Page 83 of Crash

“Well, we don’t want marriage, do we, Luke? Marriage is an antiquated concept, which we’re way too progressive for. Think about it. A man gives the woman away to another man while she’s wearing a white dress symbolizing her purity. No one ever thinks about a man’s purity or virtue. I’ll be damned if any man is going to givemeaway. We wake up every day and choose to be together. We don’t need a piece of paper. Right, Luke?” Vivienne says. She looks at me, waiting for me to speak.

Jake looks at me, giving me a knowing smile, which I ignore. Thankfully, Sandy chimes in before I can think of a way to spin this.

“Or you can love someone so much and just know you want to spend the rest of your life with them. You want to declare your love and making it legal tells the world that this man is mine, and I have the piece of paper to prove it. I didn’t think of the white dress as a symbol of my virtue, just a clean slate, and a new beginning. The best part is that I wasn’t even looking for love when I met him. It was like we were meant to meet each other. I wish I could marry you every day, baby,” she says, looking at Jake.

He walks over and kisses her gently on the lips.

“Well, I have way too much I want to accomplish. I still need to graduate. I want to be able to fully support myself, buy my own car, go to graduate school, and travel.”

“Those things are fine, Vivi. I did all those things, but if I had met Jake in my early twenties, I would have loved to have experienced those things with him, too. If you find the right person, marriage won’t prevent you from doing any of those things, sweetie. Remember what I told you? Find someone who will want to experience those things with you. It’s not all or nothing.”

She takes a sip of my drink, seeming to mull over Sandy’s words then simply shrugs and hands me back the mug.

“Maybe. I’m not putting down marriage, but I don’t think it’s for me. I don’t need a piece of paper or the noose of a diamond ring.”

“Yeah,” Jake chimes in, his eyes playful. “You and luscious here are too woke for that.” I can see the blush on Vivi’s face.

“Luscious?” Sandy says, throwing her head back laughing. “I don’t even want to know.”

“Oh, yeah. I wish I didn’t know either. I overheard her call him that at work this week. My ears are still bleeding,” Jake says.

“We’re not ashamed of our love,” Vivi says. “And your brother is luscious.” To prove her point, she bites my ear.

“Luscious wet the bed until he was eleven,” Jake says

“First of all, I was ten. Second, only my girl can call me luscious. It sounds creepy coming from my brother. And third, I would never give you a diamond ring. I’d put an emerald on your finger so big they would be able to see it from Mars. You’re too feisty for a plain diamond,” I tell her, winking. “And you’re forgetting about the legalities, suffragette. If something happens to me, I need you in charge, kicking ass and taking names. That’s the only reason. Not for love or anything like that.”

“Don’t even think you can tie me down, Clark.”

“Don’t tell me what to think, Chateau.”

I smirk at her. Jake and Sandy snicker and Vivienne rolls her eyes at me. She finally opens her mouth to talk, but I kiss her.

“Come on. Let’s go to Newcomb Farms for breakfast. Jake’s paying,” I say.

“We have to let Troy knows or he gets jealous. And if he comes, he has to pay. Clark family rule. Oldest sibling always pays,” Jake says.

“Fine, but they better not take forever to get ready,” I grumble. “Vivi gets downright cranky when she’s hungry.”

CHAPTER 47

VIVI

Me: I can’t wait for our trip this weekend. Tell me where we’re going!

Luke: You’ll find out soon enough. Patience, suffragette. Just know you won’t need panties.

I send him the eye roll emoji before I type my next message.

Me: Fine! Just know that at some point over the weekend, we are watching the most romantic movie ever made.

Luke:You’re going to make me watchPride and Prejudice?The Notebook?

Me:Bite your tongue. The most romantic movie ever made isRocky.Adrian and Rocky are relationship goals!

Luke:See? This is why I love you. You sure you don’t want to get married? You can have Chris walk you down the aisle toEye of the Tiger?

I send him a thumbs down emoji followed by a gif of a bride running away.

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