Marriage by Law

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Book: Read Marriage by Law for Free Online
Authors: N.K. Pockett
little black dress, for irony.
     
    “She’s still alive?”
     
    I smiled, shaking my head. It wasn’t a surprise Rose hated her. In fact, I can list how many people liked her on one hand with half the fingers I needed.
     
    "How did you get here?" asked Rose, sipping her flat white as I saw her eyes scan outside to see our car.
     
    “I walked.” I wrinkled my nose at the potent smell of coffee and drew my chocolate chiller milkshake closer to me. It was freezing, making my fingers go pale. I wasn’t a fan of coffee. In fact, it made me drowsier, the sugar and the warmth putting me to bed, so how I fell in love with a coffee shop, who knows.
     
    Maybe it was because their chocolate milkshakes were too good to resist.
     
    I sipped my chocolate chiller and wrapped my arms around my mid-section trying to keep warm. It was raining softly outside and the sun had disappeared under the thick blanket of clouds. So much for a warm day, I thought, staring out the window behind her.
     
    "Front door?" Rose asked with a sarcastic expression on her face and I giggled.
     
    "I jumped the fence into my neighbor’s and then used their back fence door," I said shrugging. Rose groaned, shaking her head with her mouth slightly open.
     
    "Why?”
     
    “I don’t know,” I replied. I really didn’t. I just missed doing things that I wasn’t allowed to do, and jumping fences was what I did back in the day. Oh right, I also didn’t want to walk through the main gate, in case someone I knew walked in and I had to go upstairs, change into a stupid dress and sit knitting.
     
    “Your dad really shouldn’t have let you play sports," she said, shaking her head. Rosemarie was allergic to sports. In fact, while I played she would sit there photographing the boys on the team. Meanwhile I loved sports. I loved pouring my anger and frustration on everything - mainly mother - on the poor ball during the games.
     
    “How are you going to get back?" she asked. I shrugged as I took another large sip of cold chocolate that was starting to jam my straw, which was really annoying.
     
    "The same way?"
     
    "Really, Iv, what if your neighbors see you?" she asked.
     
    I waved a hand, shaking my head. “They won’t. They were on a holiday to Fiji or something." What I’d do to be on a holiday right now.
     
    I would probably take the front door, not that I would admit it to her face, but I think I pulled a muscle jumping the fence in the first place. Maybe I was too old for that now.
     
    The rain had seemed to stop and I stood up giving up on trying to get the chocolate chip piece out of my drink. I hated it when they got stuck in the straw.
     
    "We should get back," I sighed. I didn't want to leave this place. I had a good time, and I hadn’t felt this free in a long time.
     
    Making sure both my hat and glasses were secure, I walked toward the door, with Rose following beside me and tucking my arm through hers.
     
    “We should plan something soon,” I said and she nodded, kicking a rock in her way as we walked down the quiet street. She suddenly grew really quiet and I cast a worried look in her way. “Is everything okay?”
     
    “Of course, why wouldn’t it be?” she asked but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. I let it drop; she never did break when I pushed her. She was always involved in my drama but I never had a chance to ask her about hers.
     
    "Are you coming over?" I asked Rose as we walked down the familiar road, making sure to keep away from view which was hard when Rose stuck out like a sore thumb.
     
    I felt something on my face and we both looked up. She squealed and started running, dragging me along behind her as the rain came down harder. We ducked under a tree laughing as I pulled out of her grip and wiped the water from my hands. Perfect timing.
     
    "Maybe not for a while. You both should get to know each other," she said. I scoffed, like that was going to happen. Maybe he should start by knowing my name,

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