Page 66 of Beau & Autumn

I wonder if she has a gauge for which couples will make it and which will tank. I also wonder how many marriages of convenience she’s made official. Can she sense these things? If she does, she doesn’t show it.

Autumn tugs my hand and we head off once we’ve signed the marriage certificate.

As soon as we’re back out on the street, we both turn to each other and just take in what we’ve done. Her shaking hands cover her face for a moment, it’s a mixture of shock and excitement, I think. She’s not frowning, so I take that as a good sign.

I tug her hands away. “Wifey, don’t hide from me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Her teeth indent her bottom lip as she waves the certificate between us. “We just got hitched!”

“I know, right.” I sigh into the warm air. “Nice day for a white wedding.” I sing the last few words as if I’m Billy Idol and she swats a hand in my direction.

“Beau!” She laughs, and it’s nice she’s being carefree and still looks happy, not that I expect her to have a meltdown at the footsteps of the registry office, but I get it could be overwhelming. I’m having a little moment myself, but it doesn’t feel bad. None of it does.

That’s the thing. Even this crazy, spontaneous thing feels really good with her.

It’s not like she’s a stranger, but we’re married now. It may just be paper, but it feels like there’s a world of difference between being just friends and husband and wife.

“What?”

“I love how calm and cool you’re being.”

“Is there any point being anything else?” I feel for her hand and link my fingers in hers. “Where to?”

She grips my hand tight, the feeling warms through to my chest. “Be serious.”

“I am, Wifey.”

“Am I supposed to be calling you Hubs?”

“You can if you want to, it has a certain ring to it.”

“We’re completely crazy, I hope you know that.”

“Hey, you suggested it first.” I chuckle. “And it’s done now, so there’s no going back.”

“Should we like, go celebrate or something?”

“Exactly my thinking. Surely a celebration drink is in order!” We rented an Airbnb for the night to stay in, just so we could get ready for the wedding and Autumn could do her hair and makeup. And of course, so no one would see us. You never know when someone from Stoney Creek could be stocking up on supplies here in town.

She tugs my arm toward my car while I hold onto the marriage certificate for dear life.

We both know we probably have today to get our stories perfected before we launch our sudden marriage onto our families. I know both sides of our family will be disappointed we ran off and did this in secret, but I’m not afraid of that. Maybe the fact that I’m now married and ‘settling down’ will be enough for my family to overlook the fact that they never came to the wedding. Mom was thrilled when I told her we were dating. My brothers were surprised, but happy for me, and Georgia-Blue just grinned and said something about her unparalleled senses being right again.

Of course we will reaffirm the fact we just couldn’t wait, in time I’m sure everyone will just get used to it. Georgia will kill me. I’m her twin brother, and I start to feel a little guilty because we’re close, but then again, Autumn needed me. So I have to put other people’s feelings aside. Even my sister’s.

They’re gonna have to deal because it’s official. I peek down to the gold band on my hand, circling it around with my finger. It shouldn’t feel this natural to be married to her. It should feel crazy, and slightly awkward, maybe even weird, considering how quickly this all came about. But it doesn’t. None of it feels weird. And Autumn’s face is bright and happy, she’s beaming, so clearly she’s not upset.

It feels as if the girl of my dreams is now my wife. Even if it is fake.

??

We grab some takeout later on and decide to make the most of the room we rented for the night, so I grab a bottle of sparkling wine for us to enjoy and we settle down to celebrate in the evening.

“You know this could be madness or genius,” I say as I pour us a glass and we clink them together over the little round dining table we’re sharing. I watch the bubbles in my glass settle as Autumn lights a vanilla candle to really set the scene. It’s a quaint little place all white with a stone clad fireplace and high ceiling beams, which add a sense of rustic charm. The back deck is expansive and looks out to open farmland where the trees expand for as far as the eye can see. It’s a pity we won’t be here long enough to enjoy this famous Rockabilly music town. There’s also only one bed, but the couch is a foldaway, so I have no doubts that that’s where I’ll be sleeping tonight.

“Which are you leaning towards?” Autumn asks. She’s changed into her comfy sweats now, as have I. My eyes flick down to the gold band she’s also wearing on her left hand. I haven’t told her that the center stone is a real diamond. Nothing but the best for my girl. Seeing her wearing that wedding band — and the fact she’s now my wife — does something to me. It touches something really deep inside me, making me feel excited like I’ve just hit some kind of crazy, astronomical jackpot. Again, there’s that feeling of rightness vibrating all my senses. I mean, this situation is anything but right — so why does it feel so damn good? Why does my heart feel like it’s freely open and ready for her?

“Genius.” I shrug. “You have to admit this is pretty wild, even for us. Here I was thinking I’d just grow old and gray.”

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