Marriage by Law

by N. K. Pockett

  "We should go skinny dipping," I suggested. We were on a boat after all. He faltered and I nearly tripped over.

  "And you call me drunk!" At least I could walk straight.

  I heard him mutter something as he helped me down the last few stairs and we got to some type of sit out that had a fireplace going. I rushed over and sat on the floor beside it.

  "Don't move," he said and I looked up.

  "Why?"

  "I'll be back," he said and I shrugged.

  "Okay."

  Like I was going to move, the fire was just so warm. I smiled contentedly, leaning forward and placing my hands over the fire, liking the way it warmed me up. But it got too hot after a bit and I stood up, swaying on my feet.

  My head hurt and I looked at the white door, walking toward it. I felt sick. I pushed it open and nearly cried at the sight before me. A bed!

  I rushed over, kicking my shoes off. I can sleep. I dropped onto the bed and sighed, feeling the soft mattress. I love sleep.

  I felt something ticklish waking me up and I tried smacking it away.

  "Stop it," I muttered as I felt his hand around my waist. Couldn't Darius see I was trying to sleep here?

  "Darius, stop," I said in my half–sleep state, turning around and pushing his hand off my shoulder. I was dreaming about dogs. If he just bought me a dog, I wouldn't be dreaming about it.

  "Ivory."

  I froze, my attempt to pull the blanket back failing. Even in my half-sober state, I knew something was wrong with that voice.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  "Get your hand off me."

  Sober up, Ivory. And this is why you shouldn't drink. I struggled to get up by rolled over to lie on my back and pushing my elbows up to lift myself.

  "Just listen to me."

  I shrugged his hand off my shoulder. Why was the room spinning? I felt sick. Where was the bathroom?

  "There is n-nothing to listen to," I said, raising one hand to my forehead. I could feel a strong headache, like someone was pounding my head, like it was a door and they wanted to sell cookies.

  "Please, I love you."

  I froze. Three words. One meaning. And he said it before Da – I shook my head. I should stay away from alcohol. That, and a boat. Did I not learn from my Uni adventures? Clearly not.

  "James, I'm married now. Get away from me," I said as he tried grabbing my hand again.

  "Ivory…"

  Since we were here now, might as well give him a piece of my mind. "Look, it's over. You were with her the whole time you dated me. Four years. How could you do that to me? And to her as well? If you didn't want to date me, you could have ended it at any time. You lied numerous times. You told me you were an orphan but of course you weren't."

  James looked pained as he knelt on the bed, holding my hand in a death grip. I pulled at my hand, trying to free it.

  "I knew her before I knew you."

  I scoffed, feeling disgusted. Was that meant to help? I could feel the bile rise in my throat by just looking at him.

  "Just give me a chance,” James suddenly yelled at me, making me flinch. “I love you more than Darius ever could. You don't even like him!"

  Was it true? Don’t I like Darius? He was my husband. I was meant to like – no, love – him. But James saying it out loud made me question myself. Do I feel something for my husband?

  Yes.

  Do I love him?

  I could say for sure that this feeling I have for Darius was more than what I felt for James, and I was pretty sure it wasn't the alcohol thinking either.

  I looked back at James. Back when I didn't know about his girl on the side, he was good to me. He was the only other man in my life apart from my dad and I guess I fell for that stupid charm he blinded me with, the lies he told me.

  But that was then and this is now. I was over him. There was nothing left for James in my heart, apart from disgust.

  "Just give it up. You lost me the day you dated her."

  Our relationship was a roller-coaster, especially toward the end. Guilt must have eaten him up. He suspected everything I did, and thought I was cheating on him with everyone I talked to. Probably wanted to make himself feel better since he was the one cheating on me.

  He even picked a fight with a twelve-year-old.

  He never trusted me.

  Not like Darius. Darius trusts me. I felt something sting behind my eyelids as I remembered the speech he gave me, the way my stomach rolls every time he touches me and the way my heart skips a beat when he kisses me.

  I do love him and I have to tell him. So he didn't get me the dog I wanted, but he got me the peacock. He did small things for me that made me happy. I felt a shiver run through me as the alcohol vibe started to wear off. Did someone turn the aircon on?

  I had to find him. I staggered up, holding the bed frame till I regained my balance and turned around.

  "Ivory!" The voice was more demanding and harsh as James walked to my side.

  "Please."

  I sighed, and wish he’d see things my way. "James, look. What we had was good while it lasted. But you were too demanding. You were more like a bodyguard and an annoying father than a boyfriend to me. You made your choice and I made mine. You need to let it go and not let it bother you."

