Page 155 of The Oscar Escape
The corners of his lips tipped upward. “Fighting me on my second proposal?”
“I fight you on just about everything. We have good luck with seconds. The second-grade switcheroo. Our second kiss. We do it our way—flying by the seat of our pants.”
“Aria Paige-Grant, I’ve loved you my entire life. There’s nothing we can’t do if we do it together.”
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” she added, recycling the teasing cliché she’d used in the lighthouse before they made love.
His expression grew serious. “I believe in you. I believe in us. I believe that my mom chose you for me. I believe every breath we’ve taken, and every choice we’ve made—good and sometimes, not so good—has brought us to this moment. You’re my match, my true love, my best friend. Will you marry me—take two? This is the paperwork marriage license proposal.”
She couldn’t tell if she was laughing, crying, or a little of both. “Yes, I will paperwork marry you.”
The judge banged his gavel and flashed a super-jowly look to the audience. “We’ll do the speedy version. Oscar, do you take Aria as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” Oscar affirmed.
“What about it, Aria? Are you good with this guy?” the judge pressed dryly, which got another rise out of the audience.
Who knew the judge could be such a spotlight ham?
“Yes, Judge, I’m more than good with this guy.”
Oscar slipped his chain over his head and removed the ring. “There’s no going back. From here on out, it’s you and me. No secrets. No distance. Only love,” he said softly and slid his mother’s ring on her finger.
She cupped his face in her hands. “Only love.”
She leaned in, so ready to kiss her husband. But before their lips met, the judge banged the gavel again.
M. Gibson Harpswell presented his palm. “You’ve got to pay the processing fee. Eight dollars, please.”
Jowly, wow-ly!He was giving the audience the full-on grumpy judge act.
“I got it,” she said, coming to her feet as she patted her pockets.
Oscar joined her and pulled out a wad of bills. “No, I’ve got it.”
“You bought the inn. I’m paying for the marriage license. I won’t take no for an answer,” she said, standing her ground.
Oscar huffed.
She suppressed a grin. She knew that huff and knew she’d won. “You know I’m right.”
He stepped aside. “My wife’s got the money, Judge.”
Wife.
She swooned.
“Thanks, Aria! Now Oscar can give me back my tooth fairy money,” Ivy remarked, to the crowd’s delight.
Aria gawked at her husband. “You raided your kid sister’s tooth fairy loot to marry me? You’re quite naughty.”
“Nobody carries cash anymore.” He leaned in. “And I hear you stole a delivery truck.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Iborroweda delivery truck. Are you surprised?”
“Once an eat-worms girl, always an eat-worms girl. I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
“Let’s see the cash, case number one, zero, two, three,” the judge barked, then tossed a wink Oscar’s way.
