Page 27 of Lose to Win: Lost Trilogy: Part 3
“Puck,” she pulls at my hand. “There is no way I am agreeing to this. Let me go.”
“No.”
I seem to have the word on repeat, and she will hear it again and again until she understands that she will not change my mind, no matter how hard she tries.
We get to where we need to be fairly fast considering the elevator is kind of rickety. We walk out, and I start looking for the door with the name I was given by my soon-to-be wife’s father.
One hard knock later, and we are in.
“I have all the paperwork filled out by my assistant,” the judge tells me as soon as we walk in, not wasting any time. “All you have to do is sign. Both of you. And we also need copies of your driver’s licenses.”
I let go of Emily’s hand just enough to pull my wallet out of my back pocket. I take out both of our identification cards and drop them on his desk, then grab Emily’s hand again. It’s like I worry that she’ll take off running. She wouldn’t get far, but still, I don’t need more shit right now.
“Given the circumstances, you don’t have to say any vows if you prefer not to,” the judge tells me while his assistant runs to finalize the paperwork. “That means you’re all set to go as soon as Mandy comes back with your ID’s.”
“We’ll say the vows.”
I almost don’t recognize my voice when I speak. I sound like I am dead inside.
“Puck.” Emily’s crying so hard, I can’t quite make what she’s saying. “I don’t want to do this.”
The judge doesn’t seem to be worried about her. Devereaux must’ve given him all the details.
“Are you sure?” he asks. “I just need the signatures.”
“We’ll say the vows,” I repeat, more forcefully this time.
The judge smirks. “Sounds good to me.”
He stands up and grabs a book off his desk, then walks around until he is standing by us.
“Is there anything in particular that you would like to say, Mr. Adams?”
It takes me a second to realize that he is addressing me. No one has ever called me Mr. Adams other than a couple of professors when I was in college.
“Start with her,” I point with my chin at Emily.
“Puck,” she whimpers, then wipes her face with the sleeves of her shirt.
“Do you, Emily Anne Stewart, take Lucas Adams to love, cherish and obey for as long as you both shall live?”
I almost catch a little snort of amusement from the judge when he saysobey. I would love to crack a joke about it all, but I am more concentrated on Emily and the way she is looking at me.
She loves me. There is no doubt. And she hurts for me right now. But now as much as I hurt for her.
“Say yes, Em,” I tell her.
She takes a deep breath in and looks at the judge.
“I do.”
Two small words that mean everything. They will always mean everything to me.
“Very good,” the judge praises her gently, like she’s a little kid who just did something spectacular. He then turns to look at me. “And you, Mr. Adams, do you take Emily Anne Stewart to love, cherish and obey for as long as you both shall live?”
He sounds amused by everything that’s happening, not understanding the severity of our situation. Then again, I’m sure he’s witnessed much worse than this.
“For the rest of my life and beyond,” I vow. “There will never be a day where you will have to wonder if I love you, Emily Stewart.”
