Page 87 of Your Biggest Downfall
“Just yesterday, you were running away from him,” Mae added.
I shrugged. “That was yesterday. This is today.”
“What if tomorrow he hurts you?” Mami asked.
Truthfully, he probably would. He’d probably hurt me so deep the wound would leave an everlasting scar, because that’s who Austin was, but he was trying and working on himself, so I had to believe we’d have the tools to work through it. As long as he stayed sober, I could stay with him. It was the one thing he had to promise me.
“I’ll figure it out, but right now, I need to go look in my old closet to see if I have something to wear, and I need you to do my hair.”
Mae’s smile grew. “I can do that.”
I looked in the kitchen where Austin was on the phone. “Give me a second.”
I walked toward him as he hung up. He had the stupidest, largest grin on his face.
“Good news, we can do a same-day marriage license and ceremony. I have an appointment in a few hours right before they close. I figured you?—”
I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. “Are you sure?” I pulled away from him.
“More than anything in my life.” He wrapped his hands around my waist.
“Your mom is going to be so upset when she finds out this is how it happened.”
He shrugged. “She’ll get over it.”
He always had a comeback for everything.
“You know what marriage means, right? You’ll have to be my partner through thick and thin. You’ll have to take care of me even when I’m sick and puking and shitting at the same time?”
He chuckled, but I shook my head. “I’m being somewhat serious, Austin. Marriage is hard, and this is stressful, so I don’t want to impact your sobrie?—”
He held up a hand. “Stop, Nova. I told you in the car last night. You do not stress me out. This does not stress me out. Is it a wild idea? Absolutely, but I’ll have you moved in tomorrow.”
I froze. I forgot about my apartment with Luna. She couldn’t afford it without me. I’d still have to find a way to pay rent.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I can’t leave Luna high and dry. It’s not that I’m choosing her first, but I can’t do that to her.”
He nodded. “I agree. I’ll cover your rent until the end of the lease.”
I huffed out a laugh. “You can’t do that, Austin. It’s not like I can afford your apartment and mine.”
“No.” He grabbed my chin, tilting it up so I was looking right at his baby blues. “You need to understand. After today, everything is in your name. What’s mine is also yours and forever will be, Nova. I’m paying for my apartment and not taking a dime of your money. I’ll pay for your lease with Luna through the remainder of the year.”
“Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly. I wasn’t used to asking for help from anyone.
“Yes. You need to lean on me too, though. Your mom needs a ride to an appointment and Iris is keeping you late? Then you call me first. You need someone to make dinner after a long day? I’ll do it. I want to do it all... for you.”
“Okay. Let’s do it.” My eyes were wide as a grin lifted my cheeks.
“Let’s do it.”
He pressed his lips to mine and then smacked me on the butt as I ran into the other room. Mae was already in my childhood bedroom, riffling through my dresses.
I was getting married.
Today.
