by J. P. Comeau
I’m in deep, deep, deep shit.
I strode to get back to the table. I carved out a pathway through the crowd to get back to Kelly. My bride. Well, not really my bride. But, for the next week, she was. And I wanted to treat her with all the honor and respect a wife should have from her husband. Someone cut me off, though. They slipped in front of me with a silver tray balanced on their fingertips with a white envelope gracing the top. The cut-off was enough to throw me off my rhythm, and I almost tripped over my own two feet.
Until I saw the man with the silver tray headed for Kelly.
Until I saw him usher the tray in front of her face.
Until I saw her eyes study the envelope before her face turned white.
And the panic in her eyes was enough to feed me with the strength I needed to get back to her.
9
Kelly
“Your wedding certificate, ma’am.”
I stared down at the silver tray holding the white envelope.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I asked.
“Your wedding certificate. I was instructed to make sure you obtained the certified copy sent to our front desk earlier this morning.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Th-th-th-th--the what?”
I looked up at the very confused man before he motioned with his head down to the envelope. I plucked it from the tray with my fingertips and held it in front of me. Mrs. Kelly Hearthstone. The damn envelope was addressed as ‘Mrs. Kelly Hearthstone’. And as my trembling fingertips pressed the golden seal upward, I felt my heart drop to my stomach.
This is some kind of joke, right?
I heard scuffling beside me before shadows laid across my body. I didn’t pay attention, though. The only thing I focused on was sliding those pristine papers out of their confines. My eyes danced across the top of the first page, and I recognized the document. It was the waiver I had been instructed to sign last night. I couldn't catch my breath. I replayed that scene over and over in my mind’s eye.
Congratulations!
“That’s why she seemed so sincere,” I whispered.
I looked back down at the paperwork as I felt my body being shifted in my seat. I felt my arm press against the wall before something warm wrapped around me. A soft kiss was pressed to my temple, but it didn't pull me out of my trance. Because right there, at the top right-hand corner, was the official City of Las Vegas raised, embossed stamp.
Holy shit. The papers were real.
“What is it beautiful? Talk to me,” Brenden whispered in my ear.
But, all I could do was show him the papers. I couldn't get my lips to start working with me.
“Bre--Brend--it--they’re, uh…”
His hand pulled from around me as he took the papers from my hands. I lifted my eyes and stared off at the wall on the other side of the restaurant while our food grew cold. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't see straight. It felt like I had dropped into another dimension. I felt Brenden tense beside me before he slammed the papers down against the booth table.
And finally, something startled me out of my trance.
“We’re married,” I breathed.
He ripped his phone out. “There has to be a mistake. There’s no way.”
I slowly looked over at him. “Look at the stamp.”
He held the phone to his ear. “Come on, assholes. Pick up.”
I placed my hand on his thigh. “Brenden. Look. At the stamp.”
I watched his eyes fall to the glossy stamp at the top of those stapled papers. He let out the breath he had been holding.
“They aren’t picking up. We have to go see them. Now. There’s clearly been a mistake.”
He took my hand and pulled me from the booth. I snatched up the papers just in time as we abandoned our breakfast and headed straight for the doors of the Bellagio. He whistled for a cab, and one screeched to a stop in front of us. Then, we practically shoved our way inside.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Pristine Angel Wedding Chapel. As quickly as you can,” Brenden said.
The driver chuckled, and I wanted to wring his neck. It wasn’t funny. None of it was funny. None of it was supposed to be real! And yet, there I was, clutching papers that apparently proclaimed the fact that we’d actually gotten married the night before!
I felt myself growing sick.
“I can’t--I can’t breathe.”
He rubbed my back. “It’s okay. We’ll get this sorted out.”
I placed my hand over my heart. “I can’t--it--oh, God. I can’t--.”
“Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. In through your nose, and out through your--.”
“That shit doesn’t work, Brenden! It never works!”
His hand fisted my hair, and he pulled my eyes to meet his. The command of his touch forced my lungs to inhale. He glared down into my eyes before they softened. I felt his hand relinquishing my tendrils, but something in the pit of my gut didn’t want him to.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He softly kissed my forehead. “Just focus on me until we can get this sorted out.”
He massaged my scalp with his fingertips, and my eyes fell closed. The motions were relaxing, and I felt myself melting against his side. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his lap, doing everything in his power to calm me down. It was cute. It was romantic. It was caring.
It wasn’t at all like the Brenden I knew.
All too soon, the cab ride was over, though. And the two of us tore out from the back seat. Brenden practically threw money at the cab driver to make sure he stayed put. Then, he tugged me up the steps and inside the small chapel. I stood there as he headed for the receptionist’s desk. The place looked so… different, now. There were no snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. There was no plush, white carpet. The Christmas tree in the corner with twinkling lights had been taken down, and in its place was some fake rose bush that looked like it needed some serious sprucing up.
Or, a replacement.
“This isn’t the wedding of my dreams,” I whispered.
