I see what’s in Chelsea’s hands before I even have time to react. Fuck. Wait.

She opens it as Declan rambles on about us dating and how horrible it is. Oh, man, he’s about to learn a whole lot worse.

“What’s this?” Chelsea asks.

“Nothing.” And like an idiot I snatch her from her fingers.

“Jonah, no seriously what was that. It said something about a marriage.” She tries to reach for the paper I’m already folding and trying to keep away from her.

“It’s nothing. I was going to tell you.”

The fact Declan is even sitting here with us is forgotten for a few seconds.

“Who’s married?” he asks, reminding us both of his presence.

I scrub a hand against my jaw. “We are.”

“Who?” Declan asks. “You and her?” He points to Chelsea.

I blow out a breath. “Yeah.” I sneak a glance at Chelsea and her eyes are huge. Like bigger than I’ve ever seen any eyes get in my whole goddamn life. “I can explain.”

“Give me the paper,” Chelsea says with her arm out for the paper.

I hand it over, because honestly what the fuck else am I supposed to do? I can’t believe this is all happening like this. And with Declan here too.

“Look, we got drunk in Vegas and got married, and I figured I could get the annulment without you ever even noticing,” I say and it’s the last thing I remember before I’m knocked out.

* * *

When I finally come to, Chelsea stands over me with a pack of ice. “How’s your head, husband?”

I try to sit up, and the pain splicing through my head is excruciating. “Where’s Declan?”

“I kicked him out.” She offers me a soft smile and I finally sit up.

The room spins for a minute, and I gaze into the questioning eyes of Chelsea.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

She holds up a hand for me to quiet and listen, so I do. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

I touch my swollen jaw, and it hurts like a motherfucker. “I thought things were going so well, I didn’t want to chance it. I’m sorry.”

She pouts her bottom lip. “What else are you keeping from me? No secret baby we may have adopted?”

“Oh my God, no. There’s nothing else. I swear.”

She packs the ice on my face, and not in a nice way either. “Well, I don’t know if I can trust you.”

Fuck, I’m an idiot. Why didn’t I just tell her. I had wanted to. I meant to.

I grab her hands, holding them close to my chest. “Baby, you can trust me.”

God, I sound like a man at a bar using a cheesy pickup line.

Her blue eyes well with tears. Please don’t cry.

She doesn’t. “I just need some time. Where’s the annulment papers? I’ll sign them.”

Fuck. My chest hurts. “I’ll get them.”

I leave her in the kitchen as I head off to retrieve the papers. I almost don’t want to give them to her. It feels like a real divorce.

I hand them over, and she reads over them.

“I’m going to stay with my brother for a while.”

“Chelsea, come on. I know you don’t like living there. You can stay here, I won’t bother you.” I pray silently that she stays.

Because the truth is, it’ll be easier to convince her she can trust me with her here.

Truth is, I don’t want her to leave. Ever.

I think I’ve gone and fallen for this girl.

She signs the papers, sliding them across the counter to me.

“Chelsea, wait…” my voice trails off.

“No, Jonah. I just can’t right now.”

I should respect her decision. Respect the decision that she needs some time away. So I stuff my hands in my pockets, rocking on the heels of my feet and say ok.

She packs up a few of her essentials as I stand quietly by. I want to shout, scream, anything. I want to get on my knees and beg forgiveness.

But, I am also trying to give her the space she needs.

When she leaves, she offers a soft goodbye, and I swear I might have a few tears in my eyes.

And then she shuts the door.

And I’m left alone with a swollen jaw and broken heart.

* * *

A few days later, my life has been a series of routine. I wake up, go to work, avoid Chelsea, and then come home.

I don’t want to avoid her. I try to see her actually...but the truth is...she’s avoiding me.

The one time I saw her in the halls of the Falcon building, she shot me a half-smile and kept walking.

It broke my heart even more.

To say I’m miserable is an understatement.

I can’t eat or sleep.

And as much as I want to beat down her door, and claim her and take her back to my place...I’m trying to be the ma she wants and respect her wishes.

When she’s ready to talk, she’ll seek me out, right? That’s the ounce of everything I have to hold on to.

The fact that she won’t avoid me forever.

And yes, I know we have a photoshoot coming up.

But, I push those thoughts out of my head, and when I leave work--there’s only one person I need to see.

“Hey,” I say, standing at the edge of the basketball court where Declan and I play once a week.

“I don’t really want to see you right now.” He continues to dribble the ball up the court.

“Yeah, I know.” I rush in, trying to get the ball away from him.

“Dude, seriously?”

But, we continue to play in silence.

Both of us punishing each other with each pass and block. I sink a shot and he curses.

The ball bounces off the court, and Declan stalks toward me.

“How could you, man? She’s my little sister.”

I stand and face him head on. “I know. I tried to fight it. Honestly, I did. But, I love her, dude.”

“Wait, you love her?” Declan appears shocked as he holds up both hands and backs up.

“Yeah, I love her. I never meant to hurt her, or you.”

“Fuck,” Declan moves to grab a seat on the bench overlooking the park, “I didn’t realize it was like that.”

The afternoon is bright and sunny, and a few birds fly overhead as I take a seat next to him.

“Well, it is.”

“Does she love you?”

I shake my head. “Fuck, I don’t know. I hope so.”

Declan’s tone is softer now, less confrontational. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. But, I’ll do anything.” And I will. I want to believe giving her the space she needs is a good thing, but I can’t wait any longer.

And the worst part...I can’t bring myself to file the damn papers.

I don’t want to.

Declan smiles. “Well, if I know my sister…”

And then he lets me in on a plan to win back her heart.