Page 20 of First in Line

“We should go,” Nathan suggests, resting a hand on my knee. “I have an early start tomorrow.”

“Right, sorry. Let’s go.”

We stand from our chairs and slip on our coats. We bid everyone a good evening, and on our way out of the bar, my fiancé wraps an arm around me to hold me close.

“That was fun,” he says with a grin.

“Yeah, I enjoyed spending time with everyone.”

“I still can’t believe Jackson Reyes is technically your husband.”

I grimace before saying, “I told you. We were young, in Vegas, and we made a rash decision.”

“Yeah, I know. Still crazy to me…”

We silently walk to the car, and he gets into the driver’s side as I hop into the passenger seat. We came in his, even though mine works perfectly fine again.

“Do you think, now that the race is over, that he’ll have time to sign the divorce papers?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

To justify the fact that Jackson still hasn’t signed them, I couldn’t think of anything other than him being extremely busy with the start of the season coming up. I didn’t want to explain that my husband, who’s supposed to be a silly teenage crush, is essentially blackmailing me with those freaking papers.

“What time do you leave for Salt Lake tomorrow?” I wonder. Nathan often travels for his cases, but he usually stays within a four-hour radius. Thankfully, he’ll get to make a pit stop at his parents’ house, halfway into the long drive.

“My mom expects me for lunch, so I need to leave at six.”

“Oof, that’ll be a short night,” I say, aware we won’t be in bed before 1 a.m.

“Yes.”

“Are you still staying at my place?”

“Yeah, that way I get a head start.”

“Nice.”

Once we arrive at my house, he parks in the driveway behind my car, and we walk in together. We’ve had enough evening routines to know exactly how it goes. He showers first, then gets ready for the night and scrolls through the news in bed while I take my turn in the bathroom to shower and do my skincare steps.

When I come out of the bathroom, he’s sitting up against the headboard, his pillow tucked behind his lower back, wearing a white T-shirt.

Nathan is an attractive man by any standard. He works out a couple of times a week, takes good care of himself, and has a solid hairline that shows no sign of receding anytime soon. His hair is slightly lighter than mine, but he tans more easily, so his skin is darker. He has about five inches on me, which I appreciate. He’s alluring in a soft, cozy way, and time has only made me grow fonder of his charms.

His personality, though, is where we match best. In the two and a half years we’ve known each other, we haven’t had a single argument. We have the same overall temperament, though he might be even more easygoing than I am.

With him, I know exactly what to expect for the rest of my life, and I like it that way. Marriage, children, sunny vacations, chaotic family Christmases, cruises when we’re old and gray… An easy, comfortable life. Which is exactly what I long for.

“I’m getting myself a glass of water in the kitchen,” I explain. “The buffalo wings were so salty, I’m sure I’ll get thirsty. Do you want one?”

“Yes, thank you, honey.”

“Of course.”

As I pass by his side of the bed, I lean in for a quick kiss. He gladly grants it, then returns to his phone.

Once I’m downstairs, my discarded bag by the entrance reminds me I need to charge my phone. I head over to grab itand, as I pull it out, a piece of paper falls out and glides to the hardwood floor.

I pick it up and stare at the numbers written in black on it.