And as tears rushed my eyes, I heard Brenden incessantly ringing a bell off in the distance.
“Excuse me. I need to talk to somebody. Now!” he roared.
A man scurried into the foyer, and I recognized him. Santa Claus. The young, rosy-cheeked man that had actually married us last night didn’t look a damn thing like Santa Claus. Which hurt, for some reason.
Everything hurt, for some reason.
“What happened last night?” Brenden glowered.
I walked over to his side as the man stumbled over his words.
“Well, there was a bit of a mix-up with the paperwork. But, but it is my duty to deliver certified copies of--.”
Brenden shoved the paperwork against the man’s chest. “Where the fuck was the waiver!? How did this get mixed up!? How did our information get on this paperwork if we didn’t even fill it out!?”
I rubbed his chest. “Try to take some deep breaths.”
The man’s eyes grew sullen. “Look, Mr. Hearthstone. The receptionist that helped you coordinate all of this quit a few days ago. And we tried to pull together everything we could. But, I think my new receptionist got a bit confused last night, and it just--.”
Brenden’s eyes grew hard. “Let me get this straight: the woman I spent working and re-working this fake wedding with for the past week and a half quit, and you didn’t tell me?”
The man held up his hands. “I called her, and she walked me through where everything was. She was convinced this would go off without a hitch, even if she didn’t work here any longer. That’s why I didn’t panic about it.”
“You should have told me!”
“I’m so sorry, sir. I really, really am.”
“Look at those papers.”
The man swallowed. “Mr. Hearthstone--.”
“I said, look at them,” Brenden commanded.
The man sighed, but he looked down at the paper
s. And the guilt that washed over his face made me feel so bad for him.
“Does it look like things went off without a hitch?” Brenden asked.
While the men continued to bicker back and forth, I mindlessly pulled away from them both. I wrapped around them and opened the small chapel doors, taking stock of the plain atmosphere that greeted me now. The wooden pews needed waxing and filling. The stained taupe flooring felt unforgiving beneath my flip flops. My eyes scaled the walls, taking in the water damage that had seeped in from the ceiling somewhere. And as my eyes began to water, I slowly walked down that aisle. All the way to the front.
I slowly turned around.
It wasn’t the beautiful church I saw myself getting married in. There were no stained-glass windows. There was no glorious pipe organ to play processions. There wasn’t room to fit both sides of our families or beautiful hardwood floors that could be coated in rose petals. There was nothing in the place. Nothing but faded memories, moldy walls, and the faint smell of mildew hanging in the air.
I let the tears fall freely as I sat down, curling my knees against my chest.
“Kelly?”
My lower lip quivered as Brenden walked down the aisle to me.
“Kelly, can you hear me?”
I felt tears flooding my neck as I stared off into nothingness.
“I think I’ve found a solution, Kelly.”
“I’m married,” I whispered.
He sat down next to me. “Not for long. We can go to the courthouse on Monday and get this all taken care of. We can file for an annulment. The chapel owner has even given me a note signed by him stating the mix-up.”
I felt the world spinning around me. “I didn’t even have a decent dress.”
He rubbed my back. “We’re going to fix this. I’m going to fix this for you. And once we annul the marriage, it’ll be like it never happened. You won’t have to report it if you file for another marriage license. You won’t ever have to tell anyone what--.”
I sniffled. “It won’t be the same.”
“Sure it will.”
I slowly looked over at him. “No. It won’t. And I don’t expect you to get that.”
He sighed. “I’m so sorry, Kelly. I should’ve been more attentive to what we were signing.”
“I knew something was wrong, with the way that woman was talking. How sincere she seemed in her congratulations. I should’ve had enough of a backbone to stand up for myself.”
“Kelly, you couldn't have--.”
I shot up. “If I had any sort of a backbone, I wouldn’t be struggling with a third of the things I struggle with on a daily basis.”
“Don’t talk about yourself like that. I can’t stand that kind of talk.”
I spun around on him. “Yeah, well, get used to it. Because until further notice, we’re married. Which means your life, as well as mine, isn’t going to ever be the same. Even if we do get this annulled, or whatever.”
“I’m trying the best I can.”
“Well, it’s not good enough. This was a stupid idea. I never should have agreed to it just to sleep with you. I should’ve just told you how I felt, asked you to take my virginity, and fucking left it at--.”
I felt something tug against my wrist before I almost stumbled off my feet. And when I tripped, I fell into the most comforting embrace I’d ever experienced. My tears fell quickly. I sobbed against his warm chest while his heart beat ticked against my nose. I clung to his shirt, shivering as his arms blanketed me. Trying to protect me from the harsh reality of our existence.
“I know it hurts now, but I’ll do my best to get us both laughing about this before Monday. You have my word,” he murmured.
“My God, I’m married to you.”
He chuckled. “Could be worse.”
I peeked up at him. “How?”
He shrugged. “You could be married to Clint.”
