And you know Karina won’t stop breathing down my neck until--.”
“To be honest, I don’t really care what your sister and friend are going to think about this.”
I paused. “Right. Yeah.”
“The only thing I’m concerned about is making sure we come out of this with our friendship intact.”
