I swallow past the lump in my throat before standing up and taking hold of his outstretched hand. We walk into the small room and past three rows of chairs before stopping in front of a podium.
A woman with a black robe covering her
body steps forward and smiles. There’s no suspicion behind her eyes as she looks at us, and I can’t work out whether it’s refreshing or a trap to catch us out.
“Luke and Liliana?” she asks.
“Yeah,” Luke replies, and I hold his hand a little tighter.
“Do you have the rings?”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small black box before letting my hand go and opening it. I want to move closer to him as he steps forward and hands the woman the rings, but I manage to keep my feet planted on the floor.
Everything's happening so fast, but the thought of who else I could be marrying today has my stomach churning. Doing this is the only way out. The only possible solution to my problem.
I look up at Luke as he smiles at the woman and they talk, none of what they’re saying registering. Am I disloyal by marrying someone who I don’t love? Because I don’t love him. Do I? But as I stare at his side profile, I realize that in a way I do. He’s been there for me when no one else was. Most importantly, he listened when everyone else ignored me.
“Shall we get started?” the woman asks as she focuses her attention on me.
I nod, stepping forward so I’m next to Luke before turning to face him after taking a deep breath, and when my gaze meets his, I get lost. Maybe doing this will allow us to be honest with each other and expose the parts we keep buried deep down inside?
The woman—who tells us she’s a judge— holds a book in front of her with the rings on it.
“We’re gathered here today in front of God and the presence of these witnesses to join together Luke and Liliana in the bond of matrimony.” I turn my head to look at her, and when she smiles a little wider, I start to relax. “Luke.” I turn my head back toward him. “Do you take Liliana as your wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish, as long as you both shall live?”
Luke’s throat bobs as he swallows and grips my hands a little tighter. “I do.”
“Liliana.” I can’t look away from him, too enthralled in all that he is. “Do you take Luke as your wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” I whisper, trying to push back my emotions as they threaten to overwhelm me.
“Luke, if you take Liliana’s ring and place it on the left hand, ring finger, and repeat after me.”
He lets go of my hand and breaks the connection we had before reaching over for the ring placed on the book she holds in front of her.
I block her out as Luke places the wedding band on my finger, only concentrating on his deep voice as he says, “I, Luke King, take thee, Liliana Miller, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise to love you. With this ring, I thee wed.”
“Now, Liliana, if you take Luke’s ring and place it on the left hand, ring finger, and repeat after me.”
I reach over and pick up the ring with shaky fingers. “I, Liliana Miller, take thee, Luke King, to be my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise to love you. With this ring, I thee wed.” Pushing it down his finger, I stare in awe.
“This exchange of vows and rings is a symbol of your commitment to marriage. By the authority vested in me by the State of Ohio, it’s my pleasure to declare you husband and wife.” She’s silent a beat, but neither of us looks away, locked in our own little bubble. “You may kiss the bride.”
His lips spread into a broader smile as his eyes darken and he lets go of my hands. For a second, I think he’s not going to do what the judge said, and then I feel his hands on either side of my neck.
He leans down and I tilt my head up, keeping my eyes open as he stops a hair's breadth from my lips. He doesn’t say a word as he waits, looking for something as he stares into my eyes. Whatever he sees must give him the go-ahead because his lips meet mine in a gentle caress. Soft. Closed mouth. But it holds so much more than I ever thought possible. His promise is sealed, and when he pulls back, I can’t bring myself to open my eyes.
It’s all too much. Too many warring emotions are running through me. My body drops, and before I know it, his arms are wrapping around my waist before he hauls me against his chest.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
His breath tickles my neck before he replies, “I never want to hear that come out of your mouth again. I did this because I wanted to. Not because I had to.” He pulls back, and when I finally open my eyes to look at him, he raises a brow. “Got it?”
I smile wide at those two words. “Got it.”
LUKE
Lily sleeps most of the way back to the compound, and when the sky darkens it allows the streetlights to shine off the wedding band on my finger. I should be scared about committing to one woman for the rest of my life, but a quick look at Lily has the decision cemented in my head.