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She rolled her eyes and threw herself against the back of the worn couch. “No!”
“We were abducted by aliens together, and the experience bonded us deeply.”
“Too crazy, even for Lovewell.”
I shifted on the couch, noticing for the first time what a nice laugh she had. “Okay. We’ll just say we’ve been friends forever, and one day, I woke up and realized I couldn’t live without you.”
She put her hand over her heart. “And we know we’re moving fast, but when you know—”
“You know,” I said, giving her a wink while finishing her sentence.
She bit her bottom lip and scanned the room, then brought that intense gaze back to me. “Okay. That will work.” She held out a tiny hand.
I slid my palm against hers, sealing the deal. The little thing sitting next to me had a surprisingly strong grip. She’d probably be a great tree climber.
“You know,” she mused. “I planned to never get married.”
I gave her my best gentlemanly bow. “Then I am honored to be your first and only husband.”
Chapter8
Hazel
My wedding day started like every other day. Waking up on Dylan’s couch with a backache to the sounds of him humming as he made coffee in the galley kitchen.
It was only as I stretched and rearranged the messy bun on top of my head that I recognized the tune. “Here Comes the Bride.” Fitting.
Bleary-eyed, I stumbled to the kitchen. I’d never understood how he could be such a morning person. We shared DNA, for God’s sake, and I couldn’t function before nine.
Before I could ask him to pour me a cup, he slid one into my hand and raised one eyebrow.
“You okay?” He was awake and chipper and dressed for the day in his requisite teacher attire—pressed khakis and button-down shirt.
I nodded silently. Words were impossible before the coffee kicked in.
“Are you really going to go through with this?”
We had spent the last few days arguing over my impending nuptials. Though he had been the one to suggest it, he’d quickly changed stances on the matter when I told him we were actually going through with it. But the bottom line was, I felt good. I was at peace with the decision.
I took a sip and let the bitterness spread across my tongue, the familiar sensation clearing away the first layer of my morning brain fog.
I shrugged. “Too late now.”
Dylan set his cup on the laminate countertop and scowled. “You haven’t even gotten the license yet. It’s the perfect time to back out.”
“I’m not backing out,” I insisted, huffing a breath. “Remy and I made a deal. It’ll benefit us both. I’m not a kid anymore, Dyl. I’m just trying to make my life work right now.”
He continued to watch me, the skepticism in his expression exasperating. Yes, this was a bit insane, but being an adult meant making hard choices sometimes. And if all went as planned, it would help both Remy and me in the long run.
“You’re coming to meet us after, right?” Despite the unaffected façade I was hiding behind, and regardless of my mile-wide independent streak, I needed my brother there on my fake wedding day.
He cracked a smile. “Of course. Lydia is going to cover my last period study hall so I can head out early.”
When I called Bangor City Hall, I jumped on the first available appointment, and since they were only open Monday Through Friday, Remy was taking the day off so we could get everything accomplished.
But Dylan couldn’t join us until after the ceremony since he hadn’t found a sub on such short notice.
I hadn’t been to many weddings, and I doubted this would be like anything I’d seen on TV. Googling only gave me the basic requirements, so I still couldn’t wrap my mind around how it would feel to say vows, to sign a document legally binding me to another human being.
