Page 50 of Marry Me, Right Now

n I’ll lock you in the wine cupboard for a few months.”

“I’m good with that.”

JACOB

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SHOW TIME

I didn’t dare tell her in these words, but Mia was behaving like the perfect high society wife. The light, casual way she made introductions, the way she persuaded people to talk about themselves, the way she let her happiness and light wash over everyone she was near… she was a dream.

It was strange not having her beside me while I greeted guests who were quickly filling the room. I wanted her near me. I knew that everything would be flowing more smoothly if she were here. But the tradition of the bride arriving one minute late and making a grand entrance couldn’t be missed.

I tried to do exactly what she did at the cocktail party, introducing people and keeping everything light while talking her up to anyone who wasn’t already sick of hearing me rave about her. Everything was so warm, so real, that it was easy to forget that this was all for show.

Up until this moment, I wasn’t truly sure we’d be able to pull this off. Mia had been holding everything together and had handled the organization of the wedding better than I could ever have expected. To be honest, I think she worked harder on this than I had ever worked on anything in my life.

In just two weeks, she had taught me so much about different kinds of people, privilege, and my home city, that my head was still spinning.

Every time the thought flickered into my head, I squashed it back out, but there was no doubt in my mind that Mia was my dream girl. Yet I could not allow myself to entertain that thought for even a split second. We were business partners. We had a mission. We had to pretend to be a couple for a year, and whatever happens then would happen then.

It actually looked like our wedding day would be smooth sailing. Even with the constant whispered gossip that she might be pregnant, or my brother George making comments about how Mia was some sort of money hungry opportunist trophy girl trying to latch onto my wealth, nothing could ruin our beautiful day.

Although I knew it was tradition for the brother who was closest in age to be the best man, I had chosen my close friend Asher. I knew how much Mia instinctively hated George, but I had to have him as my groomsman, since she had two bridesmaids. It was a subtle thing, but I did it for me as much as for her. George, Asher and I walked to the front of the room, smiling and nodding at our friends and family.

All eyes turned when mother entered wearing a deep champagne-colored gown, looking every bit the queen of the hour. She glided to the very front, where she lit a white pillar candle, murmuring something that I’m sure was supposed to sound very deep, then turning back with a smile and a nod, before taking her seat.

Mia had explained something about my mother’s wish to light a candle for the relatives who could not be present, signifying past and future generations. But it really just sounded to me like she wanted to be front and center for a moment so she could have her place in the spotlight.

I was actually surprised that I wasn’t more nervous. We had rehearsed, we had planned, and now we just had to let everything unfold as it should.

“Are you ready?” Asher asked, flashing me a brilliant grin as if he was trying to relax me.

I nodded. “Yeah. I think I’m more ready for this than I’ve been for anything in my entire life.”

He clapped me on the back, looking truly touched. “She is an amazing gal, and you two seem like a great team. I’m glad you found each other, man.”

The music picked up with one of those traditional songs that I had heard a thousand times, but never knew the name of. I looked up to see Mia’s friends Lauren and Rayanne slowly coming down the aisle, wearing pretty blue dresses, holding white and green bouquets. Rayanne had even dyed her previously purple hair to match the dress.

They were smiling at everyone as if this was a relaxed, mellow party. I gave them a wide grin, and mouthed the words, “You both look lovely.” They grinned, then took their places at the top of the aisle.

The music swelled. I turned to see my bride to be, for real or not, coming through the flowered arch around the doorway. Mia was on the arm of the tall black-haired man I had met briefly at our cocktail party. She said he was one of her oldest friends, and the closest she had to family. My breath hitched in my throat, and I almost grabbed Asher’s arm as my vision blurred for half a second.

Mia was gorgeous from the first moment I saw her, but now she was transcendent. Otherworldly. An angel sent to earth. Her gown was skimming over her flawless tiny figure, and her slightly angled skirt showed off her legs perfectly. But her sweet porcelain face was smiling at me, making time nearly stop.

She was a vision. The sexiest, classiest, most radiant woman I had ever seen in my life. And here I was, about to take her wedding day away from her for a pile of money and an old house.

The cold darkness in the pit of my stomach suddenly weighed a thousand pounds, and I had to force myself to stand up straighter. She was so brave, slowly walking down the aisle with the sweetest smile on her pretty little lips. I couldn’t let her down. I had to be strong enough for both of us.

M I A

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THE WEDDING

Left foot. Right foot. Don’t trip. Breathe steadily. Smile at everyone. This is fun. This is a happy special day. Part of my mind continually screamed to just keep moving.

I was a zombie. Moving my legs was an ordeal. I’d never had so many people staring at me, or so much riding on one day. My breath kept hitching in my throat and my eyes occasionally watered from forgetting to blink. Hopefully, people would just think it was natural wedding jitters, or that I was overcome with emotion. My fingers were vibrating and my teeth itched.

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