“Found it.” She squeals. “DC. No waiting period.”
“Seriously?”
She nods. “That’s only like a couple hours’ drive.”
“Babe, we aren’t driving. Let me organize something. You go back to the party, and I’ll text you. Leave it all with me.”
She looks stunned. “Okay.” Just like that, she has utter faith in me. Don’t think I could love her anymore, but I do. We both stand up, and I walk over and cup her face before giving her a tender kiss.
“Are you sure?” she asks one last time.
“I have never been more serious about anything in my life. I want to marry you.Tonight.Me in this suit, you in that dress, before the sun comes up. And then I want to wake up and spend the rest of my life trying to deserve you.”
She lets out a shaky breath, a tear slides down her cheek, and she wipes it with the back of her hand. “My brothers are going to kill you,” she says, giving me a watery smile.
“They were going to kill me anyway, but at least I’ll know that you’re mine when they do.”
The next hoursare a blur of champagne-fueled logistics and adrenaline. I call in all the favors that I have to organize tonight, and finally, everything is in place.
Fish: I need you to cover for me big time.
Evan: Fine.
Fish: Collette and I are going to be leaving the party early.
Evan: Everyone is drunk so it will be easy.
Fish: Great. If anyone asks, just tell them I got a hotel room and I’m having some fun.
Evan: I do not need to know what you and Collette are up to.
Fish: Bro.
Evan: Merry Christmas.
Fish: Fuck you and happy holidays to you.
Fish: All systems go. Evan is covering for us.
Collette: Good, because Jo has left so I’m on my own.
Fish: There will be a car waiting for us outside, it’s arriving in five minutes. Do you think you can leave by then?
Collette: Everyone is drunk and dancing, they will have no idea.
Fish: I fucking love you.
Collette: Me too. See you in five.
I rush outof the hotel room, through the lobby, and out to where the car is waiting for us. I nod to the driver and let himknow Collette will be out very soon. Moments later, I see her rushing out of the hotel, looking like a fucking vision, my soon-to-be wife. Wife!Fuck, why does that make my dick hard?
The driver opens the door for her, and she jumps into the back with me. “Hey.” She smiles, her cheeks are flushed from rushing.
“Hey.” I reach out, pull her to me, and kiss the ever-loving shit out of her. The driver gets in and takes off into the traffic, taking us to the Teterboro Airport, which is the closest to where we are. I’ve organized a private plane, and we should be arriving at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is closest to downtown in about forty-five minutes. She sits back and looks over at me with those hazel eyes and links our hands together. “Are we really doing this?” she whispers.
“We’re really doing this.”
“In a private plane, to DC, in the middle of the night, during our Christmas party, to get married.”