Page 34 of An Endless Memory

He’d used that name twice now. No one had ever given me a nickname.

The girl popped her head out. “I thought I lost you.” She smiled, taking us in.

We looked like a couple in love, getting one last lovely whisper in. Suddenly, the desire to be just that was strong, causing an urge to run to whisper through my brain. I swallowed hard.

This was a deal. He was helping me because he was a nice guy.

He gave me a reassuring smile and took my hand in his. His skin was warm, and I soaked up the comfort. He nodded at his brother and sister and led me in.

My mind blanked in and out the whole time. Introductions. Johanna was short with dark hair. She gave an explanation of how the little service would go, the paperwork afterward, and then the vows.

“Do you have the rings?” Johanna asked.

“Sh— No.” Eliot patted his shirt pocket like he might’ve forgotten rings we never bought there. “I’m sorry. We were too excited to think about the details.”

Carter had wanted my ring back, but I wouldn’t have worn it anyway. “Neither of us have jobs that are good for rings.”

Relief crossed his face. Johanna nodded, only mild surprise in her expression.

I faced Eliot. He held both of my clammy hands. My knees were shaking. Oh god. I’d done this once before, and it was a disaster. This time, I knew the relationship was ending in divorce. There was comfort in that as I recited my vows. I wouldn’t be taken by surprise again.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Johanna said warmly. “You may kiss the bride.”

I sucked in a breath. A kiss? How did I forget that part?

A kiss.

Heat filled his expression, and his focus was on my mouth. Nothing else existed in my world at the moment but him.

He dipped his head down, his hands tightening around my fingers. Slowly, we got closer. Then his lips touched mine, ever so softly at first, then increasing in pressure. The heat that had flooded me when I saw him shirtless made a return, swirling through my belly and settling lower.

He released my hands to wrap his arms around my waist. I gripped those wide shoulders I had appreciated earlier. Now I knew what they looked like underneath his carefully ironed shirt.

The man ironed.

He held me, deepening the kiss but keeping it chaste. I’d never felt so secure, so safe. I definitely hadn’t buzzed with this much anticipation on my real wedding day.

Real. Wedding. Day.

This day was no different than that one. Only the man had changed. The empty pit in my stomach yawned open.

He pulled back, releasing me like he wasn’t ready. His gaze searched mine, questioning if I was okay, if he went too far.

My smile was probably shaky, but the sweeping relief was intense. I could keep the house. I could keep my job. “Thank you.”

His eyes warmed. “You’re welcome.”

There. It was done.

And that kiss…

My knees were wobbly for a completely different reason.

Cody slapped Eliot on the back. “Good to go.”

The justice beamed at us, not at all thrown by our nonjubilant reaction. “I’m honored to be part of your big day.”

Today was the beginning of the end of the marriage. How odd to know that up front.

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