  James's eyes turned darker and I flinched, remembering the times he got angry at me. They never ended well. He would always leave slamming the door or destroying something.

  "You listen to me," he snarled, stepping forward. I put some space between us and looked at the door. Five metres at the most. If I could distract him, I could get away from him.

  I could smell the alcohol on him. How much did he have?

  He placed a hand on my left shoulder, making me flinch as he pushed me against the wall.

  The other hand was raised in my face and for a second I thought he was going to hit me, but instead he waved a finger back and forth like an adult would do to a child when they got in trouble.

  Except this time I did nothing wrong.

  "If you think that man remotely even likes you, you're dreaming. Look at you. You're pathetic. No one can love you the way I do. You're not even pretty."

  I flinched. That hurt.

  But it shouldn't.

  I closed my eyes for a brief second, counting to ten. Just pretend this is some jealous whore.

  "Do you know your beloved husband has a string of girlfriends in every town he goes to?"

  Lies.

  "They're all prettier than you."

  That could be true, if the first statement was true. But because the first was not true, then this one was not as well.

  "You're just someone to keep his bed warm."

  Well, not true. He usually kept my bed warm, but you can blame my parents for that.

  "He –"

  "Oh, shut up, James," I snapped, not wanting to hear anything else. And I really needed fresh air, now. "Would you stop being so jealous of him? You make it seem like he was having an affair with his secretary who turned out to be male. And even if Darius was having an affair or a string of girlfriends, guess what, I don't care. Because between using his three phones and sleeping, I don't think he has time for a quickie like you can fit in your business trips."

  This time it was his turn to flinch. I figured out what happened on those trips as soon as I caught him with her.

  "Is that your final decision?" he asked.

  I was surprised. So was he finally letting this go?

  "Yes."

  "Fine." He stepped aside and I stared at him. Was he really letting me go? Why was I thinking about this? I wanted this. I was just surprised he could act humanely.

  I took a step forward, just to test him. His eyes were closed, his hands on his hips, and I turned around.

  "Wait."

  I turned around. "What?" I asked, looking at him, and remembered something. "I want you to stay away from us, and our business, understand?"

  James nodded. "I will but I have one last question f
or you."

  "What?"

  "Do you feel nothing for me?"

  I stared at James, not wanting to hurt his feelings. I swallowed hard. "Nothing," I said, telling him the one hundred percent truth.

  He closed the distance between us in a second, lowering his head to mine. And before I could react, he placed his lips on mine, making me gag. His lips tasted like whiskey and Cuban cigars, making bile rise up from my stomach. I shoved my hands against his chest to push him away.

  "You felt nothing?"

  "God, you are sick."

  He grabbed my wrists in a painful way, making my eyes sting with humiliation, hurt and pain.

  "Let go."

  I stomped at his foot with the heel of my shoe, making him let go of one hand, but still holding one of my wrists as he doubled over.

  I raised my knee, hoping I hit something vital. I heard him groan as he let go of my other hand. It worked.

  I ran to the door, blindly reaching for the knob and opening it. I heard him scream my name behind me and his pleas for me to stop.

  Like hell.

  I saw the stairs then ran toward it. I was such in a hurry that I didn’t see where I was stepping on. Something grabbed my dress, making me fall face first into the railing. My right eye blacked out for a few seconds as I got up before it returned to normal. I kicked behind me, causing him to lose his grasp on me, and I hurried up the stairs.

  What the hell was wrong with him? He was like some possessed beast.

  All alcohol gone from my system, I reached the top step with my ears throbbing from the blood rush and the sudden loud music.

  A hand around my waist made me flinch and I turned around to shove him when a wrist caught mine, holding it still.

  "Ivory?"

  I looked up at the voice and froze and relaxed. Thank goodness.

  "What happened to you?"

  I flinched as Darius touched my upper lip and looked at his finger. Blood. Was that my blood? Oh god, blood.

  He looked from his finger to me and then I watched, horrified, as his eyes turned dark and his face contorted into an angry beast. "Hold her." The words were barely heard through his clenched teeth as he shoved me backward.

  Before I could even ask who I was meant to hold or stop myself from falling, I was shoved into two arms that held me upright.

  Jesse.

  "Where's he going?" I asked at the same time that Adrian said, "Should we call an ambulance?" from beside Jesse with narrowed eyes.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  "Do we have Band-Aid’s? There has to be a first aid kit here somewhere?" Adrian said, ignoring my question.

  I could feel my temples throbbing and I narrowed my eyes as I felt hot under all the lights.

