na's

URS A

ed in Miami 2 days ago to get away from everything back home in New York. I just needed some time to clear my head

so

nched just thi

a, my supposed friend and colleague. Someone I cooked with, laughed

them in Jason's apartment felt like I was

sperately nee

e bathroom, brushed my teeth, splashed col

and forget. Let's

*

oor and headed down the street. I had mapped out a tour plan t

tables painted with pastel blues and greens. I pushed open the door, inhaling that perfect blend of coffee and va

und to leave only to bump right into someone's solid chest. And my latte-my beautiful,

od!" I s

prised but not angry. When he lifte

p. He's

irly, unfair-to-

ugh it. His eyes are a striking shade of blue-like the Miami coastline, but deeper

ediately I realized I was blotting his chest, I dropped the napkins like they burned me. "I-yo

, stopping my melt

n a British accent. "I pr

rea

a single dimple appeared on his left

"I swear I'm not u

a second," he teased, amus

a hand. "

I replied,

, but Eric asked if I'd like to join him while w

early scalding me alive," he sai

laughing. "You'r

n't kno

e ridi

ve bee

how... I

eks, taking a break from "family responsibilities." I told him I c

tly admired him. But I had to immediately remind myself that it was a bad idea. Men have taken enough from me in the past. Still...He's ha

e asked after we'd

bea

art w

aquar

day. Maybe visit some cool places.

d. "A casino

t... you want t

hing planned. And you seem much more inter

him. "You ba

nt conversation, have terrible aim with coffee cups

little but I just shrugged

to a bar first because apparently, we need more alcohol befor

*

mojitos. We ordered drinks and talked like we've known each other for years. He tol

ut food, travel, life, and bad haircut decisions. And somehow, I found myself tellin

loss," he

rain was doing cartwheels and I decided

agr

*

. We decided to get the casino experience where we lost some money, won

t said: "Say 'I Do' for a Day!" I pointed it to Eric who groaned a

is a good idea?" he ask

a fun

r en

ow it works and went ahead to grab fake r

e certificate. We both looked at each other and said sure. It's fake anyway. Eric signed

ertificate" in my hands. Eric's arms were wrapped arou

alright?,

something like "I

hing I remember before

PRES

he hotel lobby. My mind was in a blur, everything that h

ed what he probably thought was a reassuring smile. "We'll sort this o

rie

llowed hard and nodded. "Right. The man in the suit. He'll f

lancing at me, like he wasn't sure if I was going to cry, faint,

asino looked the same way

ly. "Okay. Let'

the blinking slot machines, roulette tables, and the

ere the wedding exhibit was se

-no... no, no, no. W

room. "There was definitely

allucinate an entire wedding! We ha

e shrugged and said, "Oh, that was just a one-night p

who the man running it was? Th

. They bring in people just for

omach twisti

. "Let's check the front des

in my ears. The front desk clerk smiled politely as we explained the si

the registrar was from the Miami County Clerk's Office. T

ist

Clerk's

became dizzy as I realized the weight of our situati

upposed to clear my head - has somehow