Chapter 2
My fingers froze.
In that moment, it hit me. What Braiden had given me wasn't a wedding countdown.
It was the same comfort Sienna had once shared.
My phone buzzed again.
Braiden texted me. [Address.]
Then another one popped up. [Don't make me ask a third time.]
I set my phone aside and opened the file folder.
Just as my pen touched the first page of the divorce agreement, the hotel doorbell rang.
I looked up and saw a room key slip under the door.
As the lock clicked, I quickly slid the divorce agreement under my pillow.
Braiden pushed the door open, the chill of the night still clinging to him.
He saw me sitting on the edge of the bed and frowned. "You're getting gutsier, huh? Even tricking the hotel front desk now."
I glanced at the room key in his hand.
"When Mr. Meyer wants to find someone, the front desk wouldn't dare get in your way," I said.
He tossed the key onto the table, his eyes drifting to my wrist.
"Where's your watch?" he asked.
"I took it off," I replied.
Braiden stepped closer, his voice low. "Put it back on."
I didn't move.
He leaned in closer, his hand wrapping around my wrist, his thumb pressing gently on the faint mark left by the watch. His grip was gentle but firm, making it impossible for me to pull away.
"This was your birthday gift from me," he said.
"And the inscription was Sienna's idea," I added.
He paused.
I looked up at him. "She even knew about that."
Braiden let go of my wrist, his face darkening. "She happened to be at the shop and mentioned it in passing."
"And the wedding dress was just a coincidence? The veil was just an offhand comment?" I shot back.
"Malia, do you really have to talk like this tonight?" he said.
I suddenly felt like there was no point anymore.
Braiden always had a way of brushing things off like they didn't matter as long as I was the one left hurting.
He pulled out a chair and sat down, rubbing his temples. "Come back to the old house with me tomorrow. If Grandpa asks about the wedding, I'll say you're not feeling well and we'll postpone it."
"No need to postpone. Just call it off," I said.
He looked up at me.
His eyes went cold.
"Say that one more time," his voice low.
I pulled the file folder out from under my pillow and held it out to him.
"The divorce agreement isn't all filled out yet, but just take a look," I said.
Braiden didn't take it.
He stared at the folder like it was something that had no business being there.
After a moment, he let out a soft laugh. "So just because Sienna tried on a wedding dress, you want a divorce?"
"That's not all," I said.
"Then what else?" he asked.
I wanted to say so much.
I wanted to tell him how he left me alone at the restaurant on our anniversary, just so he could pick up Sienna from the hospital.
How he had the driver take Sienna home first, while I was hunched over, sweating from the pain.
How his apologies always came right on cue, but nothing ever changed.
But when the words reached my lips, all I could say was, "Forget it."
Braiden hated it when I said that.
He reached out, took the folder from me, opened it for a quick look, and then tore it clean in half.
The sound of the paper ripping was barely audible.
He tossed the scraps into the trash, his voice steady again. "Get some sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow."
I stared at the trash can.
"Braiden, that was mine," I said.
"You're upset right now. I'll handle it for you," he replied.
I'd heard that one too many times.
He'd said the exact same thing three years ago, on the day we registered our marriage.
Back then, when my parents asked whether I wanted a wedding ceremony, I turned to Braiden.
He gently held my fingers and told them, "Malia's been busy lately. I'll handle the wedding arrangements."
I thought he was being thoughtful.
But later, I realized his so-called 'arrangements' just meant postponing it again and again, with no end in sight.
I stood up and reached for my coat.
Braiden blocked the doorway. "Where are you going?"
"I'm changing hotels."
"With me here, you're still leaving?"
"Yes."
There was a flash of anger in his eyes, but he still forced a smile. "Malia, don't pull those Sienna tricks. Playing hard to get isn't you."
I froze.
He caught himself, his brow tightening as he realized he'd gone too far.
"That's not what I meant," he said.
"Then what did you mean?" I shot back.
Braiden paused for a moment, then reached out, took my coat, and draped it over my shoulders.
He did it so smoothly, like he'd done it a thousand times before.
That was how he was.
He'd hand me the blade, then wipe away the blood himself.
"Let's go home. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to the wedding boutique and we'll choose a new one together," he said.
For a moment, I wavered.
But it was gone in a heartbeat.
The moment his phone rang, my heart turned cold again.
The caller ID showed it was Sienna.
Braiden glanced at the screen and hung up.
The next second, a voice message from Sienna popped up.
Her voice was soft, on the verge of tears. "Braiden, did I make you guys fight? I got really dizzy, and the doctor said it might be my old condition flaring up. Can you come over?"
Braiden's grip on my coat tightened.
I looked at him.
He avoided my eyes. "I'll send Willie over."
His phone rang again.
This time, he picked up.
Sienna must've said something, because Braiden's face darkened.
He hung up and pulled my coat tighter around me, making sure I was bundled up.
"Let me go check on her real quick. I'll be right back," he said.