The Marriage License For Me, The Boat For His Regret Chapter 02

Brynn’s eyes were red with rage next to me, but I held her back.

After the boat christening ceremony, there was supposed to be a party on the boat. Drinks. Celebration.

A few passersby stopped to stare.

“Looks like another wedding coming up. That skiff is gorgeous!”

Someone yelled, “Congrats!”

Kenna stood at the bow of the boat, tugging on Nolan’s sleeve, swinging it back and forth.

“Nolan, I have one more birthday wish.”

Her voice carried. Everyone turned. 　　“I want you to be my boyfriend… for one week.”

The crowd went crazy.

“Do it! Do it!”

Nolan laughed, ruffled her hair, and didn’t hesitate. “Fine. One week. Deal.”

He didn’t look at me once.

Kenna shot me a quick glance, her smile widening.

A few people who knew what was going on kept sneaking looks my way.

Pity. Entertainment. Sympathy.

The ex-girlfriend probably shouldn’t stick around anymore.

I started to leave. Nolan called out.

“Tess, you heading home?”

“Yeah. Ex doesn’t really belong here.”

He frowned. “Don’t be dramatic. I’m just helping a kid out with a wish.”

“Take a cab. I’ll drop Kenna off later. 　　I’ll bring you crab cakes tonight. Be good.”

He grabbed my keys from my bag and went back to the party.

I watched his back. My eyes stung a little.

When I got home, I had a message from Kenna. With a video.

In it, her face was flushed. Someone shoved her into Nolan’s arms.

A guy joked, “You know what? Just marry Kenna and get it over with!”

“What’s Tessa got that our girl doesn’t?”

Kenna laughed and said, “You’re drunk.”

Nolan just watched, the corner of his mouth turned up. He didn’t deny it.

Then a text: [Tessa, why’d you leave early? Sending you the video so you can join the fun!]

Funny thing was, watching it didn’t stir a single thing in me anymore.

I just stared at the skiff in the video, zoning out.

Nolan used to whisper in my ear all the time—this was the biggest day in a Riverbend girl’s life, and we couldn’t cut corners on anything.

The deck had to be yellow poplar. The railings had to be wrapped in my favorite magnolias. The curtains had to be designed by me personally.

It stung a little. I’d looked forward to it for so long.

Not the man. The boat.

Nolan came home late. Empty-handed.

He saw me looking at him, paused, then walked over and hugged me like nothing was wrong.

A heavy wave of perfume hit me.

Last time I wore perfume was five years ago. He’d wrinkled his nose and said it made him sick.

Turns out his sickness was selective.

He looked at me, still soft. “Party ran late. You’re not asleep? Waiting for me?”

I didn’t answer that. “Where are my crab cakes?”

He didn’t meet my eyes. Grabbed a glass of water, took a sip.

“Dropped Kenna off and she said she wanted to try them, so I gave them to her.”

“Weren’t you trying to lose weight for the photo anyway? Eat them another night, yeah?”

That was the third time he’d said that. I’d mentioned wanting crab cakes two weeks ago.

He said he’d buy them. Three times.

First time, Kenna called him halfway there to help her look at an apartment.

Second time, Kenna was getting iced out by her coworkers, so he took her out for hot pot instead.

And then tonight.

I sighed, pushing down the ache.

“Nolan.”

“We’re done.”