The Consummation: Josh and Kat Part III (The Club Book 7)

by Lauren Rowe

  “Honesty-game,” Kat mouths to me, making me bite my lip. The woman just read my mind.

  “For love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things, but above all, love never fails.”

  The snarky smile dancing on my lips a moment ago vanishes. I look at Kat and the earnest expression of love and tenderness on her beautiful face is like a mirror reflecting my own feelings back to me.

  “And now, Jonas and Sarah have prepared vows they wish to say to each other under God, to be witnessed by you, their dearest family and friends,” the officiant says. He turns to Sarah. “Sarah?”

  Sarah grabs both of Jonas’ hands and looks deeply into his eyes. She smiles a truly lovely smile. “Jonas,” she says softly. “My sweet Jonas—mi amor. When I look into your beautiful, kind eyes, I see the man of my dreams—my destiny. With you, I’m completely safe for the first time in my life. With you, I know who I am and who I hope to become. With you, I’m finally me. Thank you for showing me what true love is, my sweet Jonas—for teaching me how to love with all my heart and soul. And, even more, for teaching me how to be loved. I love you, my beautiful, sweet, generous, devoted Jonas, and I promise to be your loving and loyal wife from this day forward, forever and ever, ’til the day I die and long after that when I hold you in my arms in heaven.”

  The courtyard is filled with nothing but muffled sniffles and sighs as everyone, especially Jonas, processes everything Sarah’s just said. After a beat, Jonas takes Sarah’s face into his palms and kisses her so fervently, the entire audience collectively sighs. And even though Jonas is obviously jumping the gun by planting that kiss on Sarah at this point in the proceedings, the officiant apparently doesn’t have the heart to stop him.

  As Jonas kisses Sarah, my eyes drift to Kat, my heart clanging wildly in my chest. What would Kat vow to me before God, in front of all our family and friends? And what would I say to her in return?

  Kat’s eyes are glistening as she returns my gaze. Oh my God. She’s looking at me the exact same way Sarah always looks at Jonas—like I’m the answer to her prayers. My skin prickles with goose bumps.

  A titter rustles through the crowd and I peel my eyes off Kat. Jonas and Sarah’s kiss is finished.

  “Thank you, Sarah,” the officiant says. “Jonas?”

  Jonas sheepishly takes a folded piece paper out of his pocket.

  I look at Kat again, my pulse raging in my ears. Oh my God. She’s still doing it—looking at me the way no one’s ever looked at me before.

  “Sarah,” Jonas begins, drawing my attention away from Kat. He looks down at his paper, his hands visibly shaking. “My Magnificent, Beautiful, Loving Sarah. My precious baby. My life. Plato says at the touch of love, every man becomes a poet. So I sat down and tried to write you an epic poem rivaling The Odyssey that would adequately convey how I feel about you, baby—but, unfortunately, when I tried to rhyme about my feelings for you, I sounded like Dr. Seuss.”

  Everyone chuckles.

  Wow, I think. Intentional humor by Jonas Patrick Faraday.

  “So I’ve decided to speak to you from the depths of my heart and soul, instead.” Jonas takes a deep breath. “Sarah Cruz, you’re the goddess and the muse. You’re The One, my love—the heart that sings my heart’s song back to me. I was lost and you led me to the light outside the dark cave—to my destiny.” Jonas shifts his weight, his chest heaving. “Sarah, our love is the wonder of the wise, the joy of the good, the amazement of the gods. We’re the greatest love story ever told, baby—the divine original form of love. You’re the air I breathe—the blood coursing through my veins—my very heart and soul. And I vow from this moment forward to dedicate my life to your eternal happiness—to love and protect you always and forever, to the very best of my ability—to strive every day to lead you to the top of your personal mountaintop and rejoice with you when you get there.” Jonas takes a deep breath, puts his paper away, and cups Sarah’s face in his palms. “Sarah, my beloved, the greatest joy in this life will always be the honor and privilege of calling you my wife.”

  “Oh, Jonas,” Sarah breathes, clearly overcome with emotion. “That was beautiful.”

  Jonas kisses Sarah, yet again—I guess normal marriage-ceremony rules don’t apply to him?—and everyone watching laughs.

  Everyone, that is, except for me.

