Page 83 of The Backup Groom

Amber held up her ring as well. “It’s the truth. We were just celebrating.”

“It’s true!” someone yelled out. “Leave them alone!”

His gaze popped back and forth between the two of us. “Well, maybe you should try celebrating like normal people. That’s what Chuck E. Cheese is for.” Then he glared at me. “If I find you in public again with another wardrobe malfunction, I’m hauling you downtown for a little jail time.”

We all just stared at him.

“Don’t mess with the law!” he attempted to growl, as he jabbed a finger at the San Diego Beaches and Parks patch on his sleeve. He turned and stomped back to his jeep, his mouth at his bullhorn again. “People! I said disperse!”

Dean turned to me. “Dude—don’t worry about him. There’s no way he’s legit. They sell those iron-on patches at the Tiki Hut.”

As ridiculous as the guy was being, he looked serious about the jail thing. Not that I was worried about it, but the last thing I wanted was to deal with another court hassle.

I froze, when my thoughts hit me like a ton of frozen strawberries to the face.

My heart practically stopped when I realized the error of my ways.

How could I have been such a fool?

I had been so caught up in the moment, I wasn’t thinking properly. The euphoria had consumed me to the point that I had completely forgotten I couldn’t marry Amber without the judge’s signature on that blasted divorce decree! How on earth had this magical night gone south so quickly?

“Scotty?” Amber said. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

Of course I did.

In the blink of an eye, I was living a nightmare of epic proportions.

TheTitanicof nightmares.

The only thing I could do was tell Amber everything.

It was the right thing to do.

“Sorry,” I said, trying to gather my thoughts. “There’s something you need to know.”

Dean’s eyes went wide, then he mouthednoto me.

“What’s going on?” Amber asked. “Is everything okay?”

Just tell her. Now.

I sighed. “Well . . . the truth is—”

“Can I talk to you privately?” Dean clutched my arm, practically cutting off the circulation.

“Now’s not a good time,” I said, trying to pull my arm free.

“Now’s theperfecttime,” he insisted, dragging me away.

“Stella and I can talk about you both behind your backs,” Amber called out behind us.

Dean and I walked about thirty yards before he pulled me to a stop. “Are you crazy? Don’t you dare tell Amber what’s going on in that head of yours. I can see those wheels spinning and you need to apply the brakes before you blow it for good.”

“She needs to know the truth!” I said. “And here’s something I just thought of; what if it’s illegal to be engaged while you’re still married? God, I’m going to jail!” I paced back and forth.

“Quit being ridiculous,” Dean said. “Technically, you’re legally separated, which is different. Hang on.” He scrolled on his phone, then shoved the screen in my face. “See? It says right here that an engagement is not a legally binding agreement. There’s no contract. You can’t make someone marry you.”

I sighed. “Still, Amber never would have agreed to marry me if she had known my situation.”