Page 42 of The Way We Collide

The tips of her ears turn pink, and she blinks away. “I always thought my wedding day would be different.”

My smile tightens, and I take her hand in mine. I don’t want her to be disappointed.

“It will—when you do it for real. It’ll be everything you want it to be.”

These words shouldn’t be bitter on my tongue. They’re the truth. The only reason I’m here is to help her get what she wants. I have to keep my thinking straight.

Her chin drops, and she shakes her pretty head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m being so sentimental. It must be the music.”

Thankfully, the old judge cuts in. “Let’s begin.” Our eyes move to him, and he turns to Raven. “We’ll start with the bride. Repeat after me. I, state your full name, take thee, state his name, to be my lawful wedded husband…”

Raven’s hand is small in mine, and I look down at her soft, olive skin. We only had one weekend together, but I know who she is. She’s independent and strong.

Like me, she has dreams and things she wants to accomplish,and I’m not going to be the reason she doesn’t get to make them come true.

Her voice is soft with a little rasp as she follows his instructions. “I, Raven Lorrain Gale take thee, Hendrix…”

Worried amber eyes fly to mine.

“James,” I provide quietly.

“I should know that,” she whispers, seeming flustered.

“No you shouldn’t.” I give her a reassuring smile.

She takes a breath and continues. “Take thee, Hendrix James Bradford, to be my lawfully wedded husband…”

We continue through the rest of the vows. We leave off the part where she promises to obey me, even though I thought we could have some fun with that.

Now it’s my turn. The judge tells me what to say, and the room falls quiet.

“I, Hendrix James Bradford take thee, Raven Lorrain Gale to be my lawfully wedded wife…” Our eyes lock, and something moves in my chest.

“To have and to hold, in sickness and in health…”

“...in sickness and in health,” I repeat.

I should’ve expected this to affect me, butdamn, I had no idea I’d feel this way, like I’m taking ownership.

I’m one of the fastest runners in the league. All of this should make me want to run. I shouldn’t have this tightness in my stomach, this feeling that we’re doing something important.

Raven’s eyes travel over my face like she’s studying every reaction I have. I’m pretty sure she’s been studying my reactions since the day she arrived in LA to see if I’ll let her down.

I won’t.

Haddy is a curve ball neither of us saw coming, but Raven can handle it. I can help her. Maybe not with a poopy diaper, but with other things.

We finish the vows, then the judge glances between us. “May I have the rings?”

“Oh!” Raven lets out a soft gasp, but I’m prepared.

“Right here.” I place the two inexpensive yellow-gold bands I picked up this morning on his book of vows.

“What…” Her dark lashes flutter, and she looks up at me. “How did you know my ring size?”

“I guessed.”

The sales girl told me the average ring sizes, and I picked one from what I remembered, watching her take care of Haddy. She has delicate hands, slim fingers.

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