  I can’t laugh.

  I can’t move.

  Jesus Fucking Christ, I can’t breathe.

  I feel like I’ve suddenly been struck by a lightning bolt. My greatest joy in this life will always be the honor and privilege of calling you my wife. Oh my God. I’ve got goose bumps. My chest is tight. My heart is pounding in my ears. My greatest joy in this life will always be the honor and privilege of calling you my wife.

  I look at Kat, every hair on my body standing up. She’s staring at Jonas and Sarah, a look of unadulterated love on her face.

  Holy shit.

  Kat’s The One.

  Of course, she is. I don’t just love Kat. I don’t just want her. I want the honor and privilege of calling Kat my wife.

  She’s the air I breathe.

  The blood coursing through my veins.

  My very heart and soul.

  I can’t live without her. I need her like a plant needs water and sunshine and soil. Oh my God. I love Kat and I always will, forever and ever, ’til the day I die—and, holy fuck, Kat deserves to hear me say it in front of God and everyone we love. Yes. Kat deserves to be the one gliding down the center aisle wearing a white dress—not to mention a shit-ton of diamonds, too.

  I want Kat to be my bride.

  Fuck my father.

  Fuck the past.

  Fuck being scared of what tragedy tomorrow might bring.

  Whatever might happen tomorrow—whatever it is—I want Kat by my side to experience it with me, good or bad.

  “Repeat after me, Sarah,” the officiant is saying.

  I steal another look at Kat. She’s still watching Jonas and Sarah, completely unaware that my head and heart and body and soul are all exploding simultaneously like fireworks on the Fourth of July.

  “Jonas, with this ring, I promise to be your faithful and loving wife...” Sarah is saying.

  Yes, I want to declare my eternal love to Kat in front of our family and friends and God and I want her to take my name. I want to make a life with that demonic-devil-woman. I want to be her husband—her family. “This is my beautiful wife,” I want to say when I’m introducing Kat at a party. “Oh, you haven’t met my wife yet? Well, here she is—Katherine Faraday.”

  Sarah slips a ring onto Jonas’ finger and he exhales a loud, shaky breath.

  “And now it’s your turn, Jonas,” the officiant says. “Repeat after me.”

  I look at Kat again to find her blue eyes trained on me.

  “Sarah, with this ring, I promise to be your faithful and loving husband...” Jonas is saying.

  My eyes are locked with Kat’s.

  My chest is tight.

  Jonas slides a sparkling ring onto Sarah’s shaking hand and she squeals with glee, making everyone in the audience chuckle, yet again.

  “And now, by the authority of the state of Washington, I pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant declares. “Jonas, you can now officially kiss your lovely bride.”

  Jonas swoops Sarah into his arms and plants a passionate kiss on her lips to raucous applause.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you—for the very first time—Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Faraday.”

  The place erupts with cheers.

  I clap and cheer, too—of course—but I’m distracted.

  My eyes are still locked onto Kat’s.

  My heart is pounding in my ears.

  There’s no doubt in my mind—I want to make that beautiful terrorist my wife.

  Jonas and Sarah link arms and bound happily down the aisle together, waving and fist-pumping as they go, and Kat and I link arms and follow them, exactly as we were
instructed to do during last night’s rehearsal. But tonight’s walk down the aisle with Kat feels completely different than last night’s dry run. Because tonight, for the first time in my entire life, I finally know what I need to be truly happy in this one and only life: I need to make Katherine Ulla Morgan mine, all mine. Forever.

  Chapter 28

  Josh

  “Go Henny! Go Henny!” Kat shouts, and the crowd around Henn on the dance floor joins in on the chant, goading him on.

  How much has Henn had to drink tonight? He’s always entertaining, but this right here is a gift from the comedy gods. I can’t tell if he’s trying to break dance or if he’s going into cardiac arrest; but either way, I’ll never forget the sight of him as long as I live.

  I look up at the band as I dance with Kat. The horns players are swiveling in synch as they play. Two women in fringed dresses and go-go boots are shaking their asses and singing their hearts out at center stage. And the guitarist is totally laying it down. I don’t know who was responsible for finding this awesome band, whether it was Jonas or Sarah or Kat—but whoever it was, they deserve a medal. I’ve never had so much fun dancing in all my life. Even Jonas has been dancing all night long.

