“So, the hotel security is looking for the wedding chapel to figure out if Hayden and I really got hitched. In the meantime, I need food to soak up the rest of the alcohol, and I want a relaxing day by the pool. Anyone else in?”
Everyone agreed and moved to get ready, but Scott stopped us. “Wouldn’t you need a marriage license from the courthouse?”
I sagged with relief. He was right. We would need a marriage license, and they wouldn’t have been open that late.
“I could fucking kiss you,” I told him.
“No, you fucking couldn’t,” Hayden growled before stalking away.
I rolled my eyes as he stormed past me. Scott covered his mouth and coughed to disguise the laughter you could clearly see on his face.
“Seriously. Thank you.”
“No worries. But let the security team know.”
“Right.”
I shot off a text to Marcos.
Declan
Cancel the search for the chapel. We didn’t have a license, so even if we did have a ceremony, it’s not binding.
Marcos
You realize you can get a marriage license in Vegas online in just a few minutes, right?
Declan
The good times just keep on rolling.
Marcos
That’s New Orleans.
Asshole.
I walked into the bedroom to the sight of Hayden sitting on the side of the bed, hunched forward, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. I walked over to him and threaded my fingers through his hair.
“Hey.” The word softly whispered in case he still battled a hangover headache. “You okay?”
Without a word, his arms circled my waist, and he pressed his face to my stomach. The actions were not what I expected from Hayden, which worried me a bit.
“C’mon, big guy. What’s the matter?”
“It’s stupid.”
“Without making myself sound like an old man, I’ve learned over the years that nothing is stupid if it makes you feel off.”
He looked up through the fringe of his coal-black lashes. My fingers danced across his face in a glancing caress, struck once again by how beautiful he was.
“I should be ecstatic that we aren’t actually married, right? Since getting jilted and deciding wedded bliss isn’t for me, I’ve never once considered it. And I was fine with it. So why do I feel like I missed my one shot of getting someone all the way down the aisle?”
“First, the runaway bride did you a favor. Second, anyone would be damn lucky to have you for a husband. From what I’ve seen, you might be bossy and a control freak…”
“Takes one to know one.”
“May I finish?”
