Page 83 of Take My Name

“There’s somethin’ I need to tell you about my past that I never shared and the real reason I came here.”

A brief pause and then he clears his throat. “Okay. What is it?

“I got married when I was twenty-one to my high school sweetheart and we never got a divorce. After I left for New York, I hoped he’d move with me, but he never did. I served him divorce papers several times, but he’d never sign ’em and at the time I wasn’t in a huge rush to file for a default divorce, so I kept waiting and hoping he’d sign ’em the next time. I sent ’em twice since we got engaged and decided to ask him in person since he sent those back unsigned too.”

“Okay…” He breathes out slowly. “Did you get him to sign now?”

“Not yet, but…” I lick my lips, confused. “You don’t sound surprised to hear that I’m married to another man.”

“I’m not.”

I wait for him to elaborate.

“I knew you got married young.”

“Youknew? Why didn’t you ever say anythin’? And how?”

“I figured if you wanted me to know, you would’ve told me. I hired a PI to do a full background check on you before things turned serious and he found your marriage record but no divorce decree or obituary that he had passed.”

“Wait…” I blink hard, not believing what I’m hearing. “You did a background check on me?”

“Of course. I had to make sure the woman I was bringing into my life wasn’t a secret obsessive fan or someone with a criminal record who would make me look bad. I had to make sure I was making the right decision.”

“So this whole time…for almost three years, you knew I was married and still proposed to me?”

“I hoped it’d help move things along. I figured there was areason you never told me, so I thought maybe a little push would help get it done. I didn’t like the idea of the woman I love being someone else’s.”

I’m speechless, too shocked to fully comprehend his words. My chest is so tight, I can’t breathe.

“Maisie?”

Squeezing my eyes, I lean back in my bed to stop the stars from taking over my vision.

“Honey, speak to me.”

“I-I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”

“You’re not upset, are you?”

My mouth falls open. “That you did a background check on me? No. I understand needin’ to be cautious. But the manipulatin’ me part…I’m upset about that, yes.”

“Well…I could say the same about you for not being honest with me, and yet, I’m not mad.”

“If you knew, why didn’t you ask me about it? Why act like you wanna marry me just so I’ll get divorced?”

“Like I said, I figured you had good reason for not telling me, but I don’t want to share you, Maisie. I want you asmywife.”

“I dunno if that’s gonna happen, Hayes.”

“Which part?”

“The gettin’ married part.”

“I take it he hasn’t signed them?”

“No, he hasn’t. But he will in a few days…if I ask him to.”

“That’s great.” There’s hope in his voice. “What’s the problem, then?”