Accidentally Married on Purpose (6 page)

“Ugh,” she groaned, the sound half drowned by the wall. “How much did we drink?”

“Judging from my massive migraine and the fact you woke up in the bathroom, I’m going with a lot.” Sherry shifted her head so she could peer at her groom with one eye. Tyler slid her a crooked grin. “Cheer up. We’re not the first idiots who’ve done this. Getting wasted and waking up married in Vegas is pretty much a cliché, isn’t it?”

Sherry blew out a breath. “My bookshelves are filled with that very thing,” she agreed. Those stories also involved happily ever afters—an outcome that would
not
be happening here. “Okay, so what do we do? You have a life, a tour to get back to, and I, I have…” What? What did she have? A great family, a job that she enjoyed, even if it wasn’t her dream, and a love life that was in the toilet. But… “I have a life plan!”

Picking up her head, she stared at him with what she was sure screamed desperation. “No offense, Tyler, but I was through with love screw-ups. This weekend was supposed to be my last hurrah. Starting today, I was going to be a new woman. A one-eighty from the relationship disaster of the past. I was going to find Mr. Boring!”

The squiggle on his forehead said he was either highly confused or extremely amused by her confession, but honestly, she was too distraught to care. Without breaking eye contact, Tyler bent at the knee, stooped down, and then popped back up. “Here.”

She glanced down to see he had a towel in his hand, and she felt her cheeks go hot.
D’oh.
Conversations about screwing up your life and ways to dig yourself out of that mess were best handled clothed. He waited until she’d wrapped the terry cloth around her body and tucked it securely before speaking.

“Listen, I get it. This wasn’t my plan, either. I like my life easy, and no offense to
you
,” he said with a smile, “but marriage is far from that. Especially one to a stranger—no matter how gorgeous she is.”

Sherry felt herself smiling, despite the extreme awkwardness of the situation. The man she married (married!) was a charmer, no doubt about that. In fact, that was the reason they were in this mess in the first place. He’d
literally
charmed the pants right off her.

A horrid thought struck the smile clear off her face. “Last night…did we…?” Chewing her lip, she stared at him and asked, “Did we use protection?”

Tyler frowned, and Sherry squeezed her eyes shut. How could she not remember? Could they have been that stupid?

Or, stupid-
er
?

“Yeah, we used protection.” She opened her eyes to see him rake his fingers through his hair. “That much I do remember.”

“Thank you, Jesus.” Sherry made the sign of the cross, kissed her fingers, and pointed to the ceiling. “Okay, so no permanent damage done. Right? Not really. We can get out of this easily enough.” She began pacing the length of the room. “I mean, not today. It takes time. And I have a plane to catch. And I still have to go back to my room and pack.” She lifted her head. “What hotel am I in right now?”

“The Moonshine,” he told her. “Same as yours.” She nodded, and he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Listen, I need you to take a breath for me, okay? I know you’re freaking out. I am, too. But honestly, this will be fine. I’ll call the band’s lawyers and get them on it, and we’ll have this taken care of in no time. I promise.”

“You think Blue will let you use his lawyers?”

An odd look washed over Tyler’s face, but it was gone in an instant. “Yeah. But uh, like you said, you have a plane to catch. You let me worry about all of the other stuff, and you just lay low for the next few days. I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything.”

Sherry nodded again, the effects of the hangover and marital un-bliss making the edges of her vision fuzzy.
Lay low?
She wondered briefly why she’d have to do that, but then was distracted by the sight of his jeans slipping dangerously low as he trudged into the hotel room and grabbed his cell phone off the floor. Oh, right. She was married, and she didn’t even have her husband’s number.

She slumped against the door as he walked back.

“Here, put your information in.” He handed her his phone, and she quickly called herself so that she would have his number, too. He took it back and shoved it in his pocket. The action made his jeans dip even more on his hips, and Sherry had to force her gaze back up. “Why don’t you get dressed, and I’ll order room service?” he asked.

