Page 239 of Redeemed

“Can I—”

I bite my tongue. Asking if I can meet her is a ridiculous question. Why would I want to? And why would Colton want to introduce me to her? Things aren’t like that between us.

Ignoring the pang of disappointment in my chest, I ask, “Where are we going?”

“The courthouse.”

“The court—why on earth do we need to go there?”

He’s silent.

With horror, I glance down at what I’m wearing, and everything clicks into place.

“Colt,” I say slowly. “Why am I in a white dress?”

“I thought you’d appreciate wearing something other than leggings and a T-shirt on your wedding day.”

Oh god.

Not for the first time, it feels like my entire life has been turned upside down. Marrying Colton?Colton Heverly?The boy who bullied me for years, forced me to sleep in a cage for months, and gets off on degrading me?

What on earth is he thinking?

And why am I not trying to jump out of his car right now?

“We don’t need witnesses?” I ask weakly.

“Not in Pennsylvania.”

“Well, we have to apply for a marriage license, right? That’s gotta take a couple days.” I remember a classmate talking about it last year.

“I already took care of it.”

“Without me?!” That really feels like something I should’ve been present for.

“Oh, you were there.”

“But I wasn’t.”

“Paperwork says otherwise.”

I sit in stunned silence for the rest of the drive. Colton parks in front of the courthouse, and I don’t move as he gets out of the car. He doesn’t seem surprised, but when he opens my door and I stay frozen, he sighs.

“The judge has a busy schedule. We don’t want to be late for our appointment.”

I shake my head.

“You have two options here, Haven. Either you walk into that courthouse of your own free will, or I carry you in kicking and screaming.”

“We can’t do this.”

Silence, and then a soft, “I’m sorry, angel.”

“This isn’t how I imagined my wedding would go,” I say quietly.

I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to get married again, but I’ve dreamed about it a lot since arriving at Pemberton. This is nothing like what I hoped for.

“You think I’m happy about it?”

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