“Hmm. Do you think I should’ve reworn the socks from the day I convinced her to move here? Or the day she said yes?”
“No. God. That’s gross, man. She’s not gonna want anything to do with you if you show up to your wedding wearing stinky socks.”
I grin, happy to have gotten him off the subject of how and why my marriage is different. I’ve explained everything to him before. If he chooses not to believe the truth, then … I don’t have to humor his delusions.
“I still think you should’ve let me do more for your bachelor party,” he grumbles.
Shaking my head, I take the next turn. “Taking me out for steak and whisky was plenty.”
“We could’ve invited more people.”
“Nah. I didn’t want a big thing with tons of people. Did Maggie tell you anything about last night with Hailey?”
“Not really. She said they had fun, though.”
“Hailey said they went to a show.” She’d stayed the night at Maggie’s so Maggie could help her get ready today. I’m a little surprised at how quickly Hailey seems to have bonded with her, but I’m not upset. It’s good she has a friend here.
I drum my thumbs on the steering wheel again as we get closer, slowing down to look for parking.
“Nervous?” Bouchard asks.
“Nah.” He laughs at my too-quick response, and I grin. “Okay, fine. Maybe a little. Wouldn’t you be?”
“If I were having a shotgun wedding that I barely told anyone about? Yeah, man. I would be. I’m still not sure what the big rush is.”
“It’s just … I’ll feel better if?—”
“Insurance. Yeah. I know.” He waits until I pull into a parking spot to continue. “But she’s already recovered from the bronchitis or whatever she had. She doesn’t need ongoing medical treatment for anything, does she?”
I shake my head.
“And you paid for the doctor’s bills when she was sick already …”
He’s leading me to a place where I admit this doesn’t make much sense, and maybe it doesn’t, but I don’t care. “It means she lets me take care of her without fighting me every step of the way.”
“You sure about that?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Only pretty sure?”
“I’m sure this is the right choice,” I say definitively.
He studies my face a moment longer, then shakes his head. “Okay, man. Let’s get you hitched.”
“You have the rings?” I confirm. He and I went ring shopping while Hailey and Maggie went dress shopping a few days ago. They’re nothing too fancy, just simple gold bands. Hailey’s is more slender than mine, and they both have diamond chips in them, so they’re prettier than just plain gold, but it’s low profile enough that it shouldn’t get in her way while she’s playing. I’m not sure if, or how, rings would affect that, so I figured something small would be best. And if she wants something flashier later on, I can handle that.
But Hailey’s not a very flashy person, so I doubt she’ll want that.
Bouchard and I both pull our suit jackets out of the back seat, where we’ve carefully laid them so they don’t get wrinkled or mussed. After putting mine on, he steps over and straightens the boutonniere pinned to my lapel, eyeing me critically.
“Do I pass inspection?”
“You’ll do,” he mutters with a nod.
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Thanks. You ready to perform your first wedding ceremony?”
That makes him grin. “Absolutely. I’ve been practicing.”
