Page 4 of About That Rule

CHAPTER2

THERE WAS ONLYone way to validate what had happened. Her hangover was a ghost of the past. She had more pressing issues to deal with. Like figuring out if she was actually married.

She winced.

Who wanted to be married at thirty? Forty, maybe, but thirty was way too young. This was no reflection of Nate. If they hadn’t grown up together, she would have been all over him. He was gorgeous, with thick dark hair that reminded her of Jon Snow’s shaggy look from Game of Thrones. If he let it grow out just a little bit longer, his hair would be ready for a man bun. His eyes were dark blue, almost more of a gray. His toned body wasn’t from the gym, but from his career. Nate remodeled houses. He didn’t just tell his team what to do, either, but worked on each home right along with them. There was something sexy about a man who knew how to use his hands.

Now wasn’t the time for counting off all Nate’s hotness. There was a possibility he might be her husband. If that was the case, they needed to get this shit annulled ASAP.

“We don’t qualify for the void option for annulment.” Nate informed her. Somebody had done his research. It was reassuring he wasn’t living in la-la-land and hoped they’d live in marital bliss. There was no way that was happening. “We might be able to get the annulment since we were under the influence. It would qualify of not being in right state of mind.”

“This seems pretty standard given we were beyond wrecked when we got married. Besides, this is Vegas. I’m sure annulling marriage is a daily thing. All we have to do is go to the courthouse and file the required paperwork. Then, in twenty-one days, marriage annulled.” Samantha scrolled through the article on her phone to make sure she didn’t miss anything. It only took a quick Google search of got married in Vegas and don’t want to be married to find a million links.

Her marriage was easy come, easy go. She was just another hungover person looking for a way to get a quicky divorce.

She didn’t want to get married, but it did seem a little insensitive to the constitution of it all. Part of her felt guilty. There were people like her parents—ugh, people like Charlotte and Rafe—who truly believed their partnership was for the long haul. Samantha getting married and divorced within twenty-four hours was bad. Even for her and all her wildness.

“Come on. Uber is here.” Nate grabbed her elbow and guided her to get in the car.

“It’s weird to see you so business-like,” she said, scooting over for him to join her.

He sat next to her, and the car took off. “Because we get to see each other for vacations, parties, or when one of us is visiting the other. It’s all for fun. This is far from fun. We might be fucking married.” His voice sounded pained.

The message was heard loud and clear: being married was not fun. She agreed, but he didn’t have to be such a meanie about it.

The first place they went was Paradise Wedding Chapel. They both had pictures of them basically dry humping in front of the building. It was a good thing neither of them remembered kissing—there was a sneaking suspicion it might’ve been a game changer. There were more pictures of them inside with the officiant, in what appeared to be a wedding ceremony.

They spoke to the woman at the front desk, asking for her to provide some detail on what happened the night before. It took all of three minutes for the chapel to provide the paperwork to confirm they had, indeed, gotten married.

Neither of them spoke while they waited outside for another Uber. Just like they didn’t speak on the drive to the courthouse. Samantha was overwhelmed with guilt, but she figured it was normal. Last night, two people she adored got married because they were in love. Drunk Samantha had probably wanted the same thing they shared.

Sober Samantha did not want marriage.

There was no way sober Nate wanted it either. The two of them were way too similar with relationships. They were notoriously single and loved the life of not being committed to anyone. Neither of them invested in anything more than a casual hook up. They always joked with each other about who was the bigger flirt because commitment wasn’t their thing. Granted, getting married was as serious as it got, but their hoax wedding wasn’t the best example.

Arriving at the courthouse, Nate held his hand out to help her get out of the car.

“Careful,” she told him once she stood next to him. “The judge might see this and think we’re the real thing. Our annulment will fly out the window.”

He groaned, looking up at the sky. “Fuck, could you imagine?”

“I’m trying not to take this personal,” she responded to his continuous bad attitude, giving him a light shove toward the entry doors. “You’re treating me like this is doom’s day.”

They walked into the building and waited in line. There were at least ten people ahead of them. She wondered what they were here for. There was no way all these people needed to annul their intoxicated vows. That would be insane.

But…it was Vegas.

“Don’t take it personal. I’m sure if we hadn’t grown up together, we already would’ve fucked. You don’t need me to tell you how hot you are. But commitment for the rest of my life? I don’t think I’m cut out for that—not with anyone.”

They probably would have had sex. Hot, sweaty, intense sex. Samantha and Nate would ruin each other for anyone else. If they ever crossed that line, she just had this feeling there would be no going back. Better for her to keep Nate compartmentalized in the friendship box.

As his friend, she needed to dig deeper on why a wife was never on the horizon for him. She always figured he’d get sick of the single life at some point. Most people do. “Never? You don’t think you would find a partner?”

He shrugged as they took a few steps forward. The line was moving, so there was a silver lining.

“Why?” Samantha asked.

He turned to look at her. “I get bored easily with women. Even when I’ve dated, after a month or two, I’m over it. It’s been like that since I was fifteen. That’s sixteen years of dating, sleeping around, having girlfriends—you name it. I’ve never wanted to stick it out with one person. I enjoy being single. I like my lifestyle, you know?”