Page 30 of Just My Luck

“Please join hands.” The district court judge smiled and gestured for us to face each other. Sylvie and Bug silently stood behind us.

I shifted in my shoes as I took Sloane’s delicate hands in mine. Her eyes were a riot of greens and browns, melting into an intoxicating combination of hues. She stared into me, her gaze unwavering and unafraid.

Inside, I was a fucking mess.

Was I ruining her life?

Are we making the right choice?

How am I ever going to let her go?

“We are gathered here in the presence of these witnesses to join Sloane Robinson and Abel King together in matrimony. The contract of marriage is a most solemn one, and one not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. If anyone can show just cause why this couple should not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

I glanced at my sister and aunt, who only offered supportive half smiles.

The judge continued. “Do you, Sloane, take Abel to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

My heart tripped when she smiled brightly and without hesitation.

“I do,” she said.

“And do you, Abel, take Sloane to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

I cleared my throat. “I do.”

The judge smiled and asked, “Are there rings?”

Sloane laughed and held up her hand, flashing my mother’s ring to the judge.

The judge nodded. “Very well. Abel, please repeat after me. ‘I, Abel, take you, Sloane, for my lawful spouse, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. With this ring, I thee wed.’”

My hands clasped hers and I repeated the words, never looking away from Sloane’s beautiful eyes.

The judge instructed Sloane to repeat the same, minus the ring part. To my shock, she did it all with a bright smile.

“By the power and authority vested in me by the State of Michigan and as the district court judge for Remington County, Michigan, I now pronounce you lawfully married.” She gestured between us and took a single step back. “You may now kiss your bride.”

The room tilted. I had known this moment was coming. I’d craved it even. Without hesitation, I stepped forward, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her into me as I lowered my mouth to hers.

Seconds dragged on as I was overwhelmed and intoxicated by her. Sloane melted into me, accepting my kiss with soft lips asher arms wound around my waist. I cupped the side of her face and let my fingers thread into her soft brown hair.

My heartbeat throbbed in my skull as I savored her plush, full lips. Her perfume surrounded me and threatened to pull me under completely.

Bug gently cleared her throat, snapping me back to reality, and I immediately broke the connection, stepping back and blinking down at my wife.

Her face was flushed with a mixture of desire and slight embarrassment. She glanced at my sister, whose wide eyes spoke volumes as to the lack of appropriateness of that kiss.

“Congratulations, you two.” The judge offered a simple shake of our hands, and we shuffled out of her small office.

Back in the waiting room, I looked at my aunt. She smiled at me, patted the side of my face, and sighed. “I’ve got to get back to the library, but thank you for allowing me to be here.”

My lashes lowered. “Thank you for coming on short notice.”

Her hand gripped mine and she nodded.

“Hey, Bug?” Sloane called out. “Tillie and Ben are at camp at the library. Could you pop in and see that they’re okay?”

She offered a kind smile. “I can do that.”

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