Page 14 of Game Changer

“She’ll wait.” Jeremy sounded surer than AJ felt, but his reassurance helped.

Are you indulging me here, Jer? Or do you really think there’s something amazing between Lisa and me? I think it’s amazing… out of the blue… unlikely… and knocked me completely on my ass but totally amazing!

AJ took another deep breath and strode towards the probate office, taking the steps two at a time. As they walked through the double-doors, AJ saw Britt sitting outside the office waiting for them. Britt noticed them and smiled as she stood up.

“Oh, you’re here at last!” she exclaimed cheerfully. “AJ, have you been drinking? It’s the middle of the day, why do you smell like a bar?”

“Because he’s about to sign the next few years of his life away to you, Britt. That’s why. Not that you give a shit,” Jeremy muttered, not quite under his breath.

“What was that, Jeremy?”

“I’m pretty sure you heard, Brittany,” Jeremy spat.

“This doesn’t concern you, Jeremy. This is between AJ and me.”

“He’s not exactly wrong.” AJ’s tearful eyes met her gaze and he silently begged for her to change her mind and let him off the hook. “I don’t think this is the best idea we’ve ever had, Britt.”

“Oh, but Pim!” she sighed. “You promised! Is this about that Laura girl from the internet, again?”

AJ clenched his jaw and tried to calm the anger burning deep inside his chest. “Lisa,” he managed through gritted teeth. “Her name is Lisa.” He spoke slowly. “And yes, it’s about her, again.”

“I think you’re being ridiculous, Pim. Long-distance dating? Like, a few thousand miles between you both isn’t exactly going to be easy.” She paused and straightened the collar on his shirt. AJ pulled away awkwardly, glaring at her.

Has she always been this much of a bit–her voice disrupted his thoughts.

“I spoke to dad again this morning. I know you said you didn’t want any money for this littlearrangementof ours. I know your parents are taking care of your college debts,” she paused again. They’d done this dance a few times before and she was clearly trying to tread carefully.

Is she back to trying to buy me for the next few years? She can’t have always been this much of an asshole, can she? Maybe I’m just overly sensitive ‘cause I’ve somehow backed myself into this fucked-up corner and would much rather run away to Ireland with the gorgeous Irish girl who is hopefully falling in love with me, too.

She’s giving you her, ‘You better listen to me’ glare. Pay attention!

“But dad told me to mention that he spoke to two NHL teams about potentially taking you on after graduation. You know he deals with a few of them, for work and whatnot. They’re always looking for sports physiotherapists. Anyway. He said he’s sure that he can secure you a good job for after you graduate. Isn’t that great?” Britt looked at AJ expectantly, as though she’d just offered him the key to success for the rest of his life. He threw her a small smile, but clearly that wasn’t enough. He knew she was his best friend. He knew she wasn’t actually a bitch, but right now, at this moment, he felt like she was utterly clueless at what she was actually asking of him.

“Why do you look like I just killed your dog, AJ? This is great news! A couple of years married, I’ll get citizenship and you’ll be moved on to whoever replaces this Laura girl, and you get a well-paying job with one of your favorite teams,” she beamed.

Jeremy faked a grin and clapped his hands together. “And all that’ll be left for you to do is to cure cancer and bring about world peace!”

Britt glared at Jeremy, while AJ smiled at him and mouthed ‘Thank you’.

He’s always got my back.

They really should be paying me to take this woman off the Huntsvegas market.

“I’m starting to wish I’d taken the fifteen grand for my trouble,” AJ whispered to Jeremy.

Britt had typed up the state marriage certificate and they’d both taken it to a notary for the signatures to be witnessed. The last step in becoming Mr. Brittany Ellen Knight was delivering the completed form to the Probate Office for recording, along with a filing fee of eighty-nine dollars. Thankfully for AJ, it was just a matter of getting some paperwork signed and delivered. They had no obligation to go through with a religious service of any kind, or even have a judge perform a service.

God bless Alabama,he thought ironically.Commenting on the separation of church and state, by praising God. Talk about messed up.

Did I leave the tequila in the car? Why am I even here? Couldn’t she deliver this herself?

She could have gotten married all by herself. Pretty much how it happened, anyway.

As soon as the woman in the office told them the paperwork was in order, AJ announced that he was going to the bar. Britt declined to join them, much to the relief of the boys who neveractuallyinvited her. But she had warned against them getting too drunk – a warning the boys obviously took as their cue to do the complete opposite.

Jeremy kept a steady stream of shots lined up on the bar from the moment they arrived.

“You, drink. Our designated driver has already been set-up and then we’ll face this sham marriage of yours together tomorrow. Hungover. Sound good?”

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