Page 48 of My Husband Problem

It’s actually a beautiful system in a charming, big-hearted, loving place.

And now they’re going to help me make sure Declan absolutely doesnotwant to stay.

“Hi, Astrid,” Sutton Moore, Nora’s assistant and the local dance teacher, who also choreographs everything for the hockey teams, greets from her desk inside the colorful, crowded offices of the Parks and Rec department.

“Hi.” I give her a smile. Sutton is just as sunny and sweet as Nora, but in a quieter, gentler way. She and her brother, Beckett, who plays for the Revelers, are both from Rebel. Beckett got all the extroverted genes, though, it seems.

“I heard there was some excitement at the shrimp tasting last night, and it wasn’t the sassy shrimp,” Sutton says with a grin.

I shake my head. Of course, she’s heard already. And clearly not from Nora, who hasn’t been into the office yet. “Yeah, yeah, Declan’s in town.”

“And he couldn’t wait to get you alone and literally swept you up into his arms!” Sutton gives a dramatic sigh. “I can’t believe I missed it.”

“Well, you won’t have to miss anything else,” Nora tells her. “He’s here to stay. Or so he said.”

Sutton turns wide eyes with hearts in them to me. “Really?”

“Arranged. Marriage,” I say firmly.

These two know the situation. I’ve been clear that Declan and I are not in love. That our marriage isn’t “real” in the sense that we met, fell in love, and decided to spend our lives together because we couldn’t live without one another.

Sutton was so worried about us living apart initially until I explained it to her.

Now she just thinks it’s strange.

Which, I suppose, it kind of is. From the outside.

“But maybe he wants it to be more now,” Sutton says, literally batting her eyes at me.

Yeah, clearly, the sweet romantic still hopes that something more will come of my arrangement with Declan.

She and Declan’s grandfather should become friends. They can talk about it.

And leave me out of it.

“He doesn’t,” I say. “We’re heading to Cara next week to annul the marriage.”

Sutton frowns. “What? Oh no.”

“It’s agoodthing,” I assure her.

“But,” Nora asks. “Why is hehereuntil then?”

I sigh. These women are my friends. And I need their help if I’m going to make Declan’s week in Rebelnotwelcoming and fun. So I have to be honest. “He doesn’t want the annulment and he’s here to convince me to say no too.”

Nora and Sutton both grin.

“But,” I add. “I want to use this week to convincehimthat hedoeswant to end things”

They both sigh, and Sutton’s shoulders slump slightly.

“So we will be spending time together, buthowwe spend our time will be important.”

Sutton sits up straighter again. “Romantic stuff?” She clicks on her keyboard, focusing on her computer screen. “We could come up with something.”

I want to come up with something. A few somethings. Butnotromantic somethings. Unless they are bizarre, annoying romantic somethings. I think about that for a moment. Thatmighthave some potential.

Nora heads into her office for a moment. Through the doorway, I can see the space is just as stuffed full as always. She’s got boxes, plastic totes, and cartons full of everything from frisbees to caps to T-shirts stacked up along every wall. Her desk is covered with papers and folders. There’s barely enough space to walk in there.