Mia looked at Claire, who was sitting in the passenger seat. “Even though you wanted Noah as your backup?”
Claire snorted. “Please. I’d never do that to you. I’ve always wanted you two to get together and I was just trying to get the conversation going. I didn’t know Noah had already popped the question by that point.”
Mia dropped her forehead to the steering wheel. “You’re talking about it like it was a real proposal.”
If he’d actually gotten down on one knee like he offered to, she might have legitimately swooned.
“Real proposal, real marriage,” Claire said. She pointed to her retro blue-and-white polka-dot dress. “Thank you for not making me wear a real bridesmaid dress, though.”
“That’s because this is atemporarymarriage,” Mia corrected. She straightened and pinned Claire with as stern a stare as she could muster. “That part’s secret, though.” Adding that had been more for her benefit... She knew Claire would run down I-70 naked before ratting them out.
Claire pulled down the visor to fluff her blond curls. “Keep telling yourself that.”
“I will.” Little else had been on her mind over the last week.
Butterflies filled her stomach. She swept her eyes across the brick building, CITY HALL displayed in large letters above the door. The parking lot seemed empty for a Friday morning. Mia took the day off, but Noah planned to head to the office after. “Do you think he’s in there already?”
“Probably.”
Mia’s phone buzzed.
Noah:Stop thinking so hard. Get in here and marry me.
A laugh escaped her lips. It was humorous because their roles were reversed—Noah was usually the thinker—and it was exactly what she needed. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Claire met her at the front of the car and they took a few steps before Mia gasped and doubled back, flinging open the rear door. “I almost forgot the license.”
Claire snorted. “Get yourself together, Adrian.” She paused. “Wait, should I call you Agnew from now on?”
“No.” Mia slammed the door, paper in hand. She waited until she was next to Claire again, and whisper-yelled, “This isn’t real! I’m not changing my name.”
Claire shrugged. “Okay. Lots of people keep their names these days.”
They entered the courthouse and found Noah sitting on an old wooden bench along the wall, one ankle propped on the opposite knee. He was the picture of comfort, like marrying women by judge was something he did every other Friday.
He looked up as they entered, his red hair swept to the side in a style more polished than usual. He wore a tailored navy suit, white dress shirt, and a tie.
A tie.
Mia slowed to a stop a few feet away. She looked down at her simple pink dress, feeling her lips turn down at the corners. “I feel underdressed.”
He stood, his expression serious. “You’re beautiful.”
Her stomach dipped at the look in his eye as he said that. She had no idea why—Noah looked like he always did. Like some quiet, brooding hero from an angsty film.
But her reaction was different in that moment. Nerves, probably.
She supposed there was nothing wrong with a little flattery on her wedding day.
It’s Noah, she told herself.Your best friend.She put her hand on his arm, and he was hard and firm, just like always. Just like she needed. He’d been her rock through so many trials over the years, and she needed his calm presence. She went up on her toes. “Are you sure about this? Last chance to back out.”
His voice was as steady as his words. “I’m sure.”
The next ten minutes went by in a blur. They’d made an appointment with a particular judge and were called back immediately. The ceremony took place in a nondescript office that looked nothing like some of the grandiose churches where Mia had previously attended weddings. Claire hovered in the background, a witness and a friend, taking photos for the friends and family that would no doubt ask to see them.
Mia’s parents were gonna flip out when they found out.
“Mia?” Noah said, his brow furrowing.