Our Loveless Marriage

Chapter 2: The Honeymoon

-Megan-

When we arrived at Chicago airport, I opened the door, only to notice Nathan wasn’t moving. I looked back at him, one eyebrow raised, but he stared at me, as if he didn’t see a problem.

“Aren’t you coming?” I inquired. He shook his head, and I fell back in my seat, feeling confused. “But your grandfather—"

“Will think you had a nice trip and know I had work to take care of. Take some pictures. Have some fun, and when he comes to visit in three weeks, tell him how much you enjoyed his gift, but let’s not act like we aren’t both forced to be here. I have no interest in being trapped with you for two weeks on an island I can’t escape,” he stated, making it almost sound like we had become part of the movie Cast Away.

“You think I want this?” I challenged.

“I know you don’t. So go. Enjoy yourself. Two weeks where we don’t have to see each other at all. Sounds perfect to me,” he remarked.

“You know we have to seem ‘happy’ here, right? Our families are both trying to get something out of this marriage, and maybe... maybe if we try... then—”

“Then what? We could actually like each other? You and I are too different. If I could have chosen, I wouldn’t have married someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” I pressed, offended. “What does that mean?”

“It means you’re not my type.”

I wanted to laugh, but not because it was funny. It was just so ridiculous, and I crossed my arms over my chest.

“And you think you’re mine?” I challenged.

He shrugged, refusing to provide a clear answer.

“You know what, I am going on this trip,” I declared, glaring at him. “And I will have fun because you won’t be there. Have a nice two weeks, asshole!”

I didn’t even look back as I got out of the car, and my suitcases were handed to me, which I quickly took, storming away from there, finding my passport before going to get my bags checked in. I felt so hurt. Even if I didn’t care about Nathan, it would have been nice if he put a little effort into this.

Neil had, of course, given me a first-class ticket, and when I finally got on the plane, I had even more space since Nathan wasn’t here. I chose the window seat and watched as the world went by in a blur. I didn’t want to go, but the thought of being stuck for one more second with my new husband was torture. Maybe I could have fun, I thought. I would at least try. Better than being stuck with such an arrogant piece of...

“Something to drink?” A flight attendant interrupted my thoughts, and I smiled as I shook my head, watching her leave, before turning back to the window.

I sighed, leaning back in my seat and closed my eyes. Maybe if I fell asleep, I would once again wake up in my bed and be home, finally out of this nightmare, but I knew things weren’t that simple. Nathan and I had been forced together in this “holy matrimony”, and there was no way out of it. At least not for me.

-Nathan-

“That wife of yours seems to be having fun on your honeymoon,” Jax, my best friend remarked, as he looked over my shoulder, seeing yet another photo my “wife” had posted on her **.

She easily made people believe we were having fun, and the reason I wasn’t in any of them was I was shy, which everyone knew I wasn’t. Not when it came to anything and especially not having my photo taken, but it was not like anyone would try to call Megan out. People knew our marriage wasn’t really one filled with love. It had happened so fast, no one had even heard anything about me “dating” Megan Johnson.

“When does she come home?” Jax asked, as he sat down in the booth in front of me.

“Tomorrow,” I replied, slipping my phone into my pocket.

Jax and I had gone out tonight. He had suggested a strip club, but I wasn’t about to be caught there, knowing the old man was watching me. So, I had convinced my friend to settle for the club this time. He wasn’t happy about it, but he didn’t have an old corpse breathing down his neck every second of his day. Okay, my grandfather wasn’t that old, but still, he was breathing down my neck.

“Going to pick her up? Make it look like you really care?” he inquired.

“And make it clear Megan lied about me being ‘shy’?” I retorted.

“Come on, everyone knows you didn’t go with her. You just forgot to tell her she didn’t have to lie,” he remarked.

I shrugged. I didn’t care what Megan had said, but apparently, she was trying to save face, so I wasn’t about to ruin that.

“Aren’t you at all curious about who all those people are?” he prodded.

I looked away, noticing a beautiful blond, clad in a silver dress that barely covered her, grinding against some guy, but watching me with hungry eyes.

“Not really,” I admitted.

“I mean, for someone who is known as the ‘mouse’, I am surprised she got so many friends so fast,” Jax observed.

“A picture says a thousand words,” I remarked. “We don’t know if they are even her friends.”

I continued to hold the blond’s gaze, and she clearly wanted me to go over to her, but I didn’t pursue. She would come to me eventually. I just had to wait a little longer.

“Well, I guess you will find out tomorrow then,” Jax said, taking a sip from his drink.

“I am not going to be home tomorrow. My grandfather wants me in New York, closing a deal for him,” I informed him.

“Wow,” he responded, finally drawing my attention to him.

“What?”

“You dumped her on your honeymoon, and now you aren’t even going to be there to welcome her home,” he observed, shaking his head.

“You know what this marriage is. I am sure she is happy I won’t be there,” I remarked.

He laughed, continuing to shake his head. “Husband of the year,” he joked, eliciting a slight smile from me.

"Hey," I turned my head to see the beautiful blonde, who, if I had to guess, made a living out of having her picture taken. How could she not, with her slim body and long legs?

“Hey,” I greeted her.

“Want to dance?” she propositioned, leaning closer, so the top part of her dress opened, giving me a clear view of everything.

“Actually, I was going to get some fresh air,” I declined, standing up, which seemed to confuse her.

I walked past her and went through the door leading outside to an alley, where I found my lighter and a pack of cigarettes, but I didn’t even get to light one, as the door behind me opened, and out came the blond.

No words were spoken as she walked over to me, pulled the cigarette from my lips, threw it away, and then replaced it with her own. I turned us around, pressing her up against the wall, and then there was only the sound of her moaning and her suddenly finding a new belief in God.