The Bride

Ellie

Here's the deal. I'm sixteen and I'm getting married. Super weird, I know. It was just my me and my dad. We lived on a cattle ranch in Montana. He died suddenly, leaving me an orphan (which is still a thing). I'm sixteen months away from being a legal adult, so I have two choices. A foster home or marry Jake Talley. My Dad's foreman and really, my best friend.

It's legal. It solves all my problems. Except now I'm living with Riverbend's hottest cowboy—my husband in name only—and I'm still in high school. Where no one wants to date Weird Married Ellie. Still all we have to do is wait until I'm eighteen to get a divorce. Then Jake and I can go back to being normal. We've got this. Right?

Jake

I never saw this coming. Married. To a kid I've known her whole life. But there was no way in hell I was going to let her live at a foster home. The ranch is where she belongs.

Sure we're married but it's not real. Just a piece of paper. My girlfriend is furious. But I know I'm doing the right thing. For sixteen months, it's me and Ellie against the world. No big deal. Or is it?

Contains mature themes.