The offer was sweet, but she could tell he was as twitchy about this predicament as she was. It seemed cruel and unusual punishment for the both of them to delay her leaving. Plus, even the idea of food right now made her want to hurl.

“Nah. I’ll get out of your hair. I really do need to pack and get to the airport.” Tyler nodded and turned to give her some privacy. “But, hey, Ty?” He glanced back with a raised eyebrow. “You’ll call me the second you hear anything, right?”

He gave her a tight smile. “Absolutely.”

And with that, he closed the door behind his glorious backside, and she was alone. In her
husband’s
bathroom.

What in the hell have I done?

Chapter Five

“Sure, abandon me. I see how it is.”

Angelle looked up from her opened bag, a worried line etched between her eyes. Sherry winked. “I’m just teasing, girl. If you want to shack up with my brother, go and live in a sappy, pre-marital squishy love fest. Who am I to complain? We’re gonna be sisters soon. I figured you’d leave me eventually.”

Sherry was well acquainted with being the odd duck out. Everyone around her was in love and settled, and dang it all, that’s what she wanted, too. It was the entire motivation for her relationship makeover resolution. But for some reason, even though the bliss surrounding her was nothing new, it felt bigger post-Vegas. Knowing she was in a loveless mistake of a marriage—and that much further from her ultimate goal—made the depressing lonely truth sting all the more.

Being way too embarrassed to tell anyone the truth didn’t help any, either.

“Well, for now I’m only
semi
-abandoning you,” Angie clarified with a grin. “Your brother and I have only been engaged for a month. I’m not ready to jump and move in full time. It’s just that with Colby married and the house empty again, this felt like the right step.” She grimaced. “Just don’t tell my mama. She’d flip.”

“My lips are sealed.” Sherry made a locking motion over her mouth, and then pretended to throw a key behind her back. It was better that way, anyway, because all this talk of weddings and soon-to-be husbands had her seriously reconsidering unburdening her secret—and that would so not end well.

Knowing Angelle, once she got over the shock of Sherry getting married to a virtual stranger and the subsequent
non
-shock, since she was the family screw-up after all, she’d want to know all about the actual wedding. Only Sherry couldn’t remember squat. What kind of bride can’t even recall if she said, “I do,” or “I will,” or abandoned both options and sang an Elvis song instead?

Honey, you’re my hunka hunka burning love. Kiss me.

Okay, so the hangover, weary flight, and the news that her best friend was moving out had her a little loopy. Even more of a reason to keep her mouth shut.

New
New Year’s resolution: no more alcohol. Or drunken marriages.

Zipping up her duffel, Angelle blew her bangs off her forehead and surveyed the room. “You sure you’re okay with me leaving most of my stuff for now? I’m still paying half the rent, and don’t even think you can stop me. Until I’m officially married, I’d still like a place to come back to if I think your brother or I need some space, you know?”

Beneath her friend’s anxiety, Sherry saw the unmistakable glow of bliss. “Of course it’s okay.”

The truth was, she was stoked that her big brother had finally found a good woman, and even more excited that Angelle would soon become her sister. Letting her own depression over being the Robicheaux family fifth wheel interfere was just selfish.

“So, what’s left to pack?” Her voice was pitched exceptionally loud, and she smiled wide—probably
too
wide—to compensate. Evidently, she failed, because Angie looked at her as if she had two heads. “Have you checked the bathroom yet?”

She waved her hand in the direction of the hall and caught a flash of silver.
Damn
. The ring. Why hadn’t she taken the stupid thing off yet? Oh, right, because she’d liked the look of it on her finger. How pathetic was that? Convulsively, she shoved her hand deep in her pocket and attempted to wiggle it off.

“Sher, you’re positive you’re okay? I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but you’ve been acting strangely since you got in last night.” Angelle frowned. “Stranger than normal.”

Sherry snorted. “Gee, thanks.” With a sigh, she gave up on the wiggling—the ring was too damn tight to budge—and grabbed one of Angelle’s bags with her right hand. “And yes, I’m fine. It was just…a very event-filled trip. I guess I’m still recovering.”

