There's No Turning Around in Love
When Samuel Larson came to pick me up from work at the county clerk's office, he suddenly slid a marriage license through the service window.
"Actually, this one was fake the whole time. Getting back together with you was just a joke."
Before I could process what he'd said, he waved a brand-new marriage license in front of me and grinned.
"Yesterday, Jessie sat on my lap and kissed me. It felt so good I couldn't help myself. So I went and got a real marriage license with her."
The second betrayal hit me as a bucket of cold water dumped over my head.
I stared at him in disbelief. "Why?" I asked in a trembling voice.
"Because you're gullible."
He narrowed his eyes and savored the sight of me tearing up. He then smiled and handed me a tissue.
"Back then, it took you three years to figure out Jessie and I were secretly seeing each other.
"So we made a bet. We wanted to see how long it would take you this time."
His gaze shifted to the fading hickey on my neck. He paused briefly before shrugging.
"She bet it'd take you a year at most. That's why I've been leaving obvious clues all year.
"But I got tired of acting, and you still didn't catch on.
"Today's the last day of the bet. I wanted her to win and be happy.
"I had no choice but to just tell you myself."