Page 68 of The Arrangement
She nods. “I’m really good, actually.”
I squeeze her hand.
“We’re gathered here in The King and Bling Chapel for the marriage of”—Gold Jumpsuit looks at his notes—“Chloe Goodman and Jason Brewer.”
Chloe’s eyes shine as she stares into mine.
“Do you, Chloe Goodman, take Jason Brewer to be your husband and to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him, so long as you both shall live?”
“Or for the next six months,” she whispers.
I chuckle.
“Yes,” she says loudly. “I do.”
“And do you, Jason Brewer, take Chloe Goodman to be your wife and to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Are we exchanging rings?” Gold Jumpsuit asks. “It’s not in the notes.”
“No,” Chloe says.
I pull the box from my pocket. “Yes, we are.”
Chloe’s eyes widen. “Jason. What are you doing? I don’t have a ring for you.”
“Well, I have one for you.” I open the box and remove the ring, saying a silent prayer that she likes it. Then I take her finger. “This was very last minute, so if you don’t like it, we can get something else.”
“I don’t know how you did this.” She gasps as I slip on the ring. “Oh my gosh. Jason!”
I hold my breath as she brings the jewelry to her face.
“You don’t wear a lot of jewelry, so I didn’t really know what your style would be,” I say, trying to read her expression.
She giggles a short, disbelieving sound and beams. “It’s absolutely perfect. I can’t … I don’t even know what to say.”
“Well, you just saidI do, so that pretty much says it all,” Tate says. “Ouch!”
“Behave, Tate,” Mom warns over the phone.
Chloe laughs. “I’ll get you a ring.”
“Don’t you dare.”
She narrows her eyes. “I’m your wife. I don’t have to take your orders anymore.”
I grin. “We’ll see about that.”
“By the power vested in me by the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Golden Jumpsuit says. “You may kiss your bride.”
My brothers clap, Tate yells something, and faraway voices also rejoice through the phones, but none of that matters. All that matters is headed toward me.
Chloe meets me halfway, throwing her arms over my shoulders.
Blood races through my veins as if a dam has burst. Her eyes meet mine.
I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her into my chest, and her smile widens as our bodies touch.
