“Not possible.” ?
“Sure it is. Let's get married now. Here. Today.”?
“Today?” I damn near choke on the word. But I don't hate the idea, not even a little.?
“Yes! Today!” She hauls herself up off the ground and then extends a hand to help me up. “Let's be real, there's no part of me that wants anything to do with a traditional wedding. I don't even want to see another wedding dress, much less wear one. But I do want to marry you. So, let's do it here. Now.”?
“Okay,” I find myself nodding. “We need to look into the requirements.”?
Her grin turns downright devious. “What if I told you I already did and was hoping this white swimsuit and cover up would be what I wore when I took your last name?”?
“I'd say you're fucking perfect.”?
“Then I'm fucking perfect.” She turns back toward our bungalow. “Now, c'mon, they accept walk-ins, and we already have everything we need.”?
“Holy shit,” I murmur, delight zipping through me. “You really did plan this. How did you...”?
“I found the ring a week ago in your underwear drawer.” She winks.?
“And you didn't say anything?” I ask in faux outrage.?
“And ruin your beautiful proposal? Fat chance. I'll swoon over that for the rest of my life.”?
“You minx.”?
“Yourminx,” she corrects me. “Now c'mon. Let's go!” She grabs my hand and drags me the rest of the way to the room, where we quickly throw on more appropriate footwear.?
“So,” I start as we walk to the front of the resort to wait for our ride share. “What exactly are the requirements to marry here?”?
“Really, it couldn't be better.” She spins in a circle, her cover up flaring around her, and begins rattling off the requirements. “First, we have to apply for a marriage license. Then, we have to marry in front of a licensed officiant within thirty days to obtain the marriage certificate. Boom. Easy. I’ll officially be Mrs. Wilder.”
“How do we go about finding someone to perform the ceremony?”
“Already taken care of. I might have a licensed agent on standby already.”
“Holy hell, that's the hottest thing you've ever said to me.”?
“Hell yes.” She pumps her fist into the air. “I want forever with you. And doing it like this, here on our terms, sounds like the absolute best way to start our forever.”?
“Sure does,” I agree as our ride pulls up. “Let's do the damn thing.”
And do the damn thing we do.
We exchange vows with our toes in the sand, waves gently lapping at our feet, as the sun dips below the horizon. Promises of love, fidelity, compassion, trust, friendship, and respect while our mothers hoot and holler from video calls on phones propped in the sand.
It’s not traditional, but it’s ours and it’s perfect.
Now and tomorrow. Forever and always. I’m the luckiest man on the planet to be able to call Scarlet Wilder my wife.
THE END