Page 20 of What If I See You

He only fell twice.

Some hockey player he is.

Together we sing songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” as loudly as we can because I’ve never sung in public.

Bucket list item complete.

We paint rocks at one tent because neither of us had ever done that. When we’re done we hide them along our walk for someone else to find because apparently that’s a thing.

We taste a few other wines because hello? When in wine country. Besides, alcohol releases our inhibitions.

And now, after all that, we’re walking along the quieter side of town where several booths are shutting down.

“What time is it?” I ask Griffin.

He pulls his phone from his pocket. “Almost midnight.”

“It’s so early!” I throw out my arms and loudly shout, “DON’T SHUT DOWN PEOPLE! WE HAVE BUCKET LISTS TO FINISH!” Just as I’m spinning in a slow circle, my eyes spot a little white building with cute colored stained-glass windows. The images of flowers and rings and bells in the window shine through the lights from inside. “Ooh, what’s that place?”

Griffin reads the lit sign on the front. “Marry Me Manor. Free flowers with purchase.”

“Ooh free flowers?” I turn to Griffin. “Have you ever been married, Griffin?”

“Can’t say that I have,” he answers, shaking his head.

“Me either. But it’s on my bucket list!”

Everything is on my bucket list tonight apparently because…alcohol.

“Pfttt!” Griffin laughs. “Are you saying we should…”

I shrug. “I mean…fuck it, right? You’ve never done it.”

“True.” He nods, looking back at the white building.

I point to myself. “And I’ve never done it.”

“Also, true.”

“And we could both die tomorrow having never been married.”

He thinks about it for a minute and then shrugs. “That would be a serious disappointment.” He holds his hand up for me to high-five. “To love and friendship?”

“To love and friendship!”

We step inside the small building and are smacked in the face with the scent of flowers. Who knows if they’re living or dead, but it smells very flowery in here, that’s for sure.

“Oh, look who is here!” a stout older woman says gleefully. She’s dressed in a pink floral dress with an overcoat that looks a lot like a bathrobe, but who’s judging? Her short white old lady hair reminds me of the Golden Girls as do the glasses hanging on a chain around her neck. “And just in time too! You’ll be our last wedding of the day!”

“Great. Do we get free flowers?” I ask her, gesturing to the window. “Because the sign said free flowers.”

“Of course, dear.” She shows us the group of bouquets lined up in a case in front of her. “Just choose your favorite color.”

“What’s your favorite color, Griffin?”

He studies the case and then says, “Uh, purple. I think.”

“Okay,” the woman nods with an approving smile. “Purple bouquet it is. A beautiful choice.”

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