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Fourteen days. In Arizona.
I rearrange myself on my couch, waking Bear. He stares at me with a disgruntled look and climbs off my lap.Grumpy boy.
“That’s a long time.”
Work has been slow, but can I take two weeks off? My team counts on me. The next few weekends, I’m signed up to help clean up the Appalachian Trail. Thursdays, I mentor students in the Enviroworks club I started at MIT. Plus, I told my sister that I’d help take Aaron to his hockey practices.
Molly interrupts my thoughts. “I’m sorry; I know you have a whole life.”
“Hmm. I suppose I can move some things around, and I have a ton of vacation time.”
Postponing my volunteer work should be fine, and my mentoring is done over the phone. Aaron might feel disappointed, but I’ll only miss the beginning of the season.
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s worth it to get EcoDrones off the ground sooner.”
“Right, of course, your project.” Molly’s eyes widen. “Does anyone at the office know? Are you working on it with Ollie and Robert?”
“That’s the plan. They’ve expressed interest. But the technology is costly.” My friends and I poured our souls into Plastech. The start-up bled money faster than a gambler at a casino until we merged with ORO. We’ve been hesitant to take the leap again.
“Makes sense. If you don’t mind me asking, what is EcoDrones?”
“It’s going to help with reforestation efforts after wildfires. Pretty much a fleet of drones that plant new trees.” I planned on spending the next few years saving and engaging new investors while researching, but twenty-five million dollars is the jump start I need. I won’t have to beg for capital like I did with Plastech.
I can suck up missing a couple of my obligations. Especially when this technology could create a real impact after the horrid wildfires we’ve experienced over the past ten years.
“First you’re getting rid of eighty thousand tons of plastic in the ocean, and now you want to focus on forest restoration? Is there anything you can’t do?” She lights up, and I’m glad to see a glimpse of my Molly back. Well, not my Molly. But my friend.
“It’s no big deal.” I shrug, attempting to shake off feeling like some kind of vigilante when she puts it that way. “Anyway, what happens in this marriage course?”
“Right, it’s easy. We’ll do some activities, like couples yoga or an intention-setting class. An instructor will pass us. And that’s it. You don’t even have to spend your free time with me if you don’t want to.” Molly chuckles nervously, eyeing her empty glass.
I reach for the water carafe on the coffee table and pour her more. “Is that what you’d like?”
“No, I—I love talking to you.” Her cheeks coat with an adorable pink. “I mean, I enjoy it. You’re—you’ve always been great to talk to.”
Warmth returns to my veins as she bashfully grins at me.
“Well then, it’s settled. We’ve hung out plenty of times at the office. We’ll just do it in Arizona now.” It can’t be that much different. I’ve never been let down by my gut feeling. “So, how quickly do you think we’ll be able to get a divorce?”
The sooner the better. That way, Molly can pursue a genuine relationship with a man who can love her and start a family with her.
“Um, so it may take a few months for us to get married, but then once we do, the trust will come through. I’ll wire your half, and then we’ll begin the paperwork. We’ll have a prenup. You can use one of our lawyers or retain your own counsel.” Her formal tone returns and clips through the room. “The process should be pretty quick.”
“Makes sense to me.” It’s better this way. I stopped planning for a traditional storybook relationship years ago. The plans I made with my ex came into my life as swiftly as she left. “I can manage two weeks in Sedona, a prenup, a wedding, and then a quick divorce.” I tip my head toward her.
“Is next week too soon to leave?”
“I’ll have to make some calls, but I should be able to arrange everything by then.” She brushes her hair over her shoulder and nods. “Let’s discuss the actual faking of our relationship. What will that entail? I want us to be in sync,” I say.
For this to work, clarity is crucial. Except sometimes even that’s not a solid guarantee. My abdomen tightens.
When I was with Laura, we talked about our future often. I was sure we were on the same page. Both powerful executives with a white picket fence, nice cars, and unlimited vacations. We planned on being perpetual DINKs. I assumed she’d be happy. Until she left.
That won’t happen here. Absolutely fucking not. Molly and I will lay everything important out on the table.
Her voice strains. “Well, my family cares about their image…a lot. So, we’d have to be convincing.”
