“Not legal?” she yells. “Your face is plastered all over the damn internet and the news. The media is having a field day with this.”
Dang. Lucy is normally so soft spoken.
“We were drunk.”
“Apparently.” She cackles. “Know what I’m pissed about?”
So many things. “No, but I bet you’re going to tell me ...”
“That you never called! Did it occur to you that I might want to be there?”
I pull the phone away again, staring at it. “Lucy, I just told you—we were drunk. In the moment. The officiant who married us was the bride’s cousin and a youth pastor.”
“Bride’s cousin?” I hear the confusion in her voice.
“We crashed a wedding at Moonlight at Star Lake.”
“Youwhat?” Her horrification amps up a notch at my audacity. “Who Are You?”
“Mrs. McBride, apparently.”
“You’re not funny, Annabelle. I’m coming home, and we’re going to—”
I shake my head. “Too late, I’m packing for Arizona.”
This gives her pause. “You are?”
I nod. “He’s not ready to ... call it quits yet. Apparently he can’t get enough of me,” I joke.
“You married a linebacker.”
“So? You’re dating one too.” I point out.
“You’re moving in with alinebacker.”
“Temporarily!”
“For a Month?”
“Think of it like ... experimental cohabitation. Research for science purposes.”
Lucy huffs. Then: “You’re going to fall for him.”
“I’m not,” I say quickly. Too quickly, because it may be too late for that.
“Annabelle—I love you and I support you, and Lord knows this may be partly my fault for pushing you into this trip. But you do not know this guy!”
“Pot to kettle! You jetted off to Arizona after knowing Harris for, what, one week? It’s the same amount of time!”
She makes a scoffing sound. “We’re not married—we’re dating.”
“How many times must I remind you this is not legally binding?”
“Do you have a ring on your finger?”
I glance down at the ring on my finger, then pull my arm behind my back to avoid its sparkly glare.
When I don’t respond, Lucy exhales. “Annabelle, sweetie.Darling.Newlywed by accident. The world thinks you’re legally married.Hethinks you’re legally married. Which means, even if this is just ajoketo you, it’s very real to everyone el—”
