Page 28 of Just My Luck

Since this was strictly a business arrangement, we’d wasted no time in deciding to stand in front of a judge and make things official. After dropping the twins off at the library, I’d offered to drive us both, but Abel insisted that he meet me there.

County law also required that we supplytwowitnesses. When I saw Sylvie round the corner, my chest pinched.

She waved. “What’s with the cloak-and-dagger texts?” She offered a quick hug, and her hands stayed planted on my shoulders. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

I swallowed hard and looked around. “No, not trouble really. But I do have something to tell you. It’s going to be a shock, and I hope you’re not mad.”

Sylvie steeled her spine and lifted her chin. “Okay. I’m ready.”

I offered a wary grimace as I said, “I’m marrying Abel today and need you to be my witness.” I hoped my words sounded playful and upbeat, but I was fairly certain I sounded like I was going to puke.

“You’re what?!” Sylvie shrieked.

My hands came together in front of me. “I know. I know. I should have said something sooner, but I was worried you’d freak out or that he’d back out and I would have told you for nothing. Hear me out. I promise it’s not as bad as you think.”

“I doubt that.” Sylvie crossed her arms. “But I’m listening.”

“I have money from my dad that I can’t access unless I have a significant life event—like getting married. I need that money.Ergo, I need a husband.”

“And you’re marrying Abel?” Her eyes narrowed.

“Yes. In exchange, I am investing in Abel’s Brewery so he can buy your dad out, but we also need him to believe that Abel and I areactuallymarried... which means I’m also moving in with him?” The end of my sentence rose as if I were asking a question.

In reality, I was just hoping Sylvie would still speak to me after all this.

She exhaled. “What the hell, Sloane?”

“I know.” My nose scrunched. “Do you hate me?”

Sylvie pulled me into a hug. “No, I don’t hate you. Do I think this is totally out of left field and kind of fucked up? Yeah... but who am I to judge? It’s just that... wow.” She laughed as the reality of the situation settled over us. “Wow!”

I smiled at my best friend. “I guess this means we’ll be sisters. At least... on paper and for a little while anyways.”

Sylvie shook her head. “I mean, if you’re really getting married, are you sure you don’t want your grandfather here?”

I smiled and shook my head. “Definitely not. I’ve got enough on my plate without my granddad poking his nose into things. He’s a romantic at heart and wouldn’t understand that this is strictly business. He needs to know as little as possible.”

Sylvie nodded once. “Got it. Well . . . I guess you’re marrying Abel then . . .”

I swallowed hard and looked up at the courthouse. “I guess so.”

Just inside, we waited for Abel, and I tried not to let my nerves get the best of me. I paced across the tile as my fingertips played with the hem of my shirt. Despite their pleading and open dislike for Jared, my dad and stepmom had once paid for a big, splashy wedding—complete with a dress that made me look like a frosted cupcake. I’d grown up and now I knew better. Today was a business arrangement and nothing more. Plus, I was on shift at the brewery later, so I chose to wear a pair of black jeans and a formfitting black shirt that I could swap out for an Abel’s Brewery tee later. The outfit was simple and no-nonsense.

I’d chosen it in part to keep my brain from thinking things like:Why does Abel smell so good? Will he keep sayingmy wifein that gruff tone I seem to like so much? What if this feeling isn’t entirely fake? Oh, fuck, am I making a huge mistake?

When I saw Abel walking up the courthouse steps, my heart sank. Beside him was his aunt Bug.

For the first time in my life, I saw him dressed in a suit that looked as though it had been tailor-made for him. It was nearly black, but in the sunlight I could see the expensive material was, in fact, a beautiful dark gray. His black dress shoes were shined, and the white of his shirtsleeves peeked out from his jacket.

He’d worn a tie.

Shit.

I gulped and looked down at my own outfit. Nerves rippled through me, and I sent a pleading look to Sylvie. With nowhere to go and no time to change, I stood my ground. When he opened the glass doors and entered the corridor of the courthouse, I adjusted the strap to my purse and smiled.

Thank god I remembered lipstick.

“Hi,” I chirped.

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