Page 20 of Feels Like Home
I'm glad we decided not to go formal and are just wearing nice clothes we feel comfortable in. His cream sweater stretches across his chest and looks so soft, so inviting, I just want to bury my head in it.
She turns to me.
I cough lightly into my fist. "Yep. Ready when you are."
"Excellent. We’re gathered here today to witness the joining of Courtland Dean Matthews and Brock Lightyear"—she pauses, smiles, catches herself, then moves on—"in lawful marriage. Do you, Courtland, take Brock to be your lawfully wedded spouse? To love, honor, and support them, in good times and bad, for as long as you both shall live?"
Whoa.
We've just gone from zero to sixty in less than three seconds. I didn't think it would be a long ceremony, but I expected it to last longer than a sneeze.
But it's not like I can do anything about it now.
"I… I do."
"And do you, Brock, take Courtland to be your lawfully wedded spouse? To love, honor, and support them, in good times and bad, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," he rumbles.
My core heats.
"By the authority vested in me by the State of Maine, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss."
Kiss?
Thatthey keep?
I close my eyes, not necessarily wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me whole, but I wouldn't be entirely mad if it decided to.
In all the years we've known each other, Buzz and I have never kissed. Not even once. Our first kiss can't be here.
It should be on a summer's picnic, or watching the sun set over Frenchman Bay, or literally any place on the planet other than in a dreary judge's chamber.
But again, what can I do about it now?
First, I get a whiff of the cologne Buzz put on today, then I feel his warm breath fanning across my cheeks. I blink my eyes open, and Buzz's face fills my entire vision. His straight brown hair, neatly styled and gelled to the side. His familiar sky-blue eyes that are zeroed in on me. That square chin that's only grown broader and more angular with age.
He melts into a blur when his lips land on mine, his arm sweeping around my back. Lip contact lasts for no more than a few seconds, but the moment he pulls away, my entire body goes cold. I stare into his eyes, my heart swimming in my throat until the Notary Public breaks the spell.
"Congratulations to you both."
I pull back slightly. "Uh, thanks," I mumble.
She ushers us over to a desk for Buzz and me to sign the marriage license. Then Howie and Zane sign as witnesses, and shit, I must be out of it if I'm using the other guy's name.
"Be good to my brother," Howie says, smiling even as he almost crushes my fingers with his deadly handshake.
Zane hugs Buzz—totally inappropriate onmywedding day, if you ask me—and tops it off by doing something even worse.
He hugsme.
I freeze.
Seeing my face, Buzz lifts a finger into the air and suggests, "Let’s go grab a drink to celebrate."
Howie looks at his watch. "It's ten thirty."
"Uh, okay… Change of plans. Let's go to the diner for pancakes."
