“That’s helpful.”
“Look, Josh. I know this is totally unlike you, but it’s obvious you like the girl, so keep playing house.” He paused and his voice softened. “Dude, I know I’ve sucked as a brother, and what I’m asking you to do sucks more than any of it all combined, but we need this. Think about Ted—yeah, I know about Ted. Where’s he going to be if we close our doors on Monday?”
Josh didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
“Maybe you can get the happy ending you truly deserve, Josh, but for now we need you to keep this going.”
“I don’t think I can do that.” Josh’s voice cracked.
“You can and you will. Now I have to go. I’ll see you at the rehearsal.”
The conversation had sucked something out of Josh, and he’d taken it out on Megan. She didn’t deserve any of this. Not her mother, not her cheating ex-fiancé, and especially not Josh and the havoc he brought with him.
Now, as he waited for her to join him, he wrestled with his conscience. The way he saw it, he had three options: One, tell her everything right now. Two, break up with her at the rehearsal dinner like they’d originally planned. Or three, follow through with Noah’s crazy plan. But what would happen then? Was he supposed to ditch her before the wedding?
She studied his face as she stepped out of the restaurant, probably trying to judge his temperament. Her brow was lowered with worry and cautiousness. He vowed to make this as easy on her as possible, but he had no idea what that entailed. So he followed his gut, which meant recapturing their earlier happiness.
He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms, kissing her with abandon, his deep fear of losing her fueling his passion.
She clutched at his chest, trying to pull him closer, as his arm tightened around her back and his other hand nestled the nape of her neck. He could feel her pulse racing, and the knowledge of how he affected her only turned him on more. But they were standing on a public sidewalk, and even if it wasn’t prime lunchtime, they’d already made enough of an exhibition of themselves. He lifted his head, pleased to see she was just as breathless as he was.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his hand caressing her neck. “I was irritated with Noah, and I took it out on you.”
“Josh, it’s okay.”
“It’s not, but I promise to try my best not to be an ass for the rest of the day.”
“Until tonight,” she said.
Rather than answering, he took the car keys from her hand. “Let’s go get a marriage license.”
As he drove to the courthouse, he reached over and interlaced his fingers with hers. She turned and offered him a soft smile and something in his chest felt warm and overwhelming. His hand squeezed hers tighter as he tried to decipher what he felt. He wasn’t big on hand-holding. It had always felt clingy and confining, yet here he was, not only instigating it, but enjoying it.
Using the map app on her phone, she gave him directions until he pulled into the parking lot of the gray stone building slightly after three thirty. “My mother is going to have a fit that we were late.”
“Only by a few minutes.”
“It’s enough to release the kraken,” she teased.
As they walked to the building, he held her hand again, grateful that she didn’t seem to mind.
When they entered the office of the recorder of deeds, Megan’s mother was sitting in an ancient vinyl chair, drumming her fingers on the arm. Josh was surprised she’d sit on something so tacky and most likely germy, but maybe she’d wiped it down with an antibacterial wipe first. A very unhappy man who appeared to be in his thirties sat next to her. A camera bag rested on the floor at his feet. He shot a glare at the both of them, then glanced at the phone in his hand.
“Hello again, Mom,” Megan said with a cheerful tone.
She pressed her mouth into a tight line. “You’re late.”
“Only by a few minutes.”
“Every minute counts. The office closes at four.”
“So why didn’t we do this sooner?”
“This is the only time the photographer could come.”
Megan turned her attention to the man who now stood behind her mother. She extended her hand to him, most likely as a peace offering. “Hi, I’m Megan. Thanks for indulging my mother’s eccentricities.”
She winked and he laughed and winked back, his mood visibly lightening.
Josh offered the man his own hand. “I’m Josh. The groom.” He hadn’t meant to add that part, but he hadn’t liked the way the photographer was acting with her.
What the hell? He’d never been jealous of previous girlfriends. But he had more serious issues to deal with than self-analysis—like the fact that he was here to not only file for a very real marriage license, but he had to keep his real last name a secret from the other two people in the room besides Megan.
They approached the counter and filled out the application, the photographer taking photos of them. Megan seemed irritated, but Josh was more concerned someone would announce his real last name and blow his cover.
A clerk took the application and their driver’s licenses. “That will be fifty-one dollars,” she said, giving them an expectant look.
“Do you take a credit or debit card?” Josh asked.
The woman’s mouth pursed with disapproval. “Cash only. Exact change. It’s very clearly stated on the website.”
Megan looked up at him, her eyes wide. There went his hope that she was prepared. He was surprised that Nicole hadn’t already slapped the bills on the counter in anticipation of their ill-preparedness. Apparently even she had her limits. But she’d slipped out the door, presumably to the restroom, and the photographer felt no need to pony up.
Megan and Josh started digging through their wallets, and together they managed to come up with the exact amount. When they found the last quarter, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“I didn’t think we were going to make it,” Megan said, shaking her head as she closed her wallet.
“Can you imagine the look on your mother’s face?”
“I’d rather not.”
The clerk handed back their driver’s licenses and told them she’d be right back.
“What exactly am I supposed to get photos of?” the photographer asked.
“The two of them filling out the application,” Nicole said, sounding disgruntled as she walked back into the small office waiting room.
“I got that, so can I go?” he asked, looking at the clock at the wall.
Megan’s mother rolled her eyes. “Fine, leave.”
The man grabbed his bag, not even taking time to put his camera away. But the clerk was on her way back with the license, and Nicole stopped him.
“I want you to get a photo of them holding it.”
“Maybe you should wait until tomorrow, Mom,” Megan suggested, casting a nervous glance at Josh. She must have been thinking the same thing he was. If they were taking photos of the marriage license, there was a good chance Knickers would see his real name. “When we actually sign it.”
Megan’s mother gave her an exasperated look. “Oh, we’ll get that, too. You can never have too many photos.”
The clerk returned to the counter with the paperwork. “Here you go, Mr. Mc—”