Mission complete. Breaking further away from Ryan and our strange wedding vow imitation, I hold the bag up high enough so it doesn’t drag as I head for the store’s exit. I’m halfway across the room when he forces a cough.
“Hey, Sullivan. Do you feel like your posture is uncommonly straight right now?”
I freeze and turn around. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“I thought you might.”
“I promise I wasn’t actually trying to steal the veil.”
Ryan walks over, looking like he only half believes me.
“If that’s the story you’re sticking to, I’ll go with it. But just know, I crack under pressure, so if the DA starts hammering me, don’t be disappointed when I sing like a canary.”
“Just help me take the veil off and we’ll talk about your snitching ways at a more convenient time.”
“Sounds good.” Ryan reaches up and pauses. “Is there a release button I should be looking for here or is there a pull string?”
“What? Neither.”
My head is suddenly yanked back and I wince as he tries and fails to remove the veil.
“Ouch! Just ease the claw out of my hair.”
“The claw? That sounds violent.”
“You’re the one making it violent and you’re giving me a bald spot.”
“Hold on, I think I got it. Boom.” Ryan eases the veil off and hands it to the manager. “All right, problem solved. I bet people accidentally walk out of here with veils on all the time, right?”
“Not really,” she answers, completely immune to his boyish charm. “Your fiancée would be the first.”
“My fiancée,” he echoes uncomfortably, flashing me a worried look before turning back to face the manager. “Yes, I can see why you would assume that.” She continues to stare at him with a stern expression and he slowly starts to walk backwards. “On that note, everybody have a great day. This is, by far, the best bridal store I’ve ever been to. I mean it, you’re killing it. Mazel tov.” His back hits the door, making the bells ring as he becomes even more flustered. He exits the store with a wave and I have to rush to catch up with him.
I find him waiting for me outside in the middle of the sidewalk and I take his hand as we start walking down the busy street. “So, not to make you feel bad, but did you just lose your mind in there?”
“I think so. A little bit, yeah.”
“Was it because that lady called me your fiancée? It’s really not a big a deal, you know. She seemed a bit on another level if you ask me.”
He stops walking and our interlocked hands make me stop, too. I can tell he’s rattled by the interaction. “It’s not that...” He trails off. “These last few days have really been a jolt to my system. They’ve been amazing, so amazing, but they came out of nowhere and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore.”
I feel my inner defenses crouch at the ready. The manager calling me his fiancée clearly made Ryan question things even more between us. Things are moving too fast and too soon. He doesn’t want this much of me.
I swallow down my nerves and clear my throat, trying not to let my mind run wild. “I get it,” I say.
“You do?” His eyes dig deep into mine, looking for something, but I’m not sure what.
“I’m just as surprised about all this as you are,” I tell him. “And I know we’ve always struggled with finding a middle ground. With us, it’s either zero or a hundred. Hate or...” I let my words fall away as I have the distinct feeling that I’m only making matters worse. Here he’s trying to tell me we need to slow down and I almost dropped the L bomb.
He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze, urging my eyes back to his. “I just feel like for this to work, we need to get everything out in the open.” Here it comes. He’s done with me. Again. “I should have said something sooner. I should have told you—”
“Stop! You don’t have to tell me anything,” I interject, cutting him off. “That lady was crazy, so don’t let what she said get to you. We’re fine. Last night was...perfect. Let’s not ruin it with thinking too much.”
Ryan looks at me, saying nothing but squeezing my hand tighter. “I don’t think us not talking is going to help.”
“Maybe not,” I say. “But just trust me on this, okay? Please?” We’re still standing in the middle of the sidewalk. Horns and sirens blare in the street beside us as determined pedestrians pass us by. We barely notice.
“Okay,” he eventually agrees. I nod and try to walk away but he only pulls me back again. “And just so you know, last night was perfect for me, too.”
