She considers it, then smiles slowly and mischievously. “I want to go to Chaos and drink.”
Jonah gives us a look and a nod and quietly ducks out the back door. And that’s Jonah. Never misses an important occasion but is a man of few words.
We head down to Cocktails & Chao. It might be just her and me having drinks.
I hold her hand as we drive to Chaos and park the truck behind it like I usually do. I come around and help her out. When she steps out of the truck, I pull her to me and kiss her forehead. “You look so beautiful,” I murmur.
“You look pretty amazing yourself, hot husband.”
And hearing the word “husband” on her lips doesn’t sound so bad. I’ll even allow the ridiculous hot part.
The second we round the corner and step into the bar, the place explodes with cheering and “Congratulations!”
Cheering, clapping, music, and someone whistles. There’s a white-and-silver banner strung above the bar that reads “Just Married.”
Flowers are on the table everywhere. Marina and Jonah stand behind the bar. Marina looks like she’s been planning this all day and is excited for us to finally show up. Locals I recognize fill the room, grinning and raising glasses.
Silvie freezes beside me, fingers tightening in mine. Wilby comes in behind us.
“Is this okay?” she whispers.
“They all wanted to celebrate you both,” Wilby says. “Figured it was alright. It’ll probably get leaked but at this point, it’s okay. I wanted the wedding to be official so that you get married before they do. Now, it doesn’t really matter who knows.”
Silvie presses herself into me, and I wrap an arm around her and rest my hand on her lower back. It seems to steady her.
“You okay?” I murmur.
She nods. “I just didn’t expect this. It’s so nice.”
I nod in agreement. “It is. Where it all started.”
Drinks appear in front of us, and food follows. Summer hands Silvie a flower and tucks it into her hair. Music shifts into something warm and familiar. It’s an Asher Walker song and it’s one of my favorites.
We eat and drink. So many laughs and stories told. I never leave her side. My hand stays on her, on her lower back. Holding her hand. At her waist. Making sure she’s okay and I pass her water in between drinks. We both eat and have snacks laid out.
When a song comes on that I like, I ask her to dance. She pulls me with her to the floor and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me close. And God, I like it. She feels so good. So right. If fake is all I ever get with her, it’ll hurt. But it’s better than having nothing.
Every time our eyes meet as we dance, she smiles and leans in closer. “Thanks for today, Cal. It’s been a good one so far.”
“Yeah, it has.”
She dances with Mia, Summer, and Wendy, another local and friend. People toast us and someone buys us all a round. Someoneinsists on taking photos. Wilby takes more pictures, and they’re mostly candid shots.
Silvie looks so damn happy. From the outside, it would be hard to tell this is fake. People in Coconut Beach have to be so confused. They’re all just going with it, though.
Before we know it, we’ve danced the day away, and the sun is starting to set. We’ve both drunk a lot, she more than I. I mostly can’t keep my eyes off her and make sure she’s staying hydrated.
It’s time to head out, and Silvie leans into me as we walk.
“I’m tipsy,” she announces.
“I know.” I smile.
“But I’m happy, though,” she adds. “I have a hot, hot husband. Like I never thought I’d seen a guy as beautiful as you when I first saw you. And here you are as my husband now. How did I get a guy like you?”
Is she for real right now? She thinks she got me? No, I got her.
“I think I’m the one who got lucky here,” I remind her.