And as a breathless giggle fell from my lips, he crooked his finger beneath my chin.
“I’m going to fix this. Okay?”
I sniffled softly. “Okay.”
“Do you trust me?”
“I think so.”
He kissed my forehead. “Then, that’s enough for now.”
And for some reason, his words comforted me. Enabling me to breathe a little deeper as he ushered me back down that aisle for the second time that weekend.
10
Brenden
I decided to give Kelly some space once we got back to the honeymoon suite, but even entering the penthouse with everything that had happened seemed, well, off. She pulled away from me completely and headed straight for the balcony. Probably just to have some space and think. So, I gave her the space she needed, and I made my way into the bathroom.
I needed a hot-ass shower after all the nonsense.
I stripped off my clothes and ran the water as hot as I could stand it. I closed the door, letting the steam wrap around me before I even stepped into the glass-encasement. The shower could easily fit four people at a time. I had planned on using it for some serious fun, especially with the removable showerhead it boasted. But, it seemed as if that balloon had popped.
And when a soft knock came at the bathroom door, I knew what was coming.
“Brenden?”
“Yep?” I said, rinsing the conditioner out of my hair.
“Can I come in?”
“The shower is glass all around. So, you might get an eye-full.”
She paused. “Oh.”
“But, if you want to open the door and talk that way, we can.”
I heard the door ease open a bit as the hot water battered against my red back.
“So, I’ve been thinking,” Kelly said.
“I’m all ears.”
“Do you find it a little weird for us to be staying in this place now? I mean, with everything that’s happened?”
I shrugged. “Maybe a bit. But, I’m still down for our agreement if you are.”
She snickered. “Of course.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Nothing. It means nothing.”
I turned off the water. “No, Kelly. It means something. So, why don’t you tell me what it means.”
“It means, of course, you’re still down for sex. Never mind the emotional turmoil this is giving me.”
“I said, I’m down if you are. Which means that if you aren’t, then neither am I. It simply puts the ball in your court. So, I’d appreciate it if you stopped painting me as a terrible human being when I did all of this to make you comfortable in the first place.”
“Oh, so now it’s my fault? Mr. I’m Going To Get My Brother Drunk So She Doesn’t Sleep With Him?”
“I was just looking out for you!”
“No, you were looking out for your own interests. Never mind.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “If you want to go home, I’ll take you home.”
She sighed. “Is that what you want?”
“Make a damn decision, Kelly. Grow that backbone you were wailing about in the chapel.”
Silence fell between us, and I shook my head.
“I’m so sorry. I--.”
She clicked her tongue. “I’ll catch a ride back to my place.”
I reached for a towel. “Let me at least--.”
“No. I’m good. I’ve got it.”
“Kelly, please.”
“I said, no!”
I halted my movements. “Okay. Okay, Kelly. What do you want me to do?”
“Stay in this damn bathroom until I’m gone.”
I leaned against the wet shower wall. “Yeah. I can do that.”
Stupid, stupid fucking idiot.
She closed the bathroom door, and I sank to the floor. I heard her rummaging around in the bedroom, probably gathering up all of her things. I dug the heels of my hands into my eyes, trying to find a way out of it. Trying to find a way to salvage the experience for her. I didn’t want her to leave with that kind of impression. Not just of
me, either. I didn’t want her to leave with a frown on her face because she deserved to smile.
Kelly deserved everything good in the world.
But, apparently, I wasn’t the good thing she needed.
Did you really expect anything else, you asshole?
“I’m heading downstairs!” Kelly called out.
I scrambled out of the shower and swung open the bathroom door.
“Let me know when you get home safely?”
“Sure. I’ll have someone text you,” she said.
Then, with a slam of the front door, she was gone.
“Fuck!” I roared.
I ripped the towel off me and started snatching my things up. All of the money, gone. The entire experience, ruined. Every surprise I had waiting for her, lost. And none of it was refundable. Not that the money mattered. But, if it was all there, couldn’t we at least try to enjoy it? Sex didn’t even have to be on the table. We could’ve just had the experiences to try and distract ourselves for a little bit!
“What Kelly wants, Kelly gets,” I murmured.
So, I stuffed my things into my suitcase and left. I sure as hell didn’t want to stay in the place without her.
Especially once I knew how wonderful it was to wake up to her beside me.
I hailed a cab and took my idiotic ass back to my place. But, the second I dropped my bags, I realized I didn’t want to be there. I raced back down to catch the cab as it pulled off before hopping back inside, and I rattled off the address for Zane’s place.
I needed some serious advice.
I stared out the window as the world passed me by. It looked dull and dreary. Even the gray clouds hanging low overhead boasted of the way I felt inside. I blew it. I ruined everything. And I knew there was no chance in hell Kelly would ever let me make things up to her. I closed my eyes and sighed, and I felt the cab slowly swaying side to side with every turn the driver made. Then, my phone vibrated against my leg.
