pte

and I had enough time to think about what ha

s, Nico's piercing green eyes as he said, "I do." It was all ridiculous,

ourage to take it o

o quiet, too still, the air heavy with the memories I wanted to escape. My hands trembled as I u

ut before leaving for Vegas, and judging by the du

rid

the couch. The silence was suffocating. I turned on the TV, not c

me like I was the only person in the room. How could I have let myself get swept

rr

cept to such a stupid idea in the first place. But wait a minute

it. But who would I call? My sister, who'd been sleeping with my boyfri

n my own in

through my hair. "What th

ew myself into job applications, reaching out to contacts in Baltimore's modest fashion scene

take it off eventually, but every time I tried, I hesitated

ere was a knock at the door. It was almost midnight, far too

i

se hammering in my ear

voice calm but firm. "

etend I wasn't home. But Nico didn't

unlocked the door and

holding a piece of paper in his hand. His expression w

lo,

e word. "What ar

a marriage certifica

didn't sign any do

as curiosity. Maybe it was the way his presence fi

he center of my living room, toweri

odbye," he said, his tone m

ing to keep my voice s

ture, but this was a mistake.'" He raise

as Vegas. People do stupid things in Vegas

o mine. "What I understand is that we're marr

"We can get an annulment.

w tighten

incredulous. "What

not getting

to process his words.

oom for argument. "This marriage may have started

hy would you want to stay marri

in. "Because it works for both of us. You're running from something, Ava. I can s

" I echoed

his voice low and intense. "And I need to stop my fam

ords sinking in. "This is insane. I

irst, you need to decide if you

hing I couldn't quite name. Nico's presence was

t a spark of something other than

ly. "But this doesn'

ifting in a way that made my stomach