Page 132 of Hail Marry
She stares it for a few seconds and smiles even wider. “I think if I’d had this picture to send my family when I texted them we got married, they might’ve actually believed me. You finally look like you might be obsessed with me.”
“Not as obsessed as you are withme.”
“Obviously,” she says. “What doyouthink?”
I take the picture in hand and look at the two faces full of uncontrollable, unfettered joy. “I think I just married the most beautiful woman in the world. Twice.”
She kisses me on the cheek, and I slip the photo into the first spot in the empty album.
One of Tori’s non-negotiables for the wedding was incredible food, and we made sure her dream of well-fed family and friends would be a reality. Fried plantains, five types of taco meats, an entire table of toppings and condiments, coconut tarts, and a host of other sides and desserts line the food tables.
Austin gets the music going, and Tori’s only eaten halfway through her stacked plate when she pulls me up to make our way to the dance floor, still chewing.
There are a few people already there—Troy dancing with Eden, Bennett has managed to coax Tori’s friend Jess into a dance—but our arrival seems to act like a catalyst. The Admirals come out in force, and before we know it, every last one of them has surrounded us and is doing an imitation of Tori’s now-famous touchdown dance.
Even Sue and Rick Sheppard give it their best shot, which leaves Tori and me holding on to each other, doubled over laughing.
The Sheppards know how to party. The Admirals know how to party. That’s why Tori and I don’t make it to our hotel room until almost two in the morning, our cheeks aching from smiling for hours and hours.
“Icanwalk, you know,” Tori says, her heels hanging off her hand as I carry her over the last stretch of sand and toward our bungalow. The door is made entirely of glass, as are the walls around it, making this side one big window to the water. It’s surrounded on the three remaining sides by palm trees, making it feel even more secluded than it is.
“That’s debatable,” I tease. “Do you really want to?” I stop just shy of the bungalow.
She looks at me, the lights of the nearby torches flickering in those big, beautiful eyes. “Not even a little.”
Once we’re inside, I take her to the bed, which the hotel has covered with rose petals, and set her down gently.
She turns onto her back, her palms face up as she stares at the ceiling and lets out a huge sigh. “I might need a two-year break before we get married again.”
I chuckle and come to sit on the other side of the bed.
She turns her head to look at me, then pats the bed for me to join her.
Like I ever considered anything else.
She turns on her side, supporting her head with her palm, and I do the same.
Our faces are just inches apart, our eyes locked in the sort of silence that comes after a day as idyllic as the one we just had.
“I love the way we did this,” she says.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It was…” She searches for the word.
I nod because there isn’t a word to describe it. We started our married life on a crazy whim, and we did it entirely alone, hiding the truth from everyone.
Today, we got married in paradise surrounded by all the people we love, all the people who loveus, shouting the truth for anyone who cared to hear.
There was no impatient officiant, no awkward kiss, and no paperwork.
Just love.
I lean in, slide my fingers up into Tori’s hair, and stop with my lips just shy of hers. “I love you, Victoria.”
Her hand settles on my cheek, warm and soft. “I love you, Lucas.”
My smile at the made-up name is stifled by her lips as they cover mine, ready to say everything words can’t.
