Page 106 of Forever Fickle

“Should we get our things?”

“Trust your husband,” he grinned.

* * *

An hour later,after stopping at a jewelers to get a pair of plain wedding bands, Karen was staring at a small white cabin in the woods that had gaudy red and purple hearts stenciled on it. Popping the trunk on the rental car, she saw there was indeed a small bag waiting, and felt her heart skip a beat as she realized they were actually married… and very alone.

At a honeymoon cottage.

“Let’s do this the right way…” Jace uttered softly, handing her the large diamond shaped plastic keyring, just before he scooped her up in his arms. He carried her from the open trunk to the front door, as Karen managed to unlock it.

Opening the door, she couldn’t help the outrageous smile that touched her face as she looked at Jace in surprise. The place was straight out of a gaudy advertisement or dated magazine… and looked strangelyfun.

Pink shag carpet lined the room and surrounded a large, bright red, sunken heart-shaped bathtub. A white glossy table sat in the corner with a bottle of cheap bubbly and two plastic flutes. There was a heart-shaped bed on the other side of the room with two robes waiting.

“This is a bit much, isn’t it?” she asked smiling. “I mean, I feel like I should be wearing go-go boots or something.”

“I looked up honeymoon getaways and this place had amazing reviews. Besides, if there is one of those coin-operated shaking things on the bed? I’m all in…”

“Oh my gosh…” she muttered, laughing, and looked at him.

He was grinning, looking happier than she’d ever seen him. There was something about Jace that just made her entire soul feel like it was physically alive, reaching for him.

“Now, to correct a few things…” Jace began, suddenly looking serious. “I’m changing who my immediate contact is in the military. If something happens, I want them to reach out to you.”

“Please don’t say things like that…” she breathed, feeling her heart stagger in her chest.

“I’ve filled out a power of attorney form and we’ll need to get it notarized tomorrow before we head back to my parents. They can do it at a bank or anywhere with a notary.”

“I also brought a few things for us.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m going to pour my nervous wife some champagne… with a screw on cap,” he chuckled, looking at her and raising an eyebrow, “… And I thought perhaps we could change into something a little more comfortable?”

“The bag?”

“Yep. Now, there’s supposed to be all sorts of toiletries in the bathroom, like soaps, shampoo, and toothbrushes,” Jace explained – as he opened the bottle with a loud hiss. “Why don’t you take a peek and then you can change or take a few minutes for yourself?”

“I’d like that,” she admitted, feeling nervous.

“No problem.”

Karen walked off to check out the rest of the little cabin, seeing that the bathroom indeed had a pink toilet, a fuzzy carpet, hot pink towels… along with a pink and white checkered shower for two.

“Oh mercy,” she breathed, feeling her face blush profusely as she realized that this was indeed set up for a pair of lovers on their honeymoon.

“Karen, you forgot your bag, honey…” Jace called out.

She rounded the corner to see what he’d packed, because she had no idea that he’d done so… only to see him standing there in the Gingerbread pajamas.

… And that smile.

His head was slightly tilted, his eyes shining with laughter, as he held out a plastic champagne flute to her.

“Get changed, let’s have some fun, and relax, my beautiful bride,” Jace grinned. “We’ve got all the time in the world… until Sunday morning.”

“Your sister might be right about you being a dork,” she chuckled, accepting the glass and smiling shyly at him.

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