Page 26 of Bound and Blitzed

As the other couples present clap and cheer, I feel Valentina smile against my lips. “We did it.”

I pull back slightly to press a kiss to her cheek. “Congratulations, Mrs. Callaway.”

She sucks in another breath, the realization of our nuptials dawning.

I grin and take her hand. “Come on. We need champagne.”

“We do?”

“We’re celebrating, babe.”

“For the immigration photos?” she whispers quietly as we leave the courtroom.

I work a swallow, my throat dry. I glance at her and read the expectation in her face. “Sure. For the photos.”

The words taste sour as I say them because they’re only partly true. And I don’t want to examine what that means.

Instead, I want to enjoy the rest of my wedding day with my wife.

So, I do.

Chapter10

Valentina

I stallon the porch to Avery’s parents’ house.

“It’s going to be fine,” he reassures me for the fifth time.

I bite my bottom lip. “I don’t know. I can tell you for a fact that my parents are going to be furious.”

“Mine are going to be thrilled.”

I drag my sweaty palms along the material of my skirt and hope Avery’s right.

The door swings open and Mrs. Callaway greets us. “The prodigal son has returned!” she hollers over her shoulder.

Mr. Callaway appears behind her, arching a wry brow at his son.

“Well, come on in.” Mrs. Callaway holds the door open wider.

We slip inside and she smiles at me warmly, pulling me into a hug.

“It’s good to meet you, Mrs.—”

“Oh! Call me Arlene,” she declares. “After all, for Avery to bring you home for dinner means this is bound to get serious.”

I blush furiously. Oh, it’s serious all right. The fact that we’re here to tell Avery’s parents that we’re married makes me want to crawl under a rock and die.

The only consolation is his family seems a lot more laid-back and understanding than mine.

“You’re trying too hard,” her husband warns gently.

Arlene pats my shoulder affectionately. “Avery always was persuasive. He’s used to getting his way, which is the only scenario I can conjure as to why the two of you escaped to Texas after one night together. I mean, there was talk at Raia’s engagement party that you were stalking him!”

My cheeks flame even brighter. I take it back; this is significantly worse than Papá’s deafening silence and beady glare.

Arlene leans closer and drops her voice. “You weren’t, were you?”

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