And I’m so fucking in love with you, but let’s just breeze by that.
It was the easiest decision of my life to offer to be her husband.
Avery stood at the edge of the sidewalk, seemingly unable to step on the rose bush lined path to the small white chapel. Her expression was hard, carved from stone.
That wouldn’t do. I wasn’t going to let her walk in there looking like she was being sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit.
“Hey, you forgot something,” I said.
Her head jerked my way. “What?”
I came up beside her, my arms encircling her waist. I spun us until laughter tumbled out of her. I stopped, supporting her back as I dipped her. “You’re supposed to have fun on your wedding day.”
We stayed there for a moment, washed in the red light from the buzzing twenty-four hour wedding sign.
Her expression softened as she lightly squeezed where she gripped my arm. “Thank you. I needed that. This is all just a lot to take in.”
“I know but remember I’m here. You don’t have to do any of this alone,” I reassured her.
I helped her to her feet and we headed inside. At the reception desk, Avery’s fingers trembled as she attempted to pull out her ID. The plastic card tumbled from her grip clattering on to the counter. The receptionist eyed us carefully, sending a new flood of nerves through my system. After a long minute she gave us a clipboard with attached paperwork that we filled out.
There were two couples before us—an older man and woman who must have been in their seventies, and then a pair in their twenties who barely stopped making out long enough to enter the main hall. My palms were hot and every few minutes I wiped them on my jeans. I was getting married in jeans and a torn Nirvana shirt. Why the hell didn’t I ask to change so I could at least look like I belonged next to Avery in her silver dress?
But there was no more time to second guess because our names were called. We stood in front of the officiant as he recited his script. Blood pounded in my ears so loudly that Icould barely hear when he asked, “Have you prepared your own vows?”
Despite not having planned anything, I nodded. “No matter what. It’s you and me.”
“No matter what,” Avery echoed the simple promise we’d operated under for years. She had to tip her head slightly downward to meet my gaze, since she was about four inches taller than me in her heels. “Even if nothing else is, we’re permanent.”
The officiant waited as if he expected us to continue, but we didn’t need more than those few words. Once he realized we were done he directed, “You may kiss the bride.”
Avery and I both froze, her hands gripping mine tight enough to cut off circulation. We hadn’t talked about this part, or maybe we avoided it. Getting to the chapel and helping her seemed like the important parts.
“Weird if we don’t, right?” she whispered, looking at me through her lashes. Sheepish.
“Just say you want to kiss me, Ave. I promise it’s fun.” I wanted to ease the tension causing her shoulders to crawl up to her ears, but I also really wanted to kiss her.
“Ass.” She squeezed my hand on purpose that time.
“An ass who is about to be your lawfully wedded husband.”
The officiant’s amused drawl fractured the moment. “Are you going to kiss? You don’t have to but—”
“I think we should,” I said in a rush of desperation. Tonight might be my only chance and I wouldn’t let it go to waste.
Her wide eyes jumped between my eyes and lips. “Yeah, more official that way.”
I cradled the back of her neck, pulling her close so my mouth nearly brushed against hers as I spoke, causing her to shiver. “I’m going to kiss you now,wife.”
She was the one to close the gap. I was certain my heart was about to slam its way out of my chest with how hard it was beating. Her lips were hesitant as they met mine, but then she melted into me. I pulled her close, my hand slipping on the silky fabric of her dress as I drew her closer. I knew her as a person who would do anything to get what she wanted, and this kiss was no different, she was in complete control. Her hand gripped my jaw guiding me exactly where she wanted me and I happily complied. It was as natural as the push and pull of the tides.
When she finally tilted away to suck in a sharp breath, her chest pressed against mine. Misty heavy lidded hazel eyes met mine. All final traces of her lipstick were gone.
I’d remember it forever.
The first time I kissed Avery was at our wedding. Little did I know, the last time would be before I broke her heart.
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