Marriage by Law (9 page)

Present Time

Another day, more torture,
I thought as I walked downstairs.

Darius was already up reading the newspaper and I scoffed. Typically poshness. Was poshness even a word? Oh well...

Wait.  

I did a double take. He was wearing casual jeans and a blue buttonup top.
Holy mother of hotness. Please don't drool, Ivory

 "Good you're up. You sleep worse than my grandmother," he said.

I opened my mouth to defend myself when it hit me. Did he just say a joke?

"I do not," I said lamely.

He raised an eyebrow and folded his paper and stood up.

"All right then, let's go," he said, grabbing the keys.

"To where?" I asked. I haven't even eaten yet! And let’s just say fairy floss and a sausage roll were not what I call dinner. I was starving.

"Um, Marge told me she booked us in for some boat cruise," he said, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

"Fine, let's go. I'll just get my bag," I said, rushing back upstairs. Oh boy, a river cruise! Maybe I can go diving! 

I packed spare clothes in case I did and grabbed a few essentials and raced back down in record time.

"Took your time," he said, leaning against the door with his hands crossed and I gasped. As if! I took less than a half hour!

I followed him to the car. I was going to say we could just walk there, since it was close but there was no point. I'd rather spend five minutes in silence in the car than a ten-minute walk in awkward silence. 

"So..." I said lamely as I tried to start a conversation. I buckled up. "Wassup?"

"Wow this is beautiful!" I exclaimed, walking up to the boat.

"Good. It took me – Marge a while to find it," he said. I barely registered what he said as I picked up a beautiful shell off the sand and rolled it around in my hand, making sure I wasn't stealing some creatures home.

"Welcome Welcome Welcome to River-Side RAiiiiiiinbowss." 

I nearly dropped the shell as I looked up to see a typical beach guy jumping off the boat and walking toward us. He was probably another uni student working part time. I nearly laughed as he spun around flicking his blond hair. He wore a white shirt that was unbuttoned over grey shorts, reminding me of a pirate movie.

"River Side Rainbow?' I whispered to Darius. What a weird name. 

"Welcome to the best reef exploration in your lifetime, ladies and gentlemen," he said, bowing down as we got into the boat. He lent out a hand and I grabbed it to hoist myself up. Nice work, Darius. Just leave your wife struggling to get in.

"Welcome, milady," he said, kissing my hand. 

Gross. I wrinkled my nose and grabbed my hand back, wiping it on my pants. 

"First stop, finding Nemo," he said, winking at me. I raised an eyebrow and sat down in the seat opposite Darius and looked out as we started cruising the blue water. 

"There are some corals in there that are endangered," said George, the guide, as he stood beside me and Darius as we were looking into the water.

"Your hand will soon be endangered." I snarled and George took his hand away from around my shoulders. I swear this guide was a major pervert. George stepped back but still was in my private pentagon space and I glared at him. I looked back down to see the colourful fish.

If only I could go reef diving; that would be fun.

As if he read my mind, George grabbed diving suits from the box and held them up.

"Who's coming?" he asked just as Darius's phone rang. I looked over my shoulder as he answered it.

"Yea, no, I'll be on my way now."

To where? 

"You both go. I'll join after I come back. I need to email something," he said, grabbing his jacket. I raised an eyebrow. An email? Seriously, can't it wait?

"It's fine. I'll come," I said. 

"No, stay."

"With him? No, thank you." I said, wrinkling my nose.

"I'll be back in a half hour," said Darius, completely ignoring me. I stared as George let him onto the coast and I stayed on. Was he seriously leaving me?

"Guess it's only us two, babe," said George and I rolled my eyes, falling into my seat and slouching. 

"Great."

"Seriously, stop!" I yelled, trying to move away.

"But you have to do a proper knot," whined George. I groaned and stomped my foot. Okay, maybe I was acting like a five-year-old but what part of
I am bloody ticklish
wasn't this guy getting?

"Fine," I snapped, turning around while he did up the knots at the back. We were going diving and he was trying to get the tank onto me but the bastard kept touching me everywhere and ended up tickling me.

"Okay, now stay close to me, okay?" said George, putting on his mask. I raised an eyebrow and sighed, walking up to the end. I can't believe Darius had just left me with this freak!

Who does that?

