“I don’t know what that means,” Tinsley says. There’s worry in her voice and on her face instead of hope. I cling to that like it’s the last life preserver in a sinking ship.
“Essentially it means that the will is invalid because it wasn’t properly witnessed, so you can divorce Leo right now.” He nods his head toward the papers he gave us. “I drew up the divorce agreement before coming over. Sign it and we can have you going your separate ways by noon.”
“And if I don’t sign it?” I hear myself saying. “Then what?”
“Why wouldn’t you sign it?” Edwards asks. “You didn't want to get married in the first place.”
I rip my set of the divorce papers in half and turn to Tinsley. “You sign those papers, and I’m going to paddle you so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a month.” I snatch her papers out of her hand and slap them against Edwards’ chest. “You can go back to your office and draw up that antenuptial agreement. I’ll sign whatever you put in it because the terms don’t matter. I’m not divorcing Tinsley. Ever.”
CHAPTER 22
TINSLEY
I stare at Leo in shock. He doesn’t want the divorce? Edwards clears his throat. “You want me to ride with you to school before I head down to the docks?” Leo asks, breaking the silence.
“No, I have a car waiting already for Sol and me.” Though school is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what Leo said about us getting divorced or what it might actually mean. Sure, things have been good between us. Okay, more than good, but still.
“All right, text me when you get there or I’ll worry.” He ruffles Sol's hair as he passes her before he pulls me in for a kiss. It’s not a quick brush of his lips against mine either. When his mouth connects with mine, he pushes his tongue past my lips. It borders on almost inappropriate and screams possessiveness to anyone who might be watching.
“Okay, we get it!” Sol shouts. “She’s your girl, woman or whatever.”
“She’s my wife,” Leo says when he finally lifts his mouth from mine.
I gasp for air, my lips feeling tender and well-loved. His face is unreadable as he starts to pull back to leave. I grab a hold of him, not wanting him to go yet.
“We should talk about this,” I push, needing to know what he means about us staying married.
“Nothing to talk about.” I can actually see a vein form in his forehead. He’s pissed but trying his best to hide it. I’m not sure what sort of reaction I was expecting from him. I honestly thought he might be relieved.
“But there is.” I try to protest, but he’s not hearing it. He lays another hard kiss on me before he heads out the door. I stand there dazed.
“Let’s go. We’ll be late and I’ve missed enough school.” Sol tugs on my arm.
“Can you go ahead and–”
“Don’t get this nice man killed, Tins.” Sol cuts off my question to Edwards. “I’d just drop all of this if I were you and do the antenuptial agreement thing like Leo said.”
“I’m not doing that,” I protest as Sol shoves me out of the room to leave. I loathe the idea of an antenuptial agreement and what it means. If Sol and Leo would let me, I’d hand over half of everything I have to them just to know they’d always be taken care of.
“My brother is as stubborn as they come. He’s got it in his head that he wants to stay married so I’d go with it,” Sol says when we get into the back of the SUV.
“You’re on his side now?” When it comes to Leo, Sol normally takes my side, but now she’s jumped ship on me.
“Well, yeah. You’re my sister right now, and if you get divorced, you won’t be.” I can’t help but smile at her reasoning.
“You’re my sister no matter what happens between me and Leo, Sol. It’s been so nice having you guys at the house. I hope you don’t plan to leave.”
“I don’t plan to unless you want us to, but I worry you wouldn't tell us if we overstay our welcome.”
“This is the first time in my life that place has actually felt like home,” I admit. “I know that’s because the two of you are there. But I want you to feel that too.”
“Then stay married to my brother,” she states as if it’s so simple. If only it was.
When we get to class, I can’t concentrate on anything but Leo. More so when I get a text about getting a spanking from him because I forgot to text him when I’d gotten there. My heart gives a flutter and not because I know a spanking from Leo will be kinky fun but because he cares to check on me. I’ve never had that before. Sol and Leo give me a sense of belonging to a real family. Something I want more than anything in the whole world.