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“Take your time. You have all your paperwork, right?”
I finished my hair and brushed by Andy on my way to the kitchen. Bunny had packaged my birth certificate, passport, and social security card in a manila folder with my name on it. I held it up. “Yep.”
“Good.” Andy shot me a sideways grin that went straight to my belly. “And the ring?”
I touched it with my thumb. I hadn’t taken it off since he’d given it to me. Part of me didn’t trust myself not to accidentally lose it. The other part liked it too much to take it off.
I held up my hand. “That, too.”
His mouth twitched and his eyes lightened before he scrubbed a hand through his hair. “You ready?”
I nodded, gathering my things and following him out the door.
While Bunny had mended the fences she could the night before, the car ride back to my apartment had been in awkward silence. Maybe the reality of what we’d agreed to was finally sinking in, but I’d slept fitfully, wondering whether he’d change his mind.
But Andy stayed reliable, as always. If the sudden public interest in our engagement bothered him, he didn’t let it show. Maybe he didn’t mind the attention, or perhaps he truly was unbothered by the way our plan had rapidly spiraled out of control and away from the business proposal that started it all.
“Do you want to walk down to City Hall?” he asked, offering me his hand at the bottom of the stairs.
For appearances’ sake. Probably.
I nodded, taking his hand.
“I said I wouldn’t believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes! And sure enough, you’re here!” Jess’s excited squeal raised a few eyebrows from the other clerks in City Hall, but she ignored them. She stood, rounding her desk and wrapping me in a hug. “How did you keep this a secret?”
She eyed Andy up and down in blatant appreciation. I pushed away a jab of possessiveness as a one-off feeling; it was likely the result of being watched like an animal in a cage for the past two days.
“Well, I know why,” Jess answered her own question with a wink in Andy’s direction. “How’s Cal taking it?”
“He’s coming around,” Andy said genially.
“Bunny told him to get it together. Besides, he's got a full plate between the garage and traveling to Virginia to see Becca. He can’t stay mad at me for long,” I said, hoping it was true.
Andy wrapped an arm around my waist, and Jess melted at the sight of us. I rested my head on his shoulder. This could work. This would work. The town wanted to believe we were together, and I could fake it. For a while, at least. Until a new morsel of gossip made its way through the tiny mountain town and steered everyone’s attention somewhere new.
“We’re actually here to get the marriage certificate,” I said, holding up the manila folder.
“Of course. I’m just rambling, and you two want to get this license. Are you getting married today?”
“We can do that?” I asked, turning to Andy questioningly.
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. Bunny would kill us.”
“Is Bunny planning the wedding?” Jess ribbed me. “I bet it’ll be quite the celebration. When should I expect an invitation?”
“Are you free Wednesday?” I asked, smiling at Andy.
Her face paled. “This Wednesday? Wow, Nora, we better get this license issued. You must be swamped.”
Jess hurried us through the paperwork, notarizing and copying forms before whisking us back to the entrance with a promise to officiate if we needed. I thanked her and hustled Andy out of City Hall, hoping we could make it back to his car without another delay.
“This town is too small,” I muttered.
“Is this a new discovery?”
I rolled my eyes, my lips easing into a smile. “No, but I’m not usually the center of attention.”
“That’s not true,” he said gently, dipping his head in a greeting as Mr. Linden shuffled past us.
