Page 51 of Mr. Big Mistake
“Oh, boy.”
“What?”
“Only your sister prefaces stuff she’s done like that. Something big is wrong, isn’t it?”
I paused. “Let me start from the beginning, okay?”
“Why don’t you start with the punch line, and I’ll ask questions?”
I swallowed hard. “All right. You ready?”
“Hit me with it, sweet pea.”
Please don’t see through my lie.“A bunch of us were joking around the night before with drinks and such. And it ended up with Brenden and me in a little wedding chapel doing a fake marriage ceremony.”
I heard shuffling on the other end of the line before my father’s voice grew gruff.
“Name of the chapel,” he said.
“Pristine Angel, or something like that?”
“Have you already been to the courthouse to try and get it annulled?”
“Yes. We saw a Judge Johnson.”
“What was his verdict?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “He wants Brenden and I to stay married for a month. To think about whether or not an annulment is what you really want.”
“Anything else?”
I paused. “We had to move in together, and we have to submit summaries of how things are going every week to his clerk to look over before we appear in a month.”
I heard him typing away. “I know Judge Johnson myself. The two of us don’t really get along, but I know his weak spots. I’ve already shot a message off to my attorney. They’ll make sure to get things handled. Did your name get changed on the paperwork?”
“I--I think so?”
“What’s this man’s last name?”
“Hearthstone.”
“Right. That’s right. Okay, sweet pea. Is there anything else I should know?”
Other than the fact that this all started with sex?“No, sir. That’s it.”
“I’m glad you called, sweetie. I know that’s hard sometimes, especially with how independent you’ve always been. But, I want you to know I’ll have it handled by the end of the week. Okay?”
I sniffled. “Thank you so much, Daddy. I don’t know why the judge is making us do this.”
“Some judges feel entitled like they can improve someone’s life by doling out unique punishments that open their eyes, or some such nonsense. You leave this to me, though. If the judge doesn’t want to negotiate, they’ll find something to use. Which will be easy, since you two were under the influence, right?”
Oh, boy.“I mean, not enough to hinder the idea. I knew what was happening. We just thought we had stressed to the owner of the chapel that this was fake. A dare that was being fulfilled with some friends getting together and blowing off steam. But, the chapel owner must not have heard us, or something like that.”
“Don’t you worry. I’m placing a call there, too. I’ll keep you updated, sweet pea.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“Anytime. I gotta go, though. The lawyer is calling. Talk soon.”
