“I knew you’d want your favorite cake. And when I spoke with Wilby, he said Silvie loves a classic wedding cake, too. So, I hope you both love it.”
“We do,” I say as I take the cake from her and set it on the table.
“It looks so good,” Silvie says, sighing. “I love cake.”
“I can’t believe you changed your wedding to my house,” she says. “I woke up and checked my phone and was so happy. I thought you’d both come by, but this...this was so nice.”
Silvie smiles, “Of course. I’m glad we were able to do it this way.”
We cut the cake, set it on plates, and carry it to the living room, where everyone enjoys it for breakfast. Fitting for this day that makes no sense and every bit of sense, somehow at the same time.
“Carly, this is delicious,” Birdie says as she takes another bite.
We drag chairs into a loose circle in Mom’s small living room, except there aren’t enough. Birdie takes one and Carly perches on the couch next to Jonah and Wilby.
Without thinking, I gently pull Silvie into me, and she sits on my lap in the chair.
She pauses for half a second, then settles onto my lap like it’s the most normal thing in the world. She fits perfectly there, and my hand comes around to hold her, without thinking.
I’m strangely content. I know this is all fake, but it feels real. The crazy thing is I’m not panicking. Up until now, the idea of marriage has seemed a foreign concept to me. And, yet here I am. Married to the most beautiful woman I know.
She grins at me and takes a bite of her cake, as if this is perfectly natural. I can’t believe she surprised me and moved the wedding here to my mom’s. That meant everything to her and to me as well. Mom has already made a lot of strides since Silvie arrived. That one small thing meant everything.
Jonah’s brows lift at me as he takes a bite of his cake.
My mom shrugs and smiles as if this is the greatest match-making endeavor ever. “No more chairs.”
Birdie agrees. “Perfect fake marriage already.”
Everyone talks at once, overlapping stories and teasing. My mom and Birdie talk about the books overflowing on Mom’s shelves. Birdie tells her she’s missed her, and I notice my mom’s eyes get misty.
Silvie keeps everyone laughing, and her body is relaxed against mine. She’s glowing and happy. And ridiculously sexy in that wedding dress. I almost have to shove my hands into my pockets to keep myself from tracing the thin spaghetti straps on the back of the dress.
Nothing is staged or fake about how she’s acting right now. She’s so relaxed around my mom, Jonah, Birdie, and Wilby.
Wilby pulls out his phone and snaps a few pictures of us. He’s subtle about it, but I see every shot, clocking it immediately. He seems happy for us. But I know that this is all part of the plan. Make it look real. Save the company. And I get it. I’d want someone to help me, too.
Silvie’s too busy laughing at something Mom says, her hand braced on my shoulder, her body loose and happy. Wilby catches my eye and lifts his phone and takes more photos. He looks part proud friend, part working assistant.
After our cake and coffee, Wilby straightens and says, “I have to head out.”
Silvie blinks as if she’s back to reality. “Already?”
“Yeah,” he says. “I’m going to file the certificate. Make it official before Tyler and your sister beat us to it.”
“Oh, right,” she agrees.
She steps forward and wraps Wilby in a hug. He stiffens at first, then relaxes into it, and pats her back gently. She whispers something to him.
He nods. “Anytime.”
He shakes my hand and says, “Congratulations, Cal.”
“Thanks,” I say.
When he leaves, Birdie claps her hands together. “All right. What now?”
I glance at Silvie. “What do you want to do? Technically, this is our honeymoon time.”
