Page 113 of Victorious: Part 3
Another spotlight finds Clover, her hand to her mouth as she starts laughing, though she is absolutely radiant right now. “What onearthare you doing?” she asks, standing and making her way over to me.
I pull out the ring box, opening it to reveal her engagement ring, and her eyes widen, then instantly begin to tear up. “We got married on a whim in Vegas, and it was the most spontaneous, fun, and romantic night of my life. But there’s one thing I didn’t get to do.” I take a deep breath, looking into her beautiful eyes. “Clover Marie Evans, will you marry me?Again?”
“Phoenix,” she whispers, tears streaming down her face while she nods frantically. “Yes, of course. Yes!”
Grinning, I slide the ring onto her finger, and it fits perfectly. “Good, because I already have our wedding rings too.”
That’s when Maverick steps out from behind the bar, and I have to bite back a laugh. He’s wearing a full Elvis costume, white jumpsuit, cape, the works, and he looks absolutely miserable about it. I honestly can’t believe I was able to talk him into it.
“Oh my God, Mav!” Clover bursts into laughter, the kind of deep, belly-shaking laughter that fills the entire room.
The lights come back on, revealing that everyone was in on it. The whole club is grinning at us, and Sadie has tears in her eyes.
Maverick clears his throat, his voice taking on an exaggerated Elvis accent as he steps up to the two of us. “You ready to do this? Once you do, there’s no going back?”
Clover tilts her head at Maverick, trying to fight back her smile. “Mav, technically, we’re already married. So you trying to talk me out of a marriage that has already happened is kind of a moot point, don’t you think?”
He chuckles, leaning in closer. “Yeah, yeah… but I have to do that brotherly thing and make sure you’re ready for all this. You know, watch out for you on your big day. Be supportive and all that.”
I grin as Clover smiles so wide at him, then leans in, pressing a tender kiss to his cheek. “I love you. Thank you for always looking out for me. For always being the best big brother I could have ever wanted…” She turns, her eyes meeting mine lovingly, then she glances back at Maverick. “But I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Mav. Phoenix is my guy. I love him with every inch of my being,” she says, making my heart race hard and fast.
God, I love her more than I have ever loved anything in thisfucking world.
Maverick smiles, nodding his head like that was all he needed to hear. “Well then, I didn’t get all dressed up for nothing. Let’s do this.”
Smiling, I grab Clover’s hand and move her to stand in front of Maverick as he pulls out a piece of paper. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today—”
“Wait! You’re doing the ceremony?” Clover bursts out laughing, interrupting Maverick.
He grins, tilting his head with a genuine smile this time. “My wedding gift to you, Clo.”
I grip her hand tighter as her bottom lip trembles, and tears begin to slide down her face. Maverick simply smiles, seeing how much this means to her, and he continues with the ceremony. “We’re gathered here today to unite this asshole and this precious angel in holy matrimony.Again.”
Everyone laughs, and I smile even though he’s called me an asshole.
“I can’t believe you agreed to this,” Clover says, still giggling.
“Yeah, well, I’d do anything for you, Clo. But Phoenix owes me big time for this,” Maverick grumbles, but there’s humor in his eyes. “Phoenix, do you take Clover to be your wife, to love and protect, and apparently wake up for glucose checks for the rest of your life?”
“Fuck, yeah, I do,” I say firmly.
“Good man,” Maverick grumbles, then continues, “Clover, do you take Phoenix to be your husband, to love and cherish and drive absolutely crazy with your beautiful stubborn streak?”
“I do,” she says, beaming at me.
“And just make sure you do drive him absolutely fucking crazy for me, will you? Because I really need you to drive that stubborn streak ho—”
“Mav!” Sadie chuckles, shaking her head at him. “Pot kettleon the stubborn streak, don’t you think?”
I smirk as everyone in the clubhouse laughs.
He groans, rolling the tension from his shoulders, then signals to Rhyan, and she walks toward us holding Dracula. Clover’s eyes light up seeing our adopted feline friend being brought toward us, a ribbon tied around his neck with our wedding rings attached. Hers shines brightly against the glistening disco ball, and mine, a simple black band in the shape of a chain, represents how my life is now linked to hers. Clover smiles, petting Dracula on the head as I untie the rings, and Rhyan stands with them in her hands.
Maverick exhales and hesitates like he knows this part is meaningful. “All right, you know how real rings bind you to each other…” He pauses. “Clover, there’s still time to back out.”
Clover chuckles, turning to Maverick, and she grins. “No chance in hell.”
Maverick raises his brow, turning to me. “Phoenix, you wanna back out, brother?”