That was probably the truest thing she’d said since she returned.

Nodding her head, indicating Angelle should lead the way, Sherry began the trek to the front door. With every footfall, the word
stupid
rang out in her mind. As much as she hated to admit it, if this kind of thing actually did happen to anyone outside of romance novels or soap operas, it made sense that it had happened to her. Trouble followed where she tread. She’d gone in with a plan, a way to straighten out her life, and her drunken self had decided to say screw that and propose to a roadie instead.

But the roadie said yes.

That one puzzle piece didn’t quite fit. Obviously, she must’ve been the one to suggest they do it. This had her written all over it. But had Tyler really been that drunk that he’d agree? Had he thought it was a game? They hadn’t spoken since she’d left his hotel room almost twenty-four hours prior, and the silence was making her antsy. What if Blue didn’t come through? Refused to lend Tyler his lawyers? What would be their next step?

No. She shook her head and adjusted the strap of Angelle’s duffel on her shoulder. Everything would be fine. Her plan was still intact—just delayed a little—and in the end, she’d have a seriously crazy memory to cling to during her straight-laced future.

Feeling oddly better, Sherry wrapped her hand around the doorknob, stopping just short of opening it. “I know you’re only going a few miles away,” she said, a wave of emotion suddenly hitting her. “And that I’ll still see you all the time. But chica, I’m gonna miss you.”

Angelle’s bright eyes filled with tears. Without permission, another pair of green eyes flashed in Sherry’s mind, and she promptly whisked them away. “I’m gonna miss you, too.”

They smiled at each other, relishing in the sappy sentimentality of it all, before Sherry exhaled a long breath. “Enough of that. We’re supposed to be happy. This is awesome, girl, and you should be all smiles.” She turned the knob and winked. “Let’s do this thing.”

She tugged open the door and barely got a foot past the threshold when a young woman appeared out of nowhere. “Are you Sherry?”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Sherry clutched her chest, panting as she glanced around the front yard. “Were you, like, hiding in the bushes?”

“Are you Sherry?” the woman asked again, her blond head bobbing as she consulted her phone. She nodded. “Yep, it’s her.”

Before Sherry could respond, or ask whom she was speaking to, an older man materialized with a literal flash.

Blinking in surprise, she stared in confusion at the camera in his hand. Angelle clasped Sherry’s shoulder and whispered, “Are you in some sort of trouble?”

“Uh, not that I’m aware of,” she whispered back.

Angelle’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, what exactly is this about?” Hand on jutted hip, her southern manners and newfound feisty personality made for an interesting combination.

The blonde held up her palm. “We’re from
Country Insider
and just want the exclusive scoop about her recent trip.” Behind her, the cameraman flashed some type of official-looking badge.

“Exclusive scoop?” Sherry asked with a laugh. “Do your readers really want to know the eating habits of roadies and crew members? Because I hate to tell you, sweetie, I never met Blue. If you’re looking for dirt, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
And flew a heck of a long way for nothing.

Instead of looking disappointed, the woman rolled her eyes. “Sure you didn’t. It was another purple-haired waitress from Louisiana who married him.”

Wait…

“Married?” Sherry and Angelle asked at the same time. They looked at each other, and Sherry lifted her shoulders to say,
I don’t know what she’s talking about.
It wasn’t a total lie, either. But Angie’s gaze grew suspicious.

The weight of the ring on Sherry’s finger grew heavy and she took a step back. This was seriously the oddest prank ever invented. With three pairs of eyes watching her with varying degrees of interest, she said, “Honey, for real, I don’t know who your source is, but you got some facts confused.”

Though not nearly as much as Sherry wished.

“So this isn’t you and Tyler Blue outside the Love Me Tender Wedding Chapel two days ago?” She held up her cell phone displaying, in embarrassing full color, a picture of her and Tyler. Sherry was wearing that horrid veil, and he was in a ridiculous top hat.