MARRIED TO A STRANGER

“Who are you again?”

The next thing I knew I was strapped down. There was something poking into my arm and fluorescent lights were above me. At least three people were around me.

“Who are you, again?”

“Her husband,”

“We’ve got it from here,”

“I’m coming with you.”

“What’s going on?” I squeaked out.

“You passed out, honey. We’re going to get you checked out.”

“Who are you? Why are you calling me honey?”

“It seems she’s having trouble remembering things too. We’ll check that out in the hospital. Sir, if you’ll just follow us.”

“What is going on?” I groaned.

“Sweetheart, you’re going to be checked out at the hospital.” I felt someone grab my hand.

“You’re getting in an ambulance right now. Don’t worry, I’m right here for you.”

I felt warmth spreading from my arm and I looked to see an IV sticking out when everything went fuzzy and I felt like I was floating. The next thing I knew I smelt antiseptic and plastic. There is only one place that has this distinct smell. I looked around and everything was immaculate with a little curtain divider separating my half of the room. I was in a hospital. The question was, why?

I felt alright. I moved all my fingers and toes, I had all my appendages. It didn’t feel like I had stitches anywhere, the only thing that hurt was the IV sticking out of my arm. I hit the little nurse’s call button on my bed when he walked in. Flashes started to come back. He was carrying two cups of coffee.

“Hey, I wasn’t sure how you like your coffee.” He smiled at me. “I have one black, and one with cream and sugar.”

“I’ll take the black one,”

He handed it to me. “How are you feeling?”

“Pretty alright. Why am I here?”

“You hyperventilated. The doctors said that once you were awake you were allowed to go home.”

“Right, how do I know you?”

“We’re kind of married,” he offered with a small smile.

“Crap, you’re right, you were telling me about this earlier and I had a panic attack. Look, I’m sure you’re a great guy, but I have to get back to my life. I can’t do this, I’m sorry.”

“You kind of already have.”

“You don’t seem to be understanding, I can’t be married to you.”

“Well, you are.”

I sighed. “Look, I don’t want to be. Let’s get this annulled and we can both forget this stupid little mistake.”

“I’ve already told you, I can’t let that happen just yet.”

“Why again, can’t we just get this annulled?”

“It looks bad for business. I am the heir to the Carson hotel chain. The five star hotels known for nothing short of excellence. We are class.”

“Okay?”

“I can’t appear as some party boy who had a drunken marriage.”

“So what are we supposed to be?”

“My publicist is already concocting a cover story.”

“What?”

“My publicist is good at keeping public what she wants public, and private what needs to be private. She’s good at her job. Are you feeling well enough to leave here?”

“Sure, I want to go home.”

“We are going home,”

“No, my home. You’re crazy if you think I’m staying here in Vegas.”

“We don’t have to, I can go anywhere in the world. Remember my hotel chain is worldwide.”

“My home doesn’t involve you.”

“I’m going to have to ask you to play along. We have to play the part of newlyweds.”

“What?”

“I need you to pretend to be in love with me.”

“That’s preposterous.”

“But necessary.”

“No.”

“I’m afraid I’m not actually asking. The funny thing with divorce, is both have to enter it. You can’t get rid of me without my signature. The question is, do you want to do this the easy way, or the hard way?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“If you choose to perceive it that way, I prefer to think it’s more of an adventure request.”

“I never wanted to come to Vegas in the first place.” I grumbled and tried to cross my arms. That’s when I remembered the IV.

“Hi honey, how are you feeling?” the nurse asked as she came in. She was tall, slender, and had caramel colored skin. “Everything looks good and Dr. Franklin gave you the all clear once you were feeling up to it.”

“She’s feeling much better,”

“What was your name again?”

“Taylor, sweetheart. She must have hit her head harder than we thought on the floor.”

The nurse came over looking concerned. “Her pupils aren’t dilated. Follow the pen cap.” She moved the pen back and forth in front of me. “She doesn’t seem to have a concussion. We can run some tests if you like,”

“Only the best for my wife.” The nurse didn’t see the glare I shot him, but he did. What did that little son of a gun do? He grinned back. She went to go fetch a doctor and I continued to glare at Taylor.

