Third Time's the Last Straw

The air went tense. Elle Shannon pulled me into a corner and glared at me, brow furrowed. "What do you mean, not remarrying?"

I didn't answer. I just ran my thumb over the name printed on the divorce certificate. This was the third one of these I owned already.

"Remarrying is nothing but a piece of paper anyway. It doesn't matter. And if there's a next time, it'll save us both some paperwork."

Elle's eyes went wide. Her grip on my hand tightened.

In the past, this was always the moment I'd have fought with her until the world turned upside down, refusing no matter what to go through with it, only to be met with her exasperated look and a few throwaway words of comfort.

"This really is the last time. In a month, I'll be done with Rob for good."

Warmth spread from her palm into mine. A faint mark still lingered on her ring finger, left by the wedding band she'd torn off and thrown into the river during our second divorce.

I slipped my hand free without making a scene. "Let's go. Isn't Rob here to pick you up?"

Something complicated crossed Elle's face. She opened her mouth, then closed it again without a word.

We stepped outside the courthouse.

Rob Ackman leaned against his car door, grinning as he waved at Elle. He strode over and pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks, Max. I'll be borrowing Elle for the rest of the month, then. It's my birthday today. Want to come to the party? We're all friends here, no need to be a stranger."

Rob arched an eyebrow, every word laced with mockery.

I smiled faintly. "I'll pass. I've got work to do. Have fun, the two of you."

The offhand remark caught Elle and Rob both off guard. I picked up my keys and turned to go. Elle left Rob behind and jogged after me, catching her breath. "Max. In a month, we'll remarry. I swear I won't break my promise."

I didn't understand what had her so on edge. I just nodded.

"I know. I trust you." I left it at that and didn't give her another glance before driving off to the office.

After the first two divorces, I'd been diagnosed with severe depression. There were stretches when I could barely take care of myself, let alone hold down a job. But now that I'd finally worked things out in my head, I realized letting go of someone wasn't as hard as it seemed. Before, I just hadn't been willing to.

By the time I finished up at work, it was already the middle of the night. My phone had been on silent. When I checked the screen, it showed a dozen missed calls from Elle, along with a text asking me to come pick her up. I drove to the address she'd sent: Rob's place.

The moment I walked in, the sharp smell of alcohol hit me. Elle looked like she'd had plenty to drink, slumped lazily against Rob with her face flushed.

The people at the birthday party burst out laughing at the sight of me.

"Max, aren't you two already divorced? And here you are, still playing devoted husband."

"A regular saint, showing up to fetch his ex-wife home."

Rob lifted his head, Elle's lipstick still smudged at the corner of his mouth, and put on an apologetic look. "Sorry about this, Max. Elle had a bit too much and won't let go of me..."

He turned and snapped at the others. "Elle's remarrying him in a month. Whatever they are right now, they're still husband and wife. Watch how you talk about them."

I looked away, ignoring Rob's performance of sincerity, and took Elle from his arms. Half-carrying, half-dragging her, I got her, dead drunk, into the car. The door shut behind us, sealing off the sound of their laughter.

Elle blinked her eyes open, hazy. The sight of me seemed to burn off some of the alcohol. Her first words were an excuse.

"I didn't mean to drink that much. It's just that it's Rob's birthday, and I was happy..."

"I know. As long as you had fun." I cut her off before she could finish.

She clutched her purse tighter, then suddenly sat up straight and narrowed her eyes at me. "Max, you're different now. Before, whenever I got drunk, you'd always yell at me..."

Her voice trailed off, growing quieter, until she drifted into a drunken sleep.

I didn't look at her. I started the car and stared ahead at the streetlights.

She was right. I wasn't the same as before. While she was divorcing me for Rob's sake, I'd already been getting ready to propose to someone else.