Page 75 of Unhinged

Simone sighs as she dumps cleaning supplies into her blue bucket. “I suppose so, but my mother would kill me if I eloped with some bar regular.” She then giggles, and I realize how much I like it when she does. “It’d put a damper on my dating life, for sure.”

Candi says, “No, it won’t. Your marriage will be temporary and bogus, for crying out loud.”

Simone frowns. “It’s not every little girl’s dream to get married this way.”

Candi puts her hand on Simone’s shoulder. “I know, sweets, but you’ll still have that chance later.”

“I guess so.”

“Damn, I’m excited!” Candi says, grabbing her bucket from the counter. “Do you have anyone in mind, at least?”

“I mean, there’s Elijah. I haven’t gone out with Tanner yet. I don’t know. I can’t just spring it on them. Who in the hell would want to help me like that?”

Simone has done so much for me, and I’m the asshole who hasn’t reciprocated. And I feel like a prick about the Birdy situation.

I inhale, knowing I’m about to fuck up my life again. “Me.”

Chapter 14

Simone

All three of us stare at Greg, wondering if we all imagined the same thing. Candi is the first to laugh. “Uh, what?”

Greg licks his lips and looks down at the counter before glancing at me. “I’ll help you.”

Shaking my head because I’m insane, I say, “That’s hysterical. But thank you.”

“You said you want to put the screws to your dad. I’ll loan you my last name.”

Candi and I gasp as she grips my arm. “You’d do that for Simone?”

He shrugs, but his brown eyes seem sincere. “Yeah, I would.”

Candi giggles. “Why? Because you’re really in love with Simone, and this is your way of telling her?”

Greg’s eyebrows pull together with an instant frown. “No. She helped me. I’m returning the favor.”

Stunned, I say, “This isn’t a joke, though. It’s not even just a favor. It’s marriage.”

Greg shakes his head as he shifts, crossing his arms. “It’s just on paper. We wouldn’t live together or call each other…you know. We’d share a last name. That’s it.”

I’m dubious. “You’re dating Kleo.”

“She’ll understand.”

Candi argues, “And if she doesn’t?” That’s valid too.

He again shrugs. “On to the next.” Just not me.

Candi laughs. “What happens if Greg Jr. comes along?”

Greg crooks an eyebrow, and it slams me how sexy he is without trying. “Not happening.” He probably wouldn’t care, anyway. Greg stares at me, but I can’t look at him. I hate lying to people. It was tough to pretend I was lusting after Ricky when I wanted Greg.

Milt looks at his wristwatch with a frayed band barely holding it together. “You can still get your marriage license today, and I could marry you here before the bar opens. There’s no waiting period in North Carolina. You’ll need your social security card, driver’s license, and birth certificate.” Holy fuck.

Greg says, “We both have the time. Let’s get it over with.”

Candi shrieks, “You’re not proposing to her first? Get down on one knee, Rodwell!”

---