“You can stop with the wife comments.”

“But you are my wife.”

“We’ll just see about this.”

“Alright, wifey.”

“Stop calling me that.”

“What would you prefer? Mrs. Carson?”

“No, I’m not changing my name.”

“You can hyphenate it if you like.”

“I’m not changing my name.” I like my name. Kayla Bryce is just fine thank you very much.

“We’ll just see, darling.”

The doctor came in and examined me. Three hours later I was sitting in the back of a car, Taylor’s arm too close to me. He’d already tried to put it around me and he’d nearly lost it. Something he seemed to find far too amusing.

“Darling, you’re so cute.”

“Stop calling me darling. And I’m not cute. I’m angry.”

“No darling, it’s cute.”

“Stop it!”

“I tell you what, you can have whatever you want.”

“I want out of this sham of a marriage.”

“Except that.”

I sighed and looked at the bruise blossoming on my arm where the IV had been. I’d always bruised easily. I’d tried to give blood once, it took them two hours and they gave up and then it looked like someone had taken a baseball bat to my arm. “I need to get back to my job. My plane is supposed to leave tonight. I have work on Monday. I really need to get back to my friends. This has been fun and all, but I really must be going. Drop me off at, never mind. We were staying at the Carson.”

“I will take you wherever you need to go. If you like we can take my private jet.”

“No thank you. I have my own ticket already.”

“Come now, I’m sure my jet is more comfortable.”

“I don’t care.”

“We’ll discuss it at the hotel.”

I glared out the tinted windows and we made our way back to the hotel. I held my arm gingerly and found my girls. I’d called ahead. “Dammy!”

She ran up to me and spun me around. “Oh my god, this is your husband?”

“Tylor Carson,” he extended his hand. Dammy grabbed him and pulled him in for a hug. “I’m a hugger.” She smiled and gave me a thumbs up behind his back. “I approve!” she winked and smacked his bum. To which he looked surprised, but gave me a small smile.

“Can anyone tell me what happened last night?”

“I remember you!” Trina smiled. Trina’s waist length hair was tied up in a bun and she was back to her business attire with her suit skirt and blazer. “You came over and sat with us for blackjack last night. I don’t think we were properly introduce. Katrina Elton.”

“Where’s Jackie?” I asked as I first noticed she wasn’t with everyone else. She is the whole reason I came to Vegas in the first place. If she hadn’t begged and pleaded I’d be home right now doing research. What I was really good at, and where I felt that I belonged.

“She’s checking out now.”

“Is she okay?”

“She’s jealous.” Betty chimed in, flipping her short blonde hair. Betty wasn’t my friend, she was Jackie’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she purred as she took no notice of personal space and raked her nails down his chest. I hate Betty, she was as fake as the blonde in her hair. She was mean, backstabbing, and a horrible friend to Jackie.

“Sure,” Tylor looked a little confused, but took her hand off his chest and put it by her side. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“How did you of all people manage to scoop this hot, steaming pile of sexy up?” Betty asked as she circled Tylor like a vulture.

“I started by not treating him like a piece of meat.” I snapped. “But I didn’t pick him up,” I quickly corrected. “This was just an accident. A simple miscalculation that I can fix.”

“But I don’t want to be fixed,” Tylor pouted as his arms snaked around my waist and pulled me up against his chest.

“Let go of me!” I hissed as I shoved his arms off of me. I looked to see him giving me a puppy dog pout. That was so not fair. It was cute . . . he was kind of . . . attractive, but it didn’t matter! No! Stay focused kayla. You were getting rid of him asap! “Betty, maybe if you started treating people like human beings they’ll treat you as more than just a semen depository. Now, I have to go and find my sister!”

I stormed off and ran into Jackie. “Hey sis, so you got married to him? Good for you! He’s a cutie,”

“Jackie! What happened last night? Did someone slip something into my drink?”

“No, you just had too much to drink.”

“But I didn’t drink alcohol!”

