Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
“Stop,” she whispers.
“I’d like to stop but vague wasn’t enough for you, so I need to finish. Bear with me. Second shot’d have to be fired on your ex. Not sure yet if it’ll be a kill shot or just a maim. We’ll see how it goes. Might make sure he’s not only lost use of his legs… could take an arm out. It’d be a shame to do since he’s supposed to go to the hospital tonight to say goodbye to his grandmother. So, hopefully I won’t have to mess with that. And that leaves your bestie.”
“I’ll marry you,” she whispers.
“Good. Good, good. But let’s just say I’d spare Alannah today anyway since I have the feeling I’ll need a bit of leverage with you after all is said and done today.”
She stares at me with horror. I’m not enjoying it, but it’s a necessity to get what I want. I’ll make it up to her later.
“If there’s any doubt left in your mind about how serious I am about marrying you and making you the happiest woman in the world, let me just say that I’ll keep on working to prove myself to you.” I take her hand and kiss it. “I can’t wait to make you my wife. Everything clear?”
She nods slowly.
“Any questions?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“Good.”
I rap on the window, which rolls down, and say, “We’re good to go, Neil.”
“By the power vested in me by the state of Ohio, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now you may kiss.”
I take her face into both hands and bring her mouth to mine, tenderly kissing her.
“Chloe,” I whisper, “You’ve made me so happy.” I deepen the kiss and enjoy the fact that she’s participating. Not avidly, mind, but enough to be convincing. I release her face so I can grab her hand.
We walk past my sister Grace and the family concierge, Carson, who came to be witnesses. Jonah showed up at the last minute as well, which surprised me.
I already apologized to Chloe that Alannah couldn’t be here, saying, “Sorry, baby, that your best friend can’t be here today. We’ll have her there for the family ceremony in a couple months.”
Before we went into the building, I asked one more time, ”Do I need to reiterate what’s gonna happen in there?”
She shook her head slowly, nibbling her lip, hands trembling. She was frightened, I could see it, so I said, “Everything is going to be okay, baby. You’ll be my good girl and it’ll all be okay. Alannah can come see you when we get back from our honeymoon.”
She looked breathtakingly beautiful as she walked to me carrying the white bouquet Grace brought for her. The walk was something I insisted on, despite the fact that it was a short walk and not in a church like I’m sure most brides would prefer. I wanted that bit of tradition – for her to walk down the aisle to me, to take my hand, and promise to be mine forever. I instructed her on this just before we stepped inside, so once we were past the double doors, she waited twenty feet away and then when the officiant gave the nod, she stared at me for a good thirty seconds before her feet started moving. She walked toward me, staring into my eyes.
She repeated her vows and promised to be my wife until death. And while she doesn’t look nearly as thrilled to be here as I’m sure I do, she was my good girl.
The way she stared into my eyes when she said, ‘for better or for worse’ and ‘for richer or for poorer’ and ‘in sickness and in health’ as well as all the other parts, all felt real. She had tears in her eyes. And when I said those things to her, they absolutely were real.
Carson took photos of us including as I put her ring on as well as when Chloe shakily slipped the thick gold wedding band onto my finger on cue.
“Congratulations,” Grace says as we get outside, kissing my cheek and then awkwardly reaching over to pull Chloe into a hug. Chloe is robotic about it, but doesn’t give anything away.
Carson smiles and clasps my hand in a firm shake. “Congratulations.”
Jonah shakes my hand and slaps my back with affection before he kisses Chloe’s cheek. “Congrats, you, too. What’s happening now?”
“Now? Now, I’m taking her to a honeymoon suite to consummate our marriage for the rest of the day and night. Then in the morning we’re taking the jet to go for our honeymoon.”
Jonah smirks as Grace rolls her eyes. Chloe stares at the bouquet in her hands.
“You’ll have the jet back for Sunday, Mr. Steele?” Carson asks. “Your father needs it Monday evening.”
“No problem,” I say. “We’ll be back Saturday afternoon actually, so we can be at the fortieth anniversary shindig Saturday night. We’ll take an extended honeymoon later.”