their paper queue ticket. They sat on a long wooden bench in the waiting area. Blaire pressed hersel

face heat up. She awkwardly averted her eyes, her gaze drifting downward u

so cold it could freeze water. Blaire flinched, snapping her head up to st

p simultaneously and walked to the clerk's window. The cle

osed around his custom Montblanc fountain pen. He pulled it halfway o

r purse, pulled out a chewed-up, one-dollar ballpo

pen, but for now it seemed to be the only option. The corner of Jude

Sales Representative in block letters. Blaire peeked at the form out of the corne

ty-five dollars,"

ifty-fifty rule. But Jude's hand shot out faster. He slapped a pla

instructed, pointing to a small webcam

is hesitation, Blaire took a deep breath and took a step sideways. Her sh

violent wave of nausea, the crawling sensation of bugs

hing ha

wave of disbelief crashed through his brain. He stared down at whe

y of it, the camera flashed, permanently

he brief ceremony. The judge stood behind

neither of them had rings. The air in

this. "That's perfectly fine. We

ugh the quiet room. "I do." The sound of it sent a physical j

e handed her the thin, official marriage certificate, her fingers trembled sli

ipped around them. They stood on the steps, star

s-like clip. "I need to go back to the office and beg my manager

of pity that he had to go grov

of Blaire's line of sight, his posture changed. The defeated salesman vanished. His spine straightened, his aura

e authority. "Find a standard, cheap apartment in Queens

bewildered. "Queens? A standard apartment? Boss

clear my entire schedule for the rest of the day. I am 'moving

essing studio apartment. She threw h

h and answered. She lied through her teeth, claiming she had found

t the mention of saving money pacified her slightly. "Just don't forg

tcase out of her building. Jude's To

ractically hanging off by a thread. A microscopic frown pulled at his brow. Without a wo