“Kay, you had about ten long island iced teas over the night.”

“But it’s tea,”

“But it’s not.” Jackie laughed. “It’s rum, and vodka, and tequila, and gin, all sorts of fun things. Damn, you didn’t know?”

“No!”

“And here I thought Vegas just loosened you up.”

“Oh! What in the world did I do?”

“Got drunk and got married in Vegas. You and how many hundreds of others? You could have done a lot worse. I have to say, he’s a cutie.”

“Do you realize who he is?”

“He does look familiar now that you mention it.”

“That is Tylor Carson, and I can’t get rid of him.”

“Oh! That’s it! He won most eligible bachelor this year. Well, I guess he lost that for next year.” Jackie teased me with a wink.

“And he won’t annul our marriage.”

“Why would you want to?”

“Why would I want him?”

“That’s a bit harsh,” I heard Tylor from behind me. I stiffened and stood up straight. “You are my sister-in-law, I do believe.” Tylor offered with a handshake.

Jackie shook her head and held out her arms. “This is a family of huggers. Get used to it, beefcake.” Jackie pulled him in for a hug then held him at an arm’s length. “But don’t think we won’t kick your ass if you hurt Kayla in any way. I will personally kick your ass myself.”

“Dually noted, and I plan to treat her like the princess she is.”

“Will you two stop talking like I’m not even here?” I snapped. “Trina!” I called storming over to her. “My bestest attorney friend, get me out of this nonsense.”

Trina thought for a long moment. “Have you two consummated?”

“What?”

“Have you two consummated your marriage?”

I felt my cheeks flush. “I-I-I I don’t remember,” I stammered. I looked at Tylor, him with his sly little grin. “Di-did we?”

Tylor looked a little sad, but still had a ghost of a smile. “Sorry, darling.”

I groaned and covered my face with my hands and let myself sink down to the ground.

“I’ll make some calls sweetheart,” Trina assured me. “I’m not the youngest partner in the history of the firm for no reason,” she soothed, as she pulled me to my feet and gave me a wink.

“Jackie, is everything taken care of with the hotel?”

“Yeah,” Jackie smiled and bounced over. “Now to just catch that plane and we can head back.”

“You are all welcome to fly back on my private jet, if you like,” Tylor offered with that award winning smile I was beginning to hate.

“That sounds fantastic,” Betty cooed, getting as close to Tylor as was humanly possible. He raised an eyebrow but otherwise ignored her very existence. “Can I sit next to you?” she breathed into his ear.

“I’m afraid that seat is reserved for my wife,”

Betty shot me daggers and I shook my head. “I am not your wife!” I hissed.

“I’m afraid you are,” Tylor replied with a smirk. “Now, if you ladies would like, we’d be happy to accommodate you all.”

“Private jet or Coach seats? Private jet!” Jackie cheered. “You picked a good one!”

“I didn’t pick anyone!” I hissed.

“I have a very important question,” Dammy chimed in.

“What is that?”

“Are you any good in bed? Because, you had better keep this girl well taken care of, or else you’ll have me to deal with.” Dammy warned.

“Ask her,” Tylor chuckled.

“Dammy, stop talking like that. I’m not going to do that with him.”

“You already have.” Dammy shrugged.

“If I can’t remember it, how does it count?”

“Kayla, you are not a normal human being.”

Dammy sighed. “Will you look at this gorgeous man? He is your husband. He’s not fat. Do you have a degree?”

“From Duke,”

“He’s an ivy leaguer. He’s rich and owns a very profitable hotel chain. He seems like a gentleman so far, and if you aren’t so help you god. Now darling, only you could see the awful in this.”

“I’m already married,” I grumbled. “I’m married to my work. I don’t have time for relationships. I don’t want one, and I don’t need one. I am perfectly fine alone and I don’t have any intention of changing it.” I warned.

“We’ll just see about that!” Dammy sang as she gave Tylor a wink. “We’ll take your fancy plane, and we’ll make her like it.” Dammy pointed at me. And this is how my entire life turned upside down quite literally overnight.