Page 29 of From Grumpy to Forever

He hadn’t said a word about it, but I could feel his skepticism like a weight on my shoulders. He had questions. A lot of them. But he was proving himself to be an excellent fucking brother with the fact that he hadn’t asked me a single one.

I gave him a nod and reached for Avery’s hands.

They were soft and delicate, dwarfed by my rough ones. But the grip she gave was firm, like she needed to ground herself. I squeezed her back in solidarity, and she smiled.

Fuck, I loved that smile.

Her eyes met mine as Judge Baker once more began talking. His words blurred together, something about promises and forever, but I barely heard him over the thumping of my heart and the hum of something more that was building between us.

“Reid?”

“What?” Reluctantly, I tore my gaze away from Avery long enough to look at the judge, who stared at me.

The older man chuckled before repeating himself. “Do the two of you have vows you’d like to share with each other at this time?”

Shit.

Avery looked just as shocked as I did. We hadn’t even considered vows.

“No,” I answered for both of us. “We don’t.”

To his credit, Judge Baker didn’t look surprised. “And rings?” He glanced between us. “Are there rings?”

Shit.

This time, Avery didn’t look caught off guard. She released my hand long enough to reach into a pocket in her dress and produce two simple gold bands.

I looked at her in question, but she only shrugged.

The judge smiled and nodded. “Reid. Place the ring on Avery’s left ring finger.”

I did as instructed.

“Now, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to keep her in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I mean…” Once more, I looked into Avery’s eyes. “I do.”

A blush crept over her cheeks.

“And you, Avery,” Judge Baker said, “place the ring on Reid’s finger.”

She did, the smooth metal warm from her touch.

“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to keep him in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?”

She swallowed hard, but her eyes never left mine as she said, “I do.”

We did.

The judge was once again talking. This time, all I heard was, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Reid, you may kiss your bride.”

Avery’s breath hitched. Mine did, too. This was the part that mattered. The part that sealed it.

I took a step to close the gap between us and cupped my hand gently over her cheek. I dipped my head to hers, catching the faint inhale from her before my lips met hers.

Soft. Warm. So fucking perfect.

Her lips yielded to mine and what was meant to be just a brush of lips turned very quickly into something else entirely.

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