“How did you meet?”
The questions keep coming, but Viktor tugs my hand, gently but firmly, whispering, “This is not the time.”
I nod and we push past the group gathered, heading for the limo waiting just a few feet away. The driver gets out and opens the door for us. He allows me to get in first and then slides in after me.
“Happy wedding day,” I say with a soft, shaky chuckle.
“I am sorry for that,” he replies, regret etched in his face.
“It’s not your fault.”
I take a moment to breathe as we wait for West, Serena, and Kelly to join us. This whole day has been surreal. Hell, the entire three weeks since we decided to do this has been a whirlwind.
The pro hockey team he plays for, the Atlanta Thunder, is in the middle of the playoffs so we chose today because they just swept the second round in four games and have six days until the third round starts.
We had to spend a lot of time sorting out the details leading up to today, and I’m suddenly exhausted. I rest my head against the seat back and sigh softly. “I guess this was the easy part. It’s going to get much more complicated once we tell our parents.”
“We have to tell no one—now the world will know.”
“I suppose there’s that.”
“You regret?”
“Our contract?” I turn to him in surprise. “No. Do you?”
“No.”
“You sound funny. You sure you’re okay?”
“I did not expect the cameras.”
“Maybe they did us a favor. Now we don’t have to call our families and blindside them.”
“Blindside?”
I’ve gotten used to his struggle with English. “You know, catch them by surprise.”
“Your parents will be angry, yes?”
“Oh, for sure.”
“Mine will be upset that you are not Russian.”
“And my parents won’t be thrilled that you are Russian, so we’re even.”
I chuckle, turning to look out the window, where West is trying to guide Serena and Kelly toward the limo.
“I wonder how they found out where we are,” I muse.
“Probably someone with the court.”
“Assholes.”
We’re cut off as West, Serena, and Kelly join us in the limo. The driver immediately pulls away from the chapel, and everyone is quiet for a bit.
“I think that went okay,” West finally says. “I mean, we could have done without the press finding out, but at least now the word is out and we don’t have to make any announcements.”
“The team is going to put out a press release tomorrow, right?” Kelly asks.