Of course my stupid hubby did! Did I just call him hubby? Oh god. George showed me how to snorkel. The idiot thought I couldn't. Well, I couldn't, but still. I followed him into the surprisingly warm water. I had worn the diving suit over my clothes. There was no way I was changing in front of him like he did.

I nearly threw up at his stupid pick up lines. I momentarily forgot about him because the view down here was amazing! There were all colours and shapes of fishes floating around and corals everywhere.

I swam toward the beautiful clown fish that reminded me of Finding Nemo. There was a whole school of them swimming around. I reached out with my hand and they swam around it before returning to their formation. A hand came beside mine doing the same thing and I glared at George. Get your own school of fish.

I swam around toward the rocks and corals on the shallow floor. I can see the floor deepen at certain areas. The bank of this reef was definitely not stable.

There was a dark green eel that swam to the deeper end and looked amazingly slippery. Probably was, too.

I felt an arm around my waist and turned around ready to kick the bastard when he pointed to the other side. I moved away and shot him a glare, not sure if he could see it. A simple tap on the shoulder would have been fine. I followed behind him as he led the way to more beautiful fauna and flora down in the reef.

I didn't know how long we were down here but it felt like ages, especially with the light darkening. I finally called it an end and swam back up toward the boat. I hauled myself in feeling tired and drained and looking at the sky. It was already sunset.

My stomach grumbled and I realised how hungry I was. I can't even remember the last time I had something to eat. I took off my flippers and mask and tank and fell back on the deck breathing the fresh air and enjoying the salty sea breeze.

I felt a shadow fall upon me and I opened my eyes to see George. He had already changed into just a pair of shorts and I rolled my eyes. Show off.

"What?" I asked, standing up and pulling off the diving suit. I was so glad I still had my clothes on underneath and surprisingly they were still dry, just a bit damp. I pulled out my wet hair out of the ponytail and yawned. Boy, was I hungry. 

"You know, you're really pretty," he said.

"So what?" I asked.

"Actually gorgeous," he said, lifting a piece of my hair. I slapped his hand and stood up. Okay, this was getting really creepy.

"Can we head back now? Darius should be joining us soon," I said. I wasn't sure whether he would or not but at least I felt safer on the beach sand...where I could leave.

"He doesn't appreciate what he has. You should be with someone who does."

I wrinkled my nose as he stepped close, his hand twirling around my neck.

"Haha...Okay, perve, back off. I’m married,” I mentioned again in case he didn’t get it. George smiled as he looked into my eyes.

"You know you don't want me to," he said.

He leaned in closer and I ducked, kicking his shin. Not hard but just enough for me to turn around and run to the rail and jump into the water. I heard him yell something but oh well.

I was a swimming champion in my school. Well, fourth place was better than nothing, right? I swam back to the shore as fast as I could, my breath nearly running out. Okay, maybe I wasn't the best swimmer.

 Great! So much for trying to keep my clothes dry. I pulled the clingy wet top and looked over my shoulder, annoyed that the boat was already back. I looked at the car park and sighed, happy to see the familiar Mercedes parked there.

Darius seemed to have just got back and he stepped out of the car as I approached it.

"Done already?' he asked.

"Yes," I huffed, getting in and slamming the door behind me.

"Why are you wet?" he asked.

"’Cause some idiot decided to leave me with a hormonal teenager."

"What?"

“Never mind," I sighed, slouching in my chair. Not like he would understand it. The car started and I closed my eyes. Boy, if only I could just sleep and wake up five years earlier, things would have been so different then.

The car came to a stop soon and I opened my eyes and looked around.

"Where are we?"

"Um, I thought we could eat out for dinner," said Darius, rubbing the back of his neck. He got out and I groaned, slamming my head against the back seat. I threw open the door and stomped out, trying to ignore the fact I was dripping on the pavement.

"Seriously," I asked, pointing to my wet clothes. Boy, was I glad I wasn't wearing anything see-through.

"What?" he asked.

I realised I was being little miss grumpy pants and smiled. At least he thought of taking me to dinner and that was a pretty good start.

Or maybe not.

He walked ahead as though he had completely forgotten about me. He took out his phone and answered a phone call while I quietly followed behind him, ignoring the looks I was getting because of my wet clothes.

He seemed to have returned to his normal self inside, completely ignoring me and texting someone and flicking through the menu. Well, that lasted long.

The waiter came by, clearly ogling him, and Darius ordered-for both of us-seafood.