Page 21 of Never the Bride
“Oh, please.” She rolls her eyes. “This is the typical argument I see every day in my office. Somebody comes in and goes on and on about how their spouse is the one who’s crazy, who’s a lunatic, and that the divorce is all the other person’s fault. They talk as if they’re this innocent, perfect person. They paint a picture like they’re a ten while making their spouse seem like a one.” She puffs out a mocking laugh. “But tens don’t marry ones.”
My brows drop as I try to follow along with her argument. “So you’re saying ones marry ones, and that’s why they end up getting a divorce?”
“No, I’m saying that most people are a four, five, or six. Marriage only works if people recognize that they need to self-improve alongside their spouse and arewillingto do so together. To say that divorce only occurs if one party is crazy is an oversimplification of what’s really happening in relationships. The number one cited reason for divorce is lack of commitment, followed by frequent conflict and poor communication, and let’s not forget about my favorite…infidelity—all things that happen if people don’t work to self-improve together. But all of this is just the tip of the iceberg. I could go on and on with reasons why marriage is a bad idea.”
“I think you already have.”
“Yeah, well, I am a divorce attorney. I know a thing or two about how marriages end.”
Yep, I was right.
“Do you know anything about how they last?”
Nervous laughter puffs over her lips. “I haven’t had the luxury of witnessing that.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I think I would know if I had a good example in my life of a lasting marriage.”
I had decided not to tell Camila who I was on the flight. We only have six more months left on our contract before we can get a divorce. It seemed easier to keep her in the dark and go our separate ways. But after her speech about marriage, I’ve changed my mind.
Somebody has to knock her off her high horse.
“Ourmarriage seems to be going strong. What are we at now? Five and a half years?”
“What?” Her eyes dart back and forth across my face as she tries to make the clues fit. “Harrison? Harrison Taylor?”
I hold my arms out to the side in smug confirmation.
Her tone is clipped. “You said your name was Hess.”
“Harrison is my legal name. Hess is what everyone calls me.”
“How long have you known?”
“Since you walked onto the plane.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“Excuse me for thinking my wife would recognize me all on her own.”
“Shh!” she warns. “Selena doesn’t know. Nobody does. Unless…” Her eyes narrow. “Did you tell Landon?”
My head rears back with offense. “No. I’ve never told anyone.”
“Good.” She sighs with relief. “And I didn’t recognize you on the plane because I was in the middle of a major health crisis.”
“Major health crisis? I thought we were calling you ‘lightly unconscious,’ and that’s not an excuse because you didn’t know who I was even when you werefullyconscious.”
“Yeah, well, I met you for, like, two hours five years ago, so I don’t understand why you’re so butthurt about this.”
“I’d like to think I’m a memorable guy, especially to someone who legally bound themself to me.”
She shakes her head, waving her fingers in front of my face. “Your hair’s all different, and there’s a beard, and you’re, like, a fuller man now.”
“A fuller man? I like it. I think you’re getting closer with your adjectives. Much better than lightly unconscious. But just so we’re clear, I remembered you.”
“I look exactly the same.”
