Page 156 of Saving Tatum (Trace + Olivia 4)

Jude seemed to know where we needed to go to get a marriage license. That made one of us. As the female I probably should’ve been the one to know this stuff, but I was clueless.

He parked the truck and we headed into the building.

It didn’t take long for us to fill out the paperwork and sign our names.

Butterflies assaulted my stomach as I gazed at my signature. It was the last time I’d write my name as Tatum O’Connor. From this day forward I was Tatum Brooks.

I couldn’t believe we were actually doing this.

Not after everything we’d been through and how much I’d fought the idea of marriage and living together.

But Jude won.

He was right; this was inevitable so why delay it? It was time for us to start the rest of our lives…together.

Before we went back to the mansion he stopped at a jewelry store.

“Gotta have rings,” he grinned, turning off the truck.

We hurried inside the store and separated so we wouldn’t know what each other picked.

I settled on a simple, but thick, platinum band for Jude. It wasn’t flashy and I knew he’d love it. I shivered at the thought of seeing the ring on his finger, marking him as mine.

I gasped as I realized I hadn’t even thought to call my own dad.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I guessed I’d spent so long with barely-there parents that I’d kind of forgotten about them. Horrible, I know, but it was the truth. I’d been on my own for years, so it was easy to forget to include them in my life.

Or in this case just my dad.

I didn’t have my phone with me so I’d have to borrow Jude’s when we got back in the truck.

Since it didn’t take me long to pick and buy his ring I stood by the door waiting.

When he finally appeared his grin was wide. “I can’t wait for you to see this,” he held the bag to his chest. Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he lowered his head to kiss me quickly. “Not long now,” he murmured, his lips brushing mine as he spoke.

We climbed in the truck and I asked for his phone.

I gave my dad the same spiel that Jude had given Archer and Dylan. My dad sounded suspicious though and I really hoped he didn’t figure out what we were up to. Regardless, I wouldn’t apologize for doing this. I was finally allowing

myself to do something that I wanted. I wasn’t holding myself back and doing the responsible thing. I was letting my heart guide me.

Jude reached for my hand, entwining them together. “Are you second guessing this?”

“Not at all,” I squeezed his hand. “I’m so ready for this.” I grinned. True, I felt a little fear, but I figured most people felt that way on their wedding day. Mostly there was excitement.

Jude lifted our joined hands, kissing my knuckles as he drove.

“I don’t want you to regret this.”

“I couldn’t regret you,” I replied immediately. “Never.”

He glanced at me and grinned. “God, I love you.”

I laughed, my cheeks lifting as I smiled. “I love you too, Jude, and I always will.” I laid my head on his shoulder.

He grew quiet and after a moment he said, “We need to make one more stop.”

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