Page 14 of Rejected Pretend Mate

"Not all of it, but part of it."

I sighed because he was right. And I couldn't keep leaning on my brother and Riley to help me. "Fine. I'll marry you, but only because they are moving."

Later that night, we went to the courthouse. Cayden and Riley went with us. I sat nervous, bouncing my leg as we waited for the officiant to call us.

I glanced at Weslie, wondering if this was a good idea. I was second-guessing myself, but one look at my brother told me to just go with it. I could see the worry was weighing on him, and this was a way to stop that.

The door to the left of us opened, and I watched as an older man stepped out. “April and Weslie?”

“Here,” Weslie said as he pulled himself up. He looked at me, and I stood up and forced a smile.

We headed inside, and the man explained everything, but I wasn’t listening. I just wanted to get this over with so I could go home.

“All right, take each other's hand.”

Weslie turned to me and held his hands out. I placed mine in his and felt a spark travel up my body. My wolf purred at the contact, but I shoved it down.

“Repeat after me. I, Weslie Ryan William, take April Lyla Colton as my wife.”

Weslie looked at me, deep into my eyes, as he repeated the words. “I, Weslie Ryan William, take April Lyla Colton as my wife.”

“To have and to hold in sickness and health.”

“To have and to hold in sickness and health.”

“Through the good…and through the bad.”

As Weslie said those words, I felt my heart beating so quickly, and I bit hard on my cheek.

“Okay, April. Repeat after me. I, April Lyla Colton, take Weslie Ryan William as my husband.”

I swallowed and slowly repeated the word back. I glanced at Cayden, who didn’t hold any emotions on his face.

“You may kiss the bride.”

I stiffened, having forgotten that part. But if I refused, it would look weird.

Weslie stepped into my face, cupping my cheek as he leaned in. His lips pressed against mine gently, and I remembered just how badly I liked him. Weslie had always been a good kisser.

She leaned back, and Riley started clapping her hands, the only noise in the space.

“Congratulations,” the man said. “May you guys have a long life together.”

And then it hit me. If Weslie and I were married, we would have to hold this act up because it needed to look like I was moving on. We would need to act like a new, happily married couple.

My stomach dipped, and I suddenly felt sick.

Chapter 6 - Weslie

I rolled off the couch and sighed as my entire back ached from sleeping on it. I rubbed my eyes and looked outside the window, seeing the sun just coming up. The sky was filled with hues of pink and purple. I looked at my watch, seeing it was seven. I slept longer than I intended to.

"Morning," April spoke up from the hallway, and I turned my gaze to her. She was wearing her pajamas and holding a towel in her hands. She looked still half asleep as she leaned on the wall. "Do you mind if I shower first? I normally shower at this time since you are usually out of the house by now."

I shook my head, waving a hand at her. "No, go right ahead."

I could hear her footsteps receding down the hallway and the bathroom door shut. I looked around the living room and the few boxes of her clothes that April had brought with her. April didn't have a lot of stuff when she moved in, but she had plenty of clothes.

The move-in was quicker than I anticipated. I expected April to drag her feet about moving or at least complain more, but she didn't. She'd been willing. Which told me she had been worried about everything going on with Ivan. She would have dragged her feet if she hadn't thought it was a problem.

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