Page 40 of Perfect Boy

“And if she isn’t? Then what? Y’all get divorced?” he jokes.

“At that point, assuming it’s in the next few months, they could still get an annulment. People who get drunkenly married in Vegas do it all the time,” Zoey mutters, and we all stare at her. She simply takes a sip from her Coke and looks down. “I’ve heard that anyway.”

I feel so guilty, knowing my mom will be sad that I didn’t tell her beforehand. I knew she’d have talked me out of it because she would think we weren’t ready since she wouldn’t know the real truth behind why we were doing it. She would have urged me to date Ryann for a few years and then see where we were at. I didn’t want to have to go against my mother’s wishes, so I just didn’t say anything. Clearly, now, I need to tell her what’s going on. Especially since a caseworker could look deeper into our marriage and see it’s a sham. We need to sell it to our friends and family that we are in love. We don’t want to be a walking red flag.

“Just buy her a bunch of new candles and those melty things she puts in those warmers she’s obsessed with that get hot.” Carson laughs. “The things Dad used to say we were going to burn the house down with.”

“And she’d always say, ‘Well, at least it’ll smell good,’” I add, feeling a pang in my chest, wondering what the hell my dad would think of what I’ve done.

He’s been gone for a few years now, and we all still miss him like crazy. Carson will at least talk about my dad. Whereas Jameson will change the subject and do anything to avoid even talking about him. I guess everyone has their own way of coping. Jameson’s is shutting everything out. Mine is to do everything in my power to be the best in hopes that he’d be proud. Our sister is similar to me. And Carson, well, he just acts like nothing bothers him.

“So, what time’s the big race start tomorrow?” I ask, fully planning to use the rehearsal for the fundraiser as my excuse to get out of going to his race.

I’ve seen him crash a few too many times already. One time, he needed surgery on his legs and had to spend a week in the hospital. If I could avoid seeing that again, that’d be great.

“Starts around nine tomorrow night.” He sighs. “Usually, I’ve got the car loaded up, and I’m headed home by then, but it’s an under the lights type of shit. Given the car count, they’re saying it could go till at least two a.m.”

“We’d come, but we have rehearsal.” I do my damnedest to sound bummed. “Next time.”

“What? No way am I missing this! I’ve never watched any kind of racing before,” Ryann’s quick to say, shaking her head. “Let’s go! We’ll be done with rehearsals long before the race starts.”

“Yeah, but…you heard him. It’s going to go into the morning hours. We need to rest. Big fundraiser and all.”

Scowling at me, she finally cracks a grin. “Okay, old man, we will have literally all day to rest tomorrow.”

When I say nothing, just give her a stare, she pokes me in the stomach. “Don’t be a party pooper.” She bats her eyelashes. “Besides, this is our honeymoon, babe. And the woman should be the one to choose what to do on the honeymoon, right?”

“Yeah, and how romantic will it be to spend it on the side of an abandon road, watching drag racing?” I deadpan.

I don’t hate racing, but it’s also not what I do in my spare time.

That’s hockey.

I can tell Ryann really wants to go, and that alone is enough for me to say to hell with it and take her. Blowing out a breath, I rest my head back. “All right. Fiiiiine. We’ll go.” Leaning toward her, I bring my lips to her ear. “What are you going to do for me though, wifey?”

She squirms at my touch, biting her lip.

Once I move away from her, she looks at Zoey. “You heard him; we’re going racing! And, yes, you are so going too!”

“I am?” She widens her eyes.

My brother, being the charming bastard that he is gives her a grin. “Hell yeah, you are, Freckles.”

She chews her bottom lip nervously. She’s a cute girl, but it’s clear she hasn’t had much interaction with guys like Carson. Maybe none with guys at all actually.

“All right, so it’s decided then.” Ryann smiles. “We’re going racing!”

“No, sis, I’m going racing. You’re going to watch me do my thing.” Carson winks, and Ryann rolls her eyes, but still smiles.

I chose Carson as my witness because I knew he wouldn’t give me shit. He just flies by the seat of his pants through life, and he never gets wound up. Well, unless it’s at the racetrack. But when my friends find out? Or my mother? Hell, even Jameson? Yeah, that won’t go over so easy, I’m sure.

Even as I look at Ryann, thinking about the fact that she’s now my wife…I don’t feel like it was the wrong choice.

She deserves everything she’s ever wanted. And if marrying her helps her get it, I’ll gladly wear this ring.

17

Ryann

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