I hadn’t prepared anything, assuming we’d go with the standard lines. But when Austin met my gaze, there was an intensity in his eyes that made my heart stutter. He drew in a deep breath and held it, and the moment seemed to still with him.
“Charlie, I promise to cherish you. To care for you when you need someone, and to be there when you need a shoulder, a friend, or just someone to listen.” His fingers tightened around mine. “I promise to support you, to respect your independence, and to give you space to make your own decisions. I want to be your person—the one you can count on, and the one who helps you flourish into the best version of yourself.”
His words were so earnest that they felt real. A single tear rolled down my cheek, and then another. I hadn’t expected this—hadn’t prepared for the surge of emotions crashing over me.
He squeezed my hands gently, his thumb brushing over my knuckles, and all I could do was nod, trying to hold it together.
“I promise that no matter what happens, I will always take care of you and give everything I have to you. I promise to workon myself every single day, to become the best version of myself, so that I can be the person you need.”
A lump formed in my throat as I was overwhelmed by the sincerity in his voice.
It was my turn. I took a deep breath, wiping away a stray tear. “Austin, I promise to always support you in being the best version of yourself. I promise to not rewrite the past but to help you build a future that’s bright and beautiful and full of blooming moments.” I paused, a small smile forming. “I also promise not to leave too many of my socks on the floor.”
Everyone laughed, the lightness cutting through the weight of the moment, and Austin’s eyes sparkled as he smiled at me.
“I promise to be there for you when you need me the most, and maybe when you think you don’t need me at all. No matter what life throws at us for however long we’re married, I’ll be here.”
Dirks cleared his throat, grinning. “Alright, time to exchange rings.”
I glanced over at Austin, and Auburn stepped forward with a small, velvet box. She handed me the ring, her eyes bright. “This was part of my job this afternoon.”
Leaning in close, I whispered, “Why does this feel real?”
He grinned, his eyes darkening as they locked with mine. He leaned in close, his voice a low murmur. “If you’re going to be mine, even pretending, I want everyone to know you belong to me.”
He slid a small, round diamond ring onto my finger. The band was a soft rose gold, fitting so perfectly that it felt like it had been made for me.
“Lucky guess,” he muttered, almost like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
With shaky hands, I opened my own box and saw a simple gold band inside. I took a breath and slipped it onto his finger.
“Alright, perfect. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may go enjoy your new status,” Dirks said, deliberately skipping the kiss, knowing this was all a front.
Austin didn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he turned to Dirks. “Say the whole thing. My mom’s recording. Just... for the full effect.”
Dirks narrowed his eyes, studying Austin. “You sure you want that?”
Austin’s grip tightened. “Yeah. It’s nothing I haven’t done before.”
“Alright, then. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Austin, you may kiss your bride.”
I let out a carefree laugh, shaking my head. “Really, Austin?”
He grinned, leaning in a little closer. “Come on, if this is the only chance to play pretend, let me do it right.”
Austin’s eyes burned as he grabbed my waist, pulling me flush against his body. He slid his hand up to cradle my face, his thumb tracing the edge of my lips. When his lips finally captured mine, it was like a fuse igniting—hot and possessive. His kiss was deep and demanding as his grip on me tightened.
I moaned softly into his mouth, pressing my body into his as I slid my hands up his chest and tangled my fingers in his hair. He angled his head and deepened the kiss further, his tongue teasing mine, exploring, coaxing. The way he kissed me wasn’t about the moment—it was like he was pouring every ounce of want, of need, into that one kiss, making it impossible to think of anything else.
His hand slid down to the curve of my hip, his fingers digging in with a possessive grip that sent a shiver down my spine. The heat between us was palpable, and the way his lips moved against mine—soft, then urgent, then soft again—left me breathless and aching for more.
When he finally pulled back, it was only by a fraction, his lips still hovering over mine as he stared into my eyes. Everything about that kiss was raw and consuming, leaving me reeling and wanting nothing more than to pull him in.
I tried to remind myself that this was all for show, but my head was spinning. Nothing about that kiss felt like it was for our audience. I had to force myself to create some distance, to remember that this was all part of the plan—just an act.
Jennie’s voice pierced the moment, cutting through the tension. “Okay, seriously, this is the second time I’ve felt like I need to fast-forward a movie. That was like watching a kissing scene in front of your parents.”
Austin let out a laugh, his hand still resting on my waist. I forced myself to laugh along, though my body was still buzzing. Everyone else joined in, clapping as we walked down the garden path together, hand in hand, with our friends and family cheering us on. We made our way to the long table set up under the twinkling lights, the air filled with warmth and laughter.