  "Sit down," said Jesse, pushing me toward a stool in the corner. I was more than happy to sit down and relax my feet that felt too painful.

  "Here, it's water. Don't get too excited," Adrian was saying as he handed me a glass of water. I rolled my eyes and watched as he opened a white box next to him, taking out a needle and thread.

  I inched backward. "Is he sober enough to use that?" I asked and then stopped. "I don't need any stitching."

  Maybe a few band-aids and some cold ice, but the rest of me was well put together.

  "It's not for you," said Adrian, chucking me something else. It was a damp cloth and I placed it against my face, sighing at the pain. God, this hurt. Was there a mirror somewhere so I could look at myself?

  Where was Darius?

  I pulled the cloth back and winced at the blood I saw. I was sure I had a cut or two but not that much blood would have come out. It was just a cut on my forehead.

  My right eye was the most painful part of me as it twitched, straining against the bright lights I could see in a distance. Adrian and Jesse seemed to be in their own little world having a conversation while I just applied more damp towels to my face.

  Did they have any aspirin somewhere? I was sure the bartender had some.

  "Where is he going?" I asked as Jesse walked toward the other side.

  Adrian turned to face me, looking a bit more sober than a few minutes ago, squinting his eyes as he looked at me.

  "You look yuck."

  "Thanks," I said with a scoff. Understatement of the year. I was sure my hair was a mess and sticking out everywhere, makeup ruined and not being able to tell the difference between my lipstick and blood. Maybe that's why the towel was so red. Could it be my lipstick?

  Wait, it can’t be my lipstick. I was pretty sure that I washed that off.

  "Where's Darius?" I asked again, flipping the towel over.

  "Having a very civil discussion with James," he said. And then it hit me. He was having a civil discussion with James?

  "What?" I said, standing up quickly that my ankle protested. How did he know it was James? I didn't exactly tell him.

  "You shouldn't really go there," Adrian appealed as I rushed toward the stairs. As much as I hated James and wanted his dead body floating on the water, I didn't want Darius to be the one to land his body there.

  The last thing I needed was some criminal case, or a guilty conscience. I rushed towards the room door when I heard faint voices in the distance making me halt.

  "How does it feel to have my leftovers?"

  I winced and my stomach churched when I heard James’s voice. God, I hated him. The idea of his dead body was sounding a bit better now.

  "I don't know. Why don't you tell me since you know what you're missing out on?"

  I heard the door open and stayed behind the corner, waiting a few seconds which really felt like minutes, before going into the room.

  The sight only made me feel sicker. I wasn't expecting James to be on the floor covered in blood and holding his hand to his jaw. He looked up, wincing, but then relaxed when he saw it was me.

  "I-Ivory," he said, hurrying or trying to get to his feet. "See what he did to me? He is vi –"

  His words got caught in his mouth as I smacked his head with the golden vase on the floor, feeling triumphant at the sound of something cracking.

  "I hope you rot in hell." Where even rats don't want his leftovers. And before I could unleash my anger out and hit him again, I felt an arm hold me back.

  "He's not worth it."

  Shouldn't I be the one saying that?

  Darius’s fingers disentangled mine form the vase, causing it to fall to the floor with a loud noise.

  Shouldn't I be the one doing that?

  I watched the pathetic man cower in fear. I scoffed at him. You disgust me. I turned around and walked out of the room, where Adrian was waiting and telling us they were outside.

  Who were outside?

  I followed him as he took us back to the top and then toward the back where there was no one.

  I saw a speedboat in the water, somehow keeping up with the boat in perfect synchronization.

  "Darius, you go first," said Adrian as he pulled a rope ladder into position. Was he crazy? It was freezing. If someone fell, they were going to freeze to death in the cold water.

  But, of course, Darius made it seem nearly effortless as he hoisted himself up onto the ladder and then barely used it as he got to the boat below.

  "Come on. Your turn."

  "You know if I fall, I would drown."

  Adrian scoffed and waved an arm like he didn't care. "I'm sure you did plenty of fence jumping in your time." He even had the nerve to wink. I stared at him, my mouth slightly open.

  How on earth did he know that?

  I shook my head, going to the railing and lifting myself up. That was the easy part. I stopped, placed one leg over the railing and onto the rope, then the other. God, if I fell, I was going to die of pneumonia.

  Don't look down. I looked down. Okay, that wasn't so bad.

  "Move it already," said Adrian impatiently. I looked up to glare at him.

  "Stop nagging me."

  I took it one at a time, slowly going down till my foot met the edge of the
speedboat.

  Darius helped me down and I let out the breath I was holding.