Page 19 of Curious
We hold hands, and I can’t tell if he’s supporting me while my ankle is busted, or I’m supporting him on this wild adventure. Maybe we’re supporting each other.
“… and you may kiss your husband,” the clerk says, and I have to keep from doing a double take.
Of course, I knew this was a standard part of the ceremony. Heck, I just watched a couple go through this exact process. And I have no problem kissing Shelby—even in front of an audience—but, likeactuallybeing married, the reality of it hadn’t gone through my brain.
I had no clue how it would feel to have him standing before me—like he belongs with me.
Even if this marriage isn’t for real reasons, even if I’ve never been into guys, I’m not going to chicken out on a kiss. Shelby deserves an amazing one … not that I’m putting pressure on myself to deliver.
He’s more than six inches shorter than me, so I tilt his chin up, then drop my mouth to his. I don’t want this to be underwhelming, in case it’s our only kiss, so I kiss him for real, at length. Not just a peck, but an active, special kiss. One that claims. I’m trying to be careful of his busted lip, but it looks better today than yesterday, and he doesn’t seem to mind.
Our tongues caress each other, and I’m not prepared for how good he tastes or how much I like having his body against mine. I’m not ready for how much I like kissing him.
Electricity shoots up my spine as Shelby kisses me back, and now it’s going on a little long. It feels different to kiss a man—rougher, even though his skin is smooth. And it turns me on.
That’s weird.
When we finally break apart, a throat clears behind me. It’s Charlie, of course, but I don’t turn. I glance down at Shelby, and he looks dazed. So I kiss him again, softly. “I’m glad we’re married,” I whisper. There’s applause from the other people in the room. The clerk gives us hearty and seemingly sincere congratulations, then signs the license as officiant. Charlie leans over to sign as witness. My ankle throbs, but I’m feeling great.
I catch Alden’s eyes, and he’s looking at me speculatively. I suppose kissing Shelby that way wasn’t exactly what a straight man would do, but what can I say? I liked it. If I’m honest, it woke my body up, and now I’m wondering if I’ll ever get to do it again.
We sit down and wait for certified copies of the license, which is awkward. What do we say to each other now? I can’t think of anything, so I hold Shelby’s hand, not wanting to let him go. He’s my husband, and I feel like I need to take care of him.
When we’re handed the papers, we’re all smiles. “I want some pictures,” Alden says, and we pose for him. I give Charlie my phone, and Shelby gives Alden his, so we have a bunch of pictures for ourselves. I also catch Charlie taking a few shots of me and Shelby with his own phone. I kiss the top of Shelby’s head, and Charlie gives me a weird look.
I don’t care, because it feels right.
While I want to keep holding Shelby’s hand as we walk outside, I have to maneuver the crutches, and he has the envelope with our marriage certificate. I catch him inspecting his ring finger.
“I can go to work right now,” he says, “and get you enrolled.”
I shake my head. “Today’s our wedding day. I think we should at least go out to lunch, don’t you? Did you eat yet?”
He looks surprised. He pets the flower on his lapel. “No, not yet. And sure. That sounds nice.”
I look at Charlie and Alden, who are having a conversation among themselves without talking.
“Why don’t I take Alden back to the office,” Charlie says, “and you two lovebirds can have lunch on your own.” He smirks, and I want to smack him.
But I’m grateful for some time alone with my new husband.
I go to hobble across the parking lot to Shelby’s car, but he puts a hand on my bicep. “Let me drive up and get you. Crutches can make your armpits sore after a while. Don’t put too much strain on them.”
The fact that I don’t argue is a sign of how much my ankle hurts.
Or how much I like the idea of my husband being a support system.
Charlie gives me a big bro hug, and Alden shakes my hand. “Congratulations, you two. I hope this works out well for you.”
“Me, too,” I say. And I mean it.
CHAPTER7
Shelby
Iwalk to my car, trying not to trip because I’m staring at the ring on my finger. The simple platinum band feels both light and heavy at the same time. Comfortable and not. This is going to take some getting used to.
Not the wearing jewelry part. Wearing jewelrywith meaning.
