Page 62 of Britta & the Beach Boy
“It’s a big one.” I raise an eyebrow in a challenge.
She tips up her chin and lifts her own eyebrow, waiting. Then I lay out my non-negotiable.
“No more Liam. Call me Dex.”
Chapter twenty-three
Britta
Moments after Dex and I agree to get married, he yells the news to Archie, who’s in his room. From that point on, Archie takes over, and I see why Dex hired him as his manager. The next twenty-four hours are a whirlwind.
I figured we’d have to drive to Las Vegas for a quickie wedding, but within minutes Archie has found a same-day wedding service right here in LA.
“You can get married on the beach in Santa Monica without a permit. It’s first come, first serve, and with just a few of us there, it won’t be a problem.” He’s on the couch between Dex and me, feet on the edge of the coffee table and his laptop on his bent knees.
All I can see of Dex is his bouncing legs, which doesn’t make me any less nervous. I mean, I know it’s not an actual marriage, but I’m still getting married, and it has to look real, especially because Dex is a famous surfer. He’s in the media enough that there will be extra scrutiny.
“Rhys can perform the ceremony if you want. He’s still in town for a couple of days,” Archie says.
“Rhys James is an ordained minister?” I didnotsee that coming.
“He got ordained online so he could perform Frankie’s ceremony last summer,” Dex mutters off-hand.
“Frankie is married?” I don’t read a lot of Hollywood gossip, but I can’t believe that news wasn’t splashed all over. This day is full of all kinds of surprises.
“Not anymore,” Archie says tightly, and I ask no more questions about his twin.
Dex’s legs stop bouncing, and he leans forward so I can see him. “Is all of this okay with you?”
“The sooner we can get the naturalization process started, the better.” Archie is all business, which makes this feel even less like a real wedding.
“Are you asking if I’m okay having Archie Forsythe as my wedding planner and Rhys James as the officiant?” I blink long and slow. “As long as Rhys sings the whole thing.”
Dex and Archie both laugh, and Archie says, “I’ll see what I can do. He may charge extra for the service.”
“I just don’t want you to feel rushed into anything,” Dex adds more seriously.
I shake my head. “I don’t… I mean, Ido,but I’d rather get things rolling than wait. I have to talk to my dad first, though. And Stella, obviously. She has to be there.”
“Of course,” Dex agrees, but Archie shakes his head.
“You’ve got to keep this a secret,” he says. “At least the real reason you’re getting married. Not even your family can know. If it gets out, you and Dex will both be in a lot of trouble and Dex could be deported. He wouldn’t be able to come back for competitions.”
“I can’t lie to my family.” That’s a deal breaker right there.
“Then don’t. But you can’t tell them the whole truth either,” Archie says firmly.
I stare at him and decide that I don’t like being managed.
But I don’t have much choice if I want to buyAnnie’s.Or if I want to help Dex get to the Olympics.Annie’sis my primary motivation for marrying Dex, but I also love the idea of being a part of him achieving his dream. Maybe I should be worried about how invested I am in his getting to the Olympics, but I can’t help it.
Dex came to Paradise at the perfect time, a month after Mom passed, a ray of sunshine at the darkest time of my life. I’m gettingAnnie’sand a new life out of the deal, but if marrying Dex gets him to the Olympics, I’ll be happy to have returned the happiness he brought me.
“Okay, then.” I push myself from the couch. “I’m going to figure out how not to lie to my dad while also not telling him the truth while you two finish this.” I sweep my hand in a circle to indicate Archie’s laptop and the million tabs he has opened.
Dex stands too. “All right then, I guess we’re getting married.”
An awkward moment follows where we both do what can only be described as a dance around how to say goodbye as an officially engaged couple without touching each other.
