Page 27 of From Grumpy to Forever

Chapter Fourteen

Avery

As far as I could tell, there wasn’t a dress code for a fake wedding to a man you hardly knew, and considering I hadn’t packed very much with me when I came to Trickle Creek, my options were pretty limited.

I settled on a pale-green dress with a sweetheart neckline that flared from the hip with a hem that danced around my knees.

Reid told me he’d handle the arrangements, and we’d agreed to meet at the little courthouse at ten to two.

I’d almost talked myself out of going through with this insane plan at least twenty times the night before. But ultimately, when I looked around the inn, I knew there was only one way to keep it. I was almost one hundred percent sure that my grandparents would want me to have the inn, even if it meant that it took a little deception to get it.

In this instance, the ends truly did justify the means.

Besides, it wasn’t like anyone was going to get hurt.

Reid and I were both consenting adults. He’d get the money he wanted and I’d get the inn. It was a win-win.

If all went well, we could get the divorce or annulment or whatever it took in a few months and go about our lives as if nothing had happened.

I straightened my dress and brushed off some imaginary lint with one last look in the old mirror. I’d never been one of those little girls who spent hours imagining their wedding day or dressing up in my mother’s old wedding gown. To be fair, the only time I’d ever given a wedding any thought at all was when Porter and I got serious.

Then I thought about it. Maybe more than I cared to remember.

I’d pictured walking down the aisle to my smiling groom, who thought I was the best, most beautiful woman in the entire world and couldn’t be happier and prouder to become my husband. I imagined a room full of friends and family, all crying happy tears for us. A white dress, flowers, and little lights everywhere while we danced our first dance together.

When that didn’t happen, well…I stopped thinking about marriage altogether. But if I had, the one nonnegotiable would be love.

I sighed at my reflection before shaking my head and scolding myself. There was no need to be dramatic about it. Just because I was marrying Reid today didn’t mean I wouldn’t marry for love later on.

That sounded so fucked up, even in my head.

Before I could let myself go any further down that train of thought, I checked the time.

Fucked up or not, it was time to go.

* * *

Like most things in Trickle Creek, the walk to the courthouse only took a few minutes. Minutes that only increased my anxiety and had me second-guessing everything.

But there was no turning back.

Reid was already there. He hadn’t seen me yet and had his back to me. If I wanted to change my mind, now was the time.

I took a breath and exhaled slowly.

No. I wasn’t going to change my mind.

“Ready for this?”

He turned around.

Reflexively, I took a step backward.

“I should be asking you that.”

Confused, the smile I’d pasted on my face slipped off, but only for a second before I realized it wasn’t my future husband in front of me. “Grayson.”

His face split in a smile. “Hey there, Avery. Or should I call you sister?”

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