Page 130 of The Obvious Check

The courthouse smells like old paper and burned coffee… real romantic stuff. There are no fancy flowers, no string quartet, just a makeshift altar that looks like it was thrown together by someone who couldn't give less of a shit about ambiance. But you know what? I don't care.

This isn't about the location or the decorations. This is about making Savannah mine, legally and completely, before anything else can go wrong.

I blow out a breath, zero hesitation in my mind that this is exactly what I need to do. Yeah, it's not the fairy-tale wedding a girl like Savannah deserves with a big white dress and a beautiful venue, but I'll make damn sure our next one blows this out of the water.

Dash clears his throat beside me, his elbow jabbing in my ribs as he fidgets with his jacket. “You sure you want to go through with this, C?” His voice is quiet, but I can hear the concern threading through it as his eyes scan the depressing room.

I roll my shoulders, stretch my neck, and keep my focus locked on the heavy wooden door at the end of the room. Savannah's going to walk through it any second now, and I'll be damned if I miss even a fraction of that moment.

“Of course I am. I'm fucking in love with her.”

“Yeah, no shit.” His voice is mixed with amusement and worry. “I've never seen you act this impulsive in our entire lives. Savannah's incredible, and she brings out something in you I didn't even know existed.” I feel his stare burning into the side of my face. “I'm just concerned aboutwhyyou're rushing into this. If things go according to plan, you could wait. Do this right. Have a real celebration with your parents, with Adley.”

His words hit differently because Dash knows me better than anyone on this planet. He and Henry are the only two people who understand exactly how deep in the shit I am with Luke because of Savannah. Hell, Dash offered to give me his entire signing salary so we could pay off the hundred and twenty-five grand together, but I shut that down fast.

Giving Luke money won't end this nightmare. It would just prove there's more where that came from. He'll keep coming back for bigger payouts until we're bled dry, but the bastardgot sloppy when he started making threats. He's been watching us, learning about my friends, my life. And when he decided to threaten Stanley?

That made it personal.

I'm not just paying off a debt anymore. I'm taking this piece of shit down so he can never do this to anyone else again.

“We'll have another wedding when I'm playing for the Anglerfish,” I say, surprised by how steady my voice sounds when my pulse is hammering like a war drum. “Until then, this is what needs to happen.”

Dash lets out a long breath through his nose. “I'd still feel a hell of a lot better if you weren't signed up for an illegal fight in three days.”

“The fight's not happening.” I finally glance at him, confidence flooding my voice. “You're the one who hooked me up with Alex's contact, remember? Met with the guy this morning, and he's already working on it.”

I'm probably putting way too much faith in a kicker who apparently hates his girlfriend and rocks a haircut that screams “I haven't seen sunlight in months,” but something about Matty tells me he doesn't get out much, which is exactly what you want in a hacker.

“If anyone finds out about this, you're royally fucked,” Dash states because apparently, I need the reminder.

“Don't I fucking know it.” I drop my gaze to the courthouse floor, suddenly fascinated by the scuffed linoleum. “That's why this stays between you, me, and Henry. No one else needs to know.”

Covey U would boot my ass so fast my head would spin. I'd be violating every clause in my Anglerfish contract, basically torching my entire future, but when I think about Savannah and the way she looks at me, like I'm capable of fixing every brokenpiece of her, I know it's all worth the risk. We're going to get through this shitstorm. I can feel it in my bones.

The rest of my teammates, Scotty, Alex, and Brooks, my makeshift ushers, are making their way up the pathetic excuse for an aisle toward us.

“I'm happy for you, man,” Dash says, his voice softer now as he claps a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze that says everything he can't put into words. “I'm glad you found your person.”

I force a smile since our friends are watching. “Thanks.” Then, because I can't help myself, I add, “Looks like you found yours too.”

The second I mention Madison, his head whips around like a fucking magnet, searching for her. She's standing off to the side, talking animatedly to Erik, her hands moving a mile a minute. As if she can sense us staring, she turns and locks eyes with Dash before practically tackling Erik and dragging him over to us.

Dash looks like he just won the lottery and got kicked in the gut at the same time.

I shake my head, laughing under my breath. How the hell did I miss what was happening between them? All those years in high school, I thought Dash was just being a good friend, helping me scare off the dipshits who wouldn't leave Madison alone. Turns out the bastard was in love with her the whole time.

“Cadence,” Madison says, steamrolling into our conversation. “Please help me settle an argument with your obnoxious teammate.” She shoots a glare over her shoulder at a grinning Erik. “The groom's party sits on the right side, right?”

She looks between us like we should have this shit memorized.

I shrug, barely containing my laughter because Erik is making ridiculous faces behind her back. “Hell if I know. I only started researching weddings this morning.”

“Even if that's true,” Erik chimes in, sidling up next to Madison and pointing at me, “Cade's a left winger. Seems only fitting we should sit on the left.”

Dash groans, and I shake my head, grateful for the distraction that's keeping my nerves from eating me alive.

“Almost as fitting as that disaster you call a suit,” Scotty remarks, eyeing Erik's outfit like it personally insulted his mother.

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