  The band begins playing a new song—“Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars—what else would a wedding band play these days?—and Uncle William grabs Kat’s hand and steals her away from me, twirling her around.

  Kat doesn’t know this, but during dinner, while Kat was chatting with Sarah, I pulled my uncle aside and told him the news about my impending fatherhood—and also about my nascent plan to ask Kat to marry me. It was the first time I’d told anyone my intention to make Kat my wife, having only formed the idea two hours earlier—and my uncle’s reaction was better than I could have imagined.

  “Hallelujah! The Faradays are multiplying!” Uncle William exclaimed, hugging me enthusiastically and patting me on the back. “This is the second best day of my life.” And then he poured me a tall glass of fifty-year-old Scotch from the bottle he’d brought with him from New York—a bottle of Glenfarclas 1955, exactly like the one he’d given me for Kat’s dad—and we clinked glasses.

  “You got yourself a knockout with that one,” Uncle William said, looking at Kat across the room. “She looks just like your mother.”

  I swigged my Scotch rather than reply.

  “And don’t you worry, Joshua,” Uncle William continued, taking a long sip of his pricey liquor. “I’ll make sure Kat’s dripping in diamonds for you every bit as much as Sarah was for Jonas today—you can be sure of that.” He winked and leaned into me like he was telling me something confidential. “Like I always say, we Faraday men always keep our women dripping in diamonds.”

  It was a truly bizarre statement, given that, one, I’d never heard Uncle William say a damned thing about women and/or diamonds before, and, two, I have no idea who “our women” would be in relation to “we Faraday men.” But, still, the fact that my uncle was so effusive about my news and immediately wanted to spoil my future bride every bit as much as he’d spoiled Sarah today sent electricity shooting through my every nerve ending.

  “Fuck yeah, Uncle William,” I said, clinking his glass. “Cheers to that. That’s how we Faraday men keep our women—dripping in the biggest fucking diamonds the world has ever seen.”

  “Fuck yeah,” Uncle William replied, making me laugh.

  It was an unexpected (and supremely ridiculous) conversation, to say the least, and so fucking awesome, I’ll never forget it as long as I live. And now, on top of all that awesomeness, Uncle William’s dancing with Kat like a madman, laughing with her and throwing his hands up every time the singer in the band commands everyone to “hit their hallelujah.” Best night ever.

  I look to my left on the dance floor, and there’s Jonas, sweating like a pig, smiling from ear to ear, dancing with Sarah like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Jonas dance before tonight—but if I have, I’ve certainly never seen him dance like this. He’s the epitome of that old saying, “Dance like no one’s watching.”

  Through the dancing bodies on the dance floor, I glimpse Kat’s parents at the back of the restaurant, sitting all alone at an otherwise empty table, and I realize now’s my chance to steal a private moment with them. I glance over my shoulder at Kat, and she’s still happily cutting a rug with Uncle William, so I move quickly off the dance floor toward the back of the restaurant, taking a brief detour at my uncle’s table to pour two tall glasses of his rare Scotch.

  “Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan,” I say, sauntering up to their table. “Can I hang out with you for a bit?”

  “Thomas and Lou, remember?” Kat’s mom says warmly. “And, of course.”

  Louise pats the chair next to her and I take a seat.

  “I brought you a present, Thomas,” I say, putting one of the glasses of Scotch in front of him. “It’s a Glenfarclas 1955 from my uncle’s private collection. Fifty years old.”

  “Oh my God,” Thomas says. “Really?”

  “You want to try it, Lou?” I hold up the second glass to her.

  Louise crinkles her nose. “No, thank you. I’m not a big Scotch drinker. I’ll just take a little sip of Thomas’.”

  “How about some more champagne, then?”

  Louise’s face lights up. “Ah, now that I’ll happily accept. We’re staying at the hotel across the street, so I’m really letting loose tonight.”

  I flag down one of the roving waiters and grab Louise a flute of champagne and she takes a greedy sip.

  “Okay, Thomas. Ready to have your taste buds ruined for any other Scotch?”

  Thomas lifts his Scotch in reply and we both take sips at the same time.

  “Oh my God,” Thomas says, his eyes bugging out.

