Page 14 of Forever Fallen

“I’m shy,” she blurted out, trying to get them out of having to kiss each other – looking nervously between the minister and Ryan.

“I’m not,” Ryan smirked – and pulled Sophie forward, into his arms, planting his lips on hers for just the barest second, before releasing her. She stumbled and he caught her arm to keep her from falling as she looked up at him, incredulous.

The innocent peck made her hair stand on end – and that annoying boor she had just married looked completely unfazed. Yanking her arm from his hand, she smiled sweetly at the minister and Ryan.

“Honey… we need to get our bags,” she said pointedly, nudging her head towards the door.

“Yes,sweetheart,” Ryan agreed, before turning to the minister. “Now what’s next to finalize this marriage? Gotta make sure it’s binding and legal – for her sake.”

“You’ll need to sign the marriage license and I’ll…”

“Alright,” Ryan said bluntly, reaching over to grab Sophie’s arm again and pulling her up beside him. “Let’s get this done and over with.”

Soooo unromantic,she thought numbly.

Ten minutes later, they were walking out of the chapel with the marriage license in her clammy hands. Neither said a word, rushing towards baggage claim to get their things before the long drive to Yonder.

Sure enough, there were only a few bags left on the carousel. Sophie grabbed her case and saw Ryan walking up to get the large canvas duffle bag. As he hefted it up onto his shoulder, he turned to her.

“You ready?” he asked, looking at her suitcase and then her.

“Waiting on you,” she replied expectantly, realizing having a husband for the next few weeks might have an advantage or two that she didn’t expect.

“Your hand’s not broken…” he said flatly and started walking towards the parking garage. She growled in frustration, grabbed the handle on her suitcase, and started after him.

“I kept up my part of the bargain,” Ryan announced over his shoulders, and she wanted to throw her suitcase at his head. “Time to keep up yours now, Sophie. Let’s go straight to Flyboys and get this over with.”

As they got to the car, Ryan rolled his eyes.

“Tell me this isn’t your car – is it? Is this a baby Toyota? This thing looks like an egg with wheels…”

“It’s very economical on fuel and drives like a dream on the highway.”

“Because the tires are what… fourteens? They look like you are riding around on four donuts,” he retorted and knelt down. “You need tires actually.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yeah, you do. The outside edge is bald. Don’t you even inspect your vehicle before driving it? I check my plane every time before I go up because my life depends on it… and in this ‘egg’ – yours obviously does, too.”

“Does this mean that youdon’tneed a ride to Yonder after all?” she said in a saccharine voice, unlocking the car and throwing her bag in the back.

He frowned at her, opened the back door, and threw his duffle bag inside, mimicking her.

“No,wife. I’m going to need that ride and you need to fulfil your parts or I’m shredding that marriage license before we leave this parking garage.”

“That’s why I’ve got it,” she replied, smiling maliciously at him.

“And you think I won’t take it from you?”

“You’d have to find it first,” she countered.

“If you back out on me, Sophie,” Ryan growled in irritation. “I’ll strip you naked, take that license off your carcass, drive this disgusting egg-of-a-car ten miles from here and make you walk… am I clear?”

“This is going to be a fun twenty-eight days, isn’t it?” she snarled hotly.

“The funniest…” he hissed out sarcastically, glaring at her. “Can we go now,sweetheart?”

CHAPTER6

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