Chapter 2

Luckily, Jackson pulled me back a few steps, just in time to avoid her attack.

I angrily released the handful of Jackson’s hair I had been clutching. “Jackson, you have five minutes to explain.”

He quickly shifted from hugging to holding my hand, nodding frantically, and pulled me toward an older couple sitting nearby.

“Mom, Dad, what’s going on here? I called you and told you clearly, I’m bringing my girlfriend home for the first time. Could you take this seriously, please?”

His parents looked confused, their eyes darting between me and the woman who had just called Jackson her husband.

Finally, his father spoke. “Her name is Scarlett Rayner. Didn’t you meet her through Aunt Linda? You two were supposed to get married. We thought...”

He hesitated. “She’s the girlfriend you were talking about.”

Jackson looked like he was about to lose it. “I don’t even know her!”

I raised an eyebrow, glancing around the room at all the bewildered faces.

Scarlett started crying, tears streaming down her face. “How can you say that, honey? Aunt Linda introduced our families, and she said if I was happy, we could go straight to the courthouse! I even brought my marriage license papers!”

She waved the documents in front of everyone.

I was stunned.

So was Jackson's entire family.

They looked at each other, bewildered.

Jackson glared at his parents. “How did I not know about this blind date?”

His mom looked uncomfortable. “You’re 25 and still single. I was getting worried, so I had Aunt Linda help by organizing your profile and photos. I just wanted her to find someone nice.”

Jackson’s face was a mess of emotions, as colorful as a painter’s palette.