“We’re going to a dealership next.”
“This will be your last Uber,” he promised gently as she met his steady gaze, as he nodded. “You take care of me, and I’ll do the same for you.”
“In everything?”
“Isn’t that how marriage works?”
Looking away, Ashley nodded, but the words would not come.
Today was not what Ashley expected in the slightest –nor Liam,she thought silently as he laced his fingers with hers. She wasn’t sure anymore who was holding whose hand at this point. She was pretty certain that they were both hanging onto each other for dear life in this wild rollercoaster of events that had started about five hours ago when their lives intersected.
4
LIAM
Liam didn’t feel married– not that he knew what being married felt like.
He was certain that was the most unemotional marriage that had ever occurred two hours ago. It had been quiet; there had been a lot of stuttering, clearing throats, and hesitation as they each repeated their vows to each other, and when it came time to kiss the bride, there was no accounting for the flare of warmth within his chest at the idea of kissing Ashley – or how it felt.
He'd kissed plenty of girls in his life. High school, college, after games, at a few drunken parties (which he didn’t participate in anymore because he didn’t drink – he was the designated driver), and knew that each kiss was different, each person was different, but this left a mark that couldn’t be ignored. He expected the kiss to be nice, to feel good, but what he didn’t anticipate was how much it would affect him.
That soft intake of breath, the scent of her perfume, the way she felt perfect in his arms even though he thought to make it a simple ‘peck’ to seal the deal. There was a spark between them, a feeling of recognition from somewhere deep inside that flickered an awareness within him that he hadn’t known existed. Even when Ashley backed away, she looked as stunned as he felt. And then that cool mask slid into place on her face, reminding him of how she spoke with the other guests on the plane.
She was hiding how she felt from the world – and him.
They had caught another Uber to the nearest dealership and spent an uncomfortable few minutes reassuring her to pick something she liked, would last, and ignore the window sticker. It was nice to see that she wasn’t wholly comfortable with using him for money – not like Nadine. No, she had delved into his bank account without hesitation or asking permission, which is what bothered him so much. If she had asked, he would have found out about what she had done regarding the wedding dress, the bank, Ricky, and ended their relationship much earlier without wallowing in guilt for being a ‘bad boyfriend.’
Now, they were in the new truck he’d bought her, the marriage license burning a hole in his shirt pocket, safely hidden underneath the sweater he’d yanked over his head. He didn’t have any gear yet from the Wolverines, and it didn’t feel right wearing another team’s logo – nor did he want to get recognized.
This sweet anonymity was a blessing right now, and he completely understood her request at the airport to act like they didn’t know each other. She had coworkers and friends, and had been dressed in a uniform – which meant anyone could stop her at any time. When he was in his uniform, he felt an obligation to put on the ‘face’… smiling, energetic, outgoing, with zero personal space because that came with the job, or so he felt.
When he was in his gear, Liam held the babies. He took selfies with the children, took photos with families, signed so many autographs, