“Well, I…” Now Maisie appeared confused, as though suddenly contemplating something that had never crossed her mind before. “I didn’t think I was before, but I guess I haven’t really given it a lot of thought since.”
“Before? Since?” Drew’s heart froze, casting a chill all the way to her extremities that easily outdid the Wisconsin winter weather. “Are you trying to say that was your first time?”
“You couldn’t tell?”
Despite the circumstances, Drew suspected Maisie was feeling a little bit pleased with herself, based on the smirk that had twisted her lips. Meanwhile, the world around Drew was feeling as blurry as that video she’d just watched.
“If I’d known…”
“Relax, Drew.” Maisie had the nerve to pair this impossible command with an eye roll. “It’s not like you deflowered a virgin. Nobody’s gonna come after you with a shotgun, demanding you make an honest woman of me.”
“Joke would be on them,” Drew muttered. Even though the circumstances were growing more dire by the minute, she couldn’t completely suppress a laugh.
“What do you mean?” The annoyance on Maisie’s face was joined by a flicker of something in her eyes that approached recognition, like she’d had a premonition of what Drew was about to say and was contemplating bolting before it could be confirmed.
Guessing she didn’t have much time to explain, Drew cleared her throat. “Actually, that’s why I came to find you.”
The three women raked their eyes over Drew as if they were all on some reality show and the big reveal was about to happen. The only thing missing was suspenseful music in the background and a rose or some such shit.
Drew cleared her throat once more, wishing they were inside alone or at least that she could whisper so that only Maisie would hear. Drew had no desire to announce this for all of Milwaukee to be privy to, but she’d been left with few options.
“In Vegas…” Drew started, her memory reliving the lovely portions of their time together, but she had to shove them to the side. “That night, the one you don’t remember, and well”—Drew rubbed the back of her head—“truth be told, neither do I, but I have it on good authority that we got hitched.”
Maisie’s lips flapped open and then shut, the movement repeating until Drew lost count.
“I was in the process of signing some paperwork for my ranch, but I can’t proceed until my wife—you—signs some papers, too. Which is why I’m here.” Drew hoped that was enough to settle things, as she had no intention of going into any more of her private business in front of strangers than she had to.
“We’re married?” Maisie’s voice shook as much as her legs. “Legitimately married?”
“Yes.”
“Only an idiot would get drunk enough to get married and not remember it.” The way Maisie said this, it was clear she was directing the insult at herself, which thawed Drew’s heart considerably.
“To be fair,” Drew said softly, “we were both drunk idiots. I’m glad you can see that like I do. I know this is a bad time, but I need to get back to the ranch as soon as I can. Is there a bank near here with a notary? We can get everything settled right quick.”
“Hold your horses, cowgirl,” ordered the friend Maisie had called Donna. “What does Maisie get for signing?”
“No, Donna…” Maisie protested, but her other friend seemed as determined to jump in.
“I don’t know what the laws are where you’re from,” the friend said, “but Wisconsin’s a fifty-fifty state.”
“What are you talking about?” Drew was losing her patience, and a touch of panic was starting to set in.
“It’s simple. Half of that ranch you mentioned belongs to your beautiful wife.” The woman turned around, taking Maisie’s hands in her own and fixing her with an earnest look. “You’re too nice for your own good, Maisie, so you listen to your good ol’ friend Cheryl on this one. Whatever you do, don’t sign those papers. Not until you speak with a lawyer.”
“I can’t afford that.” Large teardrops fell from Maisie’s eyes, tearing Drew apart inside. “I didn’t want to say it before, but I don’t really even have the gas money to get to Florida. My mom was going to Venmo enough for the trip once her paycheck cleared.”
Cheryl’s jaw dropped. “Why didn’t you tell us it was that bad?”
“You were so proud of me,” Maisie sobbed. “I didn’t want to come clean, but I don’t know what to do. What’s left of my life is in the back seat of my car, and I was planning on sleeping in it tonight to give me more time to figure things out.”
If there was ever a time Drew could’ve used the ability to turn herself invisible, it was now. As much as her heart broke for Maisie over this admission, what Drew felt first and foremost was that she shouldn’t be witnessing such a personal and humiliating moment in a stranger’s life. Even if that stranger happened to be her wife.
“No way are you sleeping in your car, not this night or any other night.” Cheryl whirled around on Drew, and Donna was right there to back her up. “You said yourself, this is your wife. Get in her car, and take her to your ranch.”
Drew’s nose wrinkled as she took in the compact Honda Cheryl had pointed to. “I’d never fit in there. Hell, it’s small enough I could drive it into the bed of my Ford.”
“Even better!” Donna announced with triumph.