Page 16 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
“What about when the year is up?”
Hunter shrugs again. “We get a divorce and go on our way again.”
He says it so matter-of-factly. Like it means nothing to just do this and end it in a year, but I suppose this kind of thing happens more often than either of us knows.
“You should protect yourself, though. I’ll ask a friend to draw up a prenup before we do it.”
“So, is that a yes?”
“Yeah. We both get what we need. Why not?”
Hunter’s smile is blinding.
“Nice. Thank you.”
Hunter rises and takes his plate to the kitchen. We just negotiated a marriage over baked chicken and carrots. Removing the ring box from my pocket, I pull it out and slide the ring on.
Riley is going to have a fit when he learns how this went down.
“OMG…Gabe! Tell me everything!”
After hugging Riley, we settle at our table in Avocadabra, a trendy bistro he loves, for a quick lunch.
“It’s not real, Rye,” I whisper. “You know that, so there’s no big romantic moment to tell you about. I put the ring on myself and everything.”
He frowns and reaches for my left hand, running his thumb over the gold band.
“You’re married before me. I never thought I’d see the day. I’m not sure what I should say. Congrats doesn’t feel right.”
I know Hunter had already been over to talk to Jackson, so Riley has the details behind the why I’m getting married to someone I don’t even know. His conflict about it is understandable.
“Yeah, I know. I never thought I’d get married, but if I did, it wasn’t over a plate of chicken and putting the ring on myself, you know? I hate to say it, but…some romance would be nice.”
“Oh, Gabe.” Riley squeezes my hand. “When you find the real one, I’ll make sure it’s done right.” He sits back and reaches for his tablet. “So we won’t go too overboard with this wedding. Have you picked a date? Thought about what to wear? Anything?”
“Uh…we’re getting the licence tomorrow and just planning to cross over to the courthouse after.”
Riley’s tablet almost hits the floor. “What?” He hisses. “You can’t just get married at a courthouse without any personal details. I know it’s not real, but like…don’t you want to have a nice corsage or something?”
“Well, if Hunter was doing it for reasons other than money, sure. But it’s just to make it legal. My friend Erik sent me a draft of a prenup already. Hunter wants to get this started, and I can’t blame him. His life is in limbo. So we’ll just do this for now.”
The server stops at our table, and after taking our orders, Riley leans in again. “Can I at least come?”
Riley’s eyes shine with unshed tears, and I feel like an idiot. “Fuck, Rye. I’m sorry. Yes, you can come. We need witnesses, too, and I’d love for you to be there. I imagine Hunter will ask Jackson, too.”
“Sorry for being emotional, but you’re my best friend, Gabe. This might mean nothing to you, but it’s still a huge moment. You’re getting married, and there’s a chance it could last forever. I don’t want to miss it.”
Riley was always the more sensitive of the two of us. He has a giant heart, and the more I think of it, the more I think he’s right. I don’t think it will last forever, but what if it’s the only time in my life I get married? I should make some sort of effort.
“You know what? You’re right. It’s a life-altering moment. Reasons aside, let’s pretend it’s a real wedding. What can you pull off for tomorrow afternoon?”
His grin is real as he checks his schedule. “With Jackson’s help, lots. Let’s do this.”
Somehow, over a plate of vegetarian pasta, Riley and I pull a few details together for my real wedding to a fake husband. It’s ridiculous, but Riley’s statement that it could last forever still echoes with me.
Stranger things have happened.
Just in case, I tell Riley to find a photographer.