  “Amazing, right?” I say.

  “Damn. That stuff should be illegal.”

  “My uncle’s somewhat of a connoisseur,” I say. “He’s got an amazing collection.”

  Thomas takes another sip. “Wow. So smooth.”

  I’m about to tell Thomas I’ve actually got a bottle of this exact stuff for him at my house—the bottle Kat wouldn’t let me give to him a week ago—but in light of what I’m about to ask the guy, I refrain. Now’s definitely not the time to make Kat’s father think I’m trying to buy his affection.

  I take a deep breath. “I wanted to talk to you both privately,” I say. I look over my shoulder to make sure Kat’s not nearby and quickly spot her on the dance floor, still whooping it up. “I want you to know I love your daughter—she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  Louise makes an adorable face.

  “And now that I’ve met the two of you and your incredible family, I’m realizing what marriage and family can be.” I take a deep breath. “So, what I’m trying to say is I’m planning to ask Kat to marry me and I’m hoping you’ll give me your blessing.”

  Kat’s mom throws her arms around my neck, exactly the way Kat always does, and kisses me on the cheek. “Of course, you have our blessing, Josh. Oh my gosh, we’re thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.”

  When she pulls away from me, she’s got tears in her eyes.

  I look at Thomas, hoping for a similar reaction, but he’s stoic.

  There’s a short beat that feels like an eternity.

  Finally, Thomas lifts his Scotch in the air, inviting me to clink his glass, which I gratefully do. “Welcome to the Morgan family, Josh,” he says calmly. “We’re thrilled to have you.”

  I let out a huge sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God,” I say, laughing.

  Kat’s mom giggles—and, suddenly, it’s clear to me she’s pretty damned tipsy.

  “So when are you gonna ask her?” Louise asks, leaning into my face and batting her eyelashes. “And how are you gonna ask her, hmm? What you got up your sleeve, Joshy-baby?”

  I chuckle. “Um. I don’t know yet. I’ve got to get a ring first, make a plan. I’ll do it as soon as possible after we get back from our
trip—I won’t have time to get a ring before we leave.”

  “When do you leave?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  “Oh. Well, if you need help shopping for a ring when you get back, I’d be happy to go with you,” Louise says. “I know Kat’s taste like the back of my hand.”

  “Thank you, Lou. I’ll definitely take you up on that. We can make a day of it. I’ll take you to a nice lunch, too.” I motion to her champagne flute. “With plenty of champagne.”

  Louise squeals—oh yeah, she’s definitely looped—and leans forward excitedly. “From now on, you can call me Mom if you want, honey. I mean you don’t have to, of course, but you can. Or Momma? Or, hey, maybe Momma Lou?” She giggles again.

  “Momma Lou?” Thomas asks, incredulous. “Louise, Josh isn’t gonna call you Momma Lou. Do you think you run a soup kitchen in the South, for cryin’ out loud?”

  Kat’s Mom throws her head back and laughs like a dude. “Sorry. I was thinking about what I want the baby to call me and I thought maybe Gramma Lou? Wouldn’t that be adorable? So then I guess my mind just wandered to Momma Lou.” She takes a swig of her champagne, giggling happily to herself. “Gramma Lou—isn’t that darling? Or maybe Grammy Lou?” She sighs. “Gah. I can’t wait.”

  “Slow down, Gramma Lou,” Thomas says, rolling his eyes. “You’re spinning out of control, honey. First things first—let the boy ask her.”

  Louise laughs heartily. “Well, anyway,” she says, poking her fingertip into the top of my hand. “The point is, Josh, as far as I’m concerned, I just now birthed my fifth son.” She guzzles down the rest of her champagne.

  “Louise.”

  Louise giggles. “Oh, Josh knows what I mean. All I’m saying is Josh is now one of my sons, every bit as much as the others. That’s all I meant. What’s your full name, honey?”

  “Joshua William Faraday.”

  “Joshua William,” Louise says reverently. She makes a trumpet sound. “Doo doo doo doo! Birth announcement! The Morgan Family has just adopted a fifth son. There’s Colby Edwin, Ryan Ulysses, Keane Elijah, David Jackson, and now Joshua William. You’re now officially a member of the Morgan family, honey. Welcome.”