Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“No worries,” Otto said with a flick of his hand. He opened up the closet near the door and pulled out a brown canvas coat.
“That’s not mine,” I argued, even as I stepped forward.
“It’s Myla’s,” he replied with a shrug, holding it out so I could slip my arms into it. “She won’t care if you borrow it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
He held my hand as he walked me outside, and I barely kept myself from stumbling when I caught sight of his car. The car. The place where the whole mess started.
“I don’t mind ridin’ in the rain,” he said, opening the door for me. “But I figured you’d appreciate the roof more.”
I climbed inside, smiling awkwardly. Once the door was shut, the familiar smell of the space made a hundred memories flash through my mind, and not surprisingly, a tingle of arousal hit my midsection.
Like one of Pavlov’s dogs, I snorted quietly and watched as he climbed in beside me.
“Where are we going?”
“First,” he said, turning on the engine. “To get our marriage license. You got your ID?”
I nodded, patting the purse on my lap.
“Good. Then I thought we’d grab some lunch and head back to the house,” he continued, turning around in the driveway. “Sound good?”
“Sure.”
“The enthusiasm is overwhelming,” he teased, but there was an underlying thread of seriousness in it.
Guilt hit me hard. He hadn’t planned for any of this any more than I had. We were in the same boat, Otto and I, trying to figure out how we were supposed to navigate this new normal. He’d been trying, really trying, to put me at ease and I hadn’t done any reciprocating.
“I’m nervous,” I confessed. I thought about reaching out to touch him but couldn’t make myself do it.
“Me too,” he replied, glancing at me as we pulled out onto the road.
“Really?”
“Really,” he confirmed. “Haven’t ever been married before.” He shot me a look. “And I don’t think either of us planned on rushin’ to the altar with someone we barely knew.”
“Actually,” I replied, settling more comfortably into my seat. “I hadn’t really planned on knowing my future husband very well before I got married.”
Otto’s chuckle broke off when he glanced at me and realized I was serious.
“For real?” he asked incredulously.
I shrugged. “That’s not really how it works for us,” I explained carefully. “My dad—” I choked a little on the word and cleared my throat. “My dad would’ve chosen someone for me. We would’ve spent some time together beforehand, but not a lot.”
“That’s wild,” Otto replied, shaking his head. “At least know I like you.”
“You barely know me,” I countered.
“I’ve seen you around,” he said, glancing at me. “I know that you don’t like milk.” My mouth dropped open in surprise. “And you do this little shimmy thing with your shoulders when you’re excited about somethin’, but only when you’re comfortable with the person you’re talkin’ to. And I know that you’re always nice to everyone, even when they’re assholes. You’re smart—I bet you got good grades in school. And you suck at volleyball.”
“How in the world?” I breathed, staring at him.
“I noticed you in school,” he said easily, shrugging one shoulder.
“I don’t know why.”
“Because you’re pretty.” A smile played on his lips. “And I was dyin’ to see your hair down.”
I coughed hard at the reminder, and he laughed.
“I don’t remember you from school,” I replied apologetically.
He brushed that off with a wave of his fingers on the steering wheel.
“I know that you’re kind,” I said tentatively after a moment, making him look at me sharply. “I know that you love your parents and your family. You’re protective of them. You’re handsome—probably too handsome.”
“Can you be too handsome?”
“Yes,” I replied firmly, making him huff out a laugh. “You’re a hard worker. You like riding motorcycles?”
“Love it,” he confirmed.
“You’ll be a good dad.”
“What makes you think that?”
“You’re a good uncle,” I replied, remembering the way he’d lifted his nephew over his head again and again the night before so Rhett could touch the ceiling. He hadn’t once gotten annoyed or brushed off the little boy’s cries to do it again.
“And we have chemistry,” I added before I could talk myself out of it.
Otto grinned at me. “That’s like saying that a wildfire puts off a bit of heat.”
I blushed.
“I won’t ever hurt you,” he said, holding out his hand between us so I’d grasp it. “I won’t lie to you. Won’t cheat on you. I’ve got no idea how to be a husband, but promise I’ll do my best.”
I smiled at him and laced my fingers with his. It was a start.
Getting our license turned out to be just filling out some paperwork, and we were done within fifteen minutes. We were beginning to feel easier with each other, and beyond the fact that Otto seemed to be continuously looking over his shoulder, it went as well as could’ve been expected. It was wild seeing his name next to mine on the forms, and I had to fight the feeling of unreality that had been dogging my steps for the past day. It was real. We were getting married. God help us.