Her Reluctant Husband

anything, we’re going to end up killing each other before this day is over. “I don't want this house flattened. This place is all I have left of my family.”
“I don't want that either, Alex. I grew up here too. You know as well as anyone I spent a lot of time here with my dad. I also considered Aunt Liz my summer mother." Though she was more than that; Liz was an angel, and she became one of my biggest supporters after everything. Once I finally agreed to come live with her, she helped me start my dance studio, she reminded me I wasn’t alone, and I would do anything to repay her, including marrying Alex. “Despite the ending of our friendship, this place is where most of my happy memories are too.” It’s the only place in this town where I can find them.
“So, you'd marry me to save it?”
“I would. I'd do it for Liz. For this house." I'd do it for Kathleen. And for him. Even if the hate still pours out of him in waves for me for the rest of his life.
The accident might not have been all my fault, but some of it was. I shouldn’t have gotten into a car feeling like I had. I should’ve told someone. And for that, I’m now trapped in my own pain where some days I wish I didn’t survive that crash because it was supposed to be me and not Kathleen. Where every day I wait for him to find me and finish what he started. To make good on his promise. Though I haven’t seen him in years, he always writes me to tell me he hasn’t forgotten me, proving to me he knows where I am at all times no matter how many times I move around.
This is my chance to stop running.
Stop hiding. Because I’m just so tired of doing both.
“What do you want to do, Alex? I’ll leave this up to you.”
“You’re so thoughtful,” he berates me.
“I try to be.” I plaster the biggest grin I can manage on my face, though all I want to do is slap him.
“Maybe we will only have to do this in writing, and we can live our lives.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” I blow out a big breath.
“But I want the house. You can go off and live elsewhere for all I care.”
I run my hands down my face and groan. “Whatever, Alex, I stopped caring about anything and everything a long time ago. Should we just go finish talking about this with Kelley or what? Or do you want to continue making my life hell? Pick?”
He’s silent, messing with his tie again, refusing to look at me as he fights to say more. I’ve known Alex since I was eight years old. I know all his tells even if I don’t know the new ones that he tries to wear with a mask. “Let’s go.”
I place a kiss on Elsa’s nose. “Wish me luck, girl.”
I follow behind Alex as he storms away, watching all the tension in the muscles of his back ripple through his designer suit. Every step we make back to the house, I feel as I’m heading for the gallows.
Death or Marriage to Alex? At this point, I’m not sure which could be worse.
Once we’re back in the office, Alex throws himself back into the chair with a loud huff which grabs Kelley’s attention. He’s on his phone, and he holds up his finger to us, telling us to wait. “Listen, Mags. I have to go. I’ll see you later.” Kelley ends the call and then tucks his phone into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. “I’m glad you two are back. Should we try this again?”
I nod and sink into my seat for my sentencing.
“We are not letting this land be sold to some tycoon so he can destroy it, no matter how much we hate each other,” Alex says, and I hide my face behind my hand.
I refuse to comment on it. He’ll never understand.
“Okay, then.” Kelley takes his seat back behind Liz’s desk and opens up the manila folder.
“So, let’s get started again. You…”
“First,” Alex interrupts, “how long do we have to be married for?”
“I’ll get there. Just listen.”
I giggle softly and Alex swings his head over to me, his eyebrows pinched together. “What are you laughing about?”
“Sorry. Memories. He used to give you grief all the time about the wax in your ears." I shrug and then pick the invisible lint off my dress.
“Whatever.”
Don’t let his anger hurt you. They are just words and not what he feels. He’s broken. 
Not because of you, but for what he lost. One of those being you.
Aunt Liz’s letter chimes in at the right moment, and I take a deep breath to help clear my head so it isn’t floating and filled with the anguish of the past.
“Alex, your bitterness is going to kill you young. That’s all I have to say about that.” Kelley clears his throat and flips over a paper in his file. “And she's right about the wax in your ears."
“I need to know how long?” Alex snips.
“One year.”
“Motherfucker,” Alex mutters.
“Now, will you just stop and listen?” I grind out between my teeth.
God. He was always like this, even as a kid. He never could focus or keep his mouth shut. He always thought he was right and never let anyone finish. It’s why he was always in trouble. In that seat.
His head spins to me and he glares at me, trying to intimidate me. I ignore him. He has no clue the evil I have seen in another man’s eyes. His green eyes are like a warm spring day in comparison to his. 
“You will have to