We left all the planning for the wedding to my mom and my sister because if it were up to Talon and me, the theme would be football and all we’d serve is beer and barbecue. It’d be in our backyard and probably not even official because we’d forget to book a legal celebrant.
We had few stipulations for the wedding. It needed to be somewhere relatively secluded and small so the paparazzi wouldn’t find us and that we’d get to arrive together. None of this separation the night before crap like traditional weddings. Because let’s face it, Talon and I are anything but traditional.
Ironic considering out of all of our friends, we’re the only ones having an actual wedding.
Everything else to do with today has been decided by others, and I’m a little worried about what we’re gonna walk into.
I have visions of flowers and tulle everywhere.
Yuck.
I stare across at the Marcus Talon, still dressed in a T-shirt and jeans because he insists we can throw our tuxes on when we get there instead of being uncomfortable the whole day, and he sends me a smile that’s so cocky, so blinding, so … him.
I can’t believe my best friend from college fell in love with me.
I can’t believe we’re actually here.
“You nervous?” he asks.
“Nope. You?”
“Well, I do hate being the center of attention, so …”
I bark out a laugh. “I can’t wait to call you my husband.”
“I prefer the label ‘the guy you voluntarily attached your life to because I’m so damn hot and irresistible.’”
“That won’t fit on a World’s Best mug.”
I love that it’s so easy between us. I love that he didn’t make a big deal out of my retirement or that I don’t know what I’m going to do now other than Lennon’s podcast.
We’ll have kids in a few years, and I want to be home full-time for that, but until then, there’s no big plans, and I’m okay with it.
I can tell Talon overthinks for me, but when it comes to careers, he’s the serious one out of both of us.
It’s uncanny how he can switch from goof-off mode to business mode so easily and frequently, but he’s not forcing me to do something—anything—just to fill in my time, and I’m thankful for that.
I’m enjoying having no obligations for once in my life.
When football season starts, I’m probably going to miss it like crazy, but retiring so far has been good for me. I’ve been able to focus on bigger things, like the fact I’m getting married.
Married.
Talon and I are still smiling at each other when a loud bang makes us flinch.
We swerve on the narrow road, fishtailing and scaring the fuck out of me. Even though he’s trying to get the car under control, Talon reaches his hand across me as if to protect me.
If I didn’t fear dying right now, I’d mock him about being overprotective. Which in reality just warms my heart that he’s thinking of me and my safety first.
I grip onto the armrest and pray we don’t flip. Convertibles and rolling cars don’t make for great survival stats.
Talon manages to get the car back under control, but it’s obvious something’s wrong. He pulls off to the side with the telltale sound of a clunking flat following us.
“I think we blew a tire,” Talon says.
“Of course we did, because what’s a wedding without a little hiccup?”
“Well, let’s hope this is the only one.”
We get out of the car, and Talon makes his way over to my side where the offending tire is.
I take out my phone. “They got AAA in this town?” Oh. I hold my phone up in the air. “No reception.”
“City boy.” Talon says this as if he isn’t one. Yeah, he grew up in Colorado, but Denver, Colorado.
I fold my arms and lean against the car. “This will be fun.”
“I’ll get this done in five minutes tops.”
I grin. “I’ll give you ten. If you lose, first blowjob as a married couple is for me.”
“I’m pretty sure you can’t call sex positions like you do shotgun in a car.”
“Hmm, pretty sure I just did.”
“Oh, you’re so on.” Talon gets to work.
Yet, twenty minutes later, he’s no closer to changing the tire, and he’s a fucking mess.
“I give up.” He breathes hard.
“You’re also covered in tire grease.”
“I may be covered in grease, but after your blowjob, you will be too.” Talon tries to come close, but I sidestep him.
“We don’t have time. And, I said first blowjob as a married couple. We have to actually get to the wedding for that to happen.”
“If I have to be all greasy for the wedding, so do you.” He boxes me in and cups my face with his dirty hands.
“I hate you.”
“Not a nice thing to say to your future husband.” Talon continues to cover me in grease by grinding against me. It’s all over his shirt and on the legs of his pants from where he tried to wipe his hands.