Page 39 of Pretend Girlfriend

“Okay? What does that mean, specifically?”

“We need you to take Liz’s place.”

16

Joanna

I dropped my butt back down onto the couch. “You… you want me to take Liz’s place?”

“That’s right,” Danicka said.

“I can’t be the Maid of Honor,” I said. It was a crazy request. I barely even knew Marisa!

“You’ve misunderstood me,” Danicka said snappily. “Marisa’s sister Carol is going to be the Maid of Honor now. We just need you to fill in as a bridesmaid so we have the same number as groomsmen.”

Oh thank goodness. That was still more than I wanted to do, but it was a much easier task than what I thought she was asking of me. “Of course I’ll be a bridesmaid. My dress, though…”

“We’re already handling the dress. Just meet us at the country club in an hour. We moved the hair and makeup schedule around so you can go last.”

And then she hung up.

I glanced at my watch. It was nine in the morning. So much for having a nice, relaxing day.

Once I was in the car and on my way, I called Landon. “Hi, sweetie,” he answered.

“You’re around your family?”

“I’m with Bradyn, yes,” he answered carefully.

“Get somewhere you can talk. I’ve got news, and I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

I heard him moving on the other end. A door closed, and then he lowered his voice. “What’s the problem? Are you bailing on the wedding?”

“Actually, the opposite.”

“What the hell is the opposite of bailing?” he asked.

“Liz is sick. Your mom upgraded me to bridesmaid.”

I heard him groan. “Why do you keep finding ways to complicate our very simple agreement?”

“I had no choice! Your mom practically ordered me to do it.”

“Of course you had a choice,” he snapped. “Joanna, this is a major life event. It was one thing when you were just my fake date, but a bridesmaid? You’ll be in all the photos. Forever. What the hell were you thinking?”

Man, he was really mad. And now that he said it all out loud, I couldn’t really blame him.

“You told me to do whatever it takes to make your mother happy. I thought this was better than turning her down.”

“You thought wrong. Call her back and tell her you can’t be a bridesmaid.”

“What am I supposed to say?” I argued back.

“I don’t care. Figure something out.”

Traffic on the interstate abruptly came to a standstill. I barely slammed on my brakes in time.

“No,” I snapped. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked and then some. You wanted me to act like I’m your girlfriend. Well, stepping up to be a bridesmaid is the kind of thing I would do for someone I’ve been dating for two months. If you don’t want me to do it, then call your mother and tell her yourself. Otherwise, I’m already on the way to the country club. I’ll see you there.”

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