I just finished my retelling of the night that I got drunk and married my neighbor who I couldn’t stand until forty-eight hours ago. It’s beentwenty-fourhours since I found out I’m Mrs. Travis Bennett. To say it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions is an understatement.
“I wish.”
Her brows lift and her eyes widen as she slowly realizes I’m not kidding.
“And you didn’t think to mention this yesterday?!” she screeches. “Holy shit. You’re marr?—”
I glance around and she takes the hint and lowers her voice.
“You married him?!” she whisper-shrieks.
I’d said nothing yesterday during our ride to the airport or while we waited in line at security. Then I’d been saved from an interrogation because we had to run to our gate to make our flight where I sat in the back again next to a tired mother and her screaming baby. To be fair, I wanted to cry right along with thelittle, adorable screaming thing but I figured I didn’t deserve to have a public fit.
Kinsley knew something was up, but she assumed I was just spinning about hooking up with him, not that I’d married him.
But this morning, after ignoring her texts all night, she demanded an explanation. I told her everything. Everything I could remember that is.
“Maybe he was just messing with you. The bouquet could have been from anywhere,” she adds.
I trashed the flowers in the hotel on my way to meet up with Skylar and Kinsley before I could examine it too closely, hoping the same thing—Travis was being his usual playful self and messing with me. If only.
I reach for my bag and pull out the paperwork I must have read a thousand times since yesterday.
“I found this in my purse. Plus, there were photos on my phone.” Kinsley’s eyes widen as she takes the paper from me, scans it, likely zeroing in on the same key details I had.Marriage certificate. State of Nevada. Lawful wedlock.It’s undeniably my handwriting scrawled neatly in the space next to Travis’s. I might even be impressed with how legible I was able to sign for someone who doesn’t remember it, under different circumstances.
“Holy shit. You really did it. You married your hot hockey neighbor!”
I deepen the stretch, welcoming the burn of my muscles as a distraction. Kinsley refolds the marriage certificate and hands it back to me.
“Wow, Walsh. I did not see that coming. Also, do I need to call you Bennett now?”
I glare at her since that question doesn’t dignify a real response.
“Wait, did you say photos?!” She’s a little too giddy at the prospect. “Show me!”
“I deleted them.” My beady glare intensifies, which only makes her laugh.
There were only two. One with us holding up the certificate and smiling, and another of us kissing. Both blurry but not so hard to see how happy we both looked.
“Oh, come on. If I didn’t get to be a bridesmaid, the least you could have done is show me a few pictures.”
I groan and place my face down against my knees. “How did this happen?”
“He’s a hot, charming guy and you were in the City of Sin.”
“You should have stopped me.” She’s already explained how Travis and I hadn’t wanted to leave when everyone else was ready to call it a night. She knew I was drunk and likely going to hook up with him, but it isn’t like she could have predicted that I would black out and get married too.
Her smile turns apologetic. “I’m sorry, babe. I had no idea you were that far gone or that you didn’t really want to go home with him. I thought all that back and forth was like foreplay.”
Was it? I don’t know anymore.
“I know. I’m just reeling. I cannot believe I did this.” I look up and into her face, filled with sympathy.
“What are you going to do?”
“Have it annulled, obviously.” Which means I’ll also have to stop avoiding his texts, talk to him like a grown-up, and figure out how to pay for the fees to make it all go away without draining what’s left of my bank account.
She shakes her head, a small smile creeping back into her expression. “You’re an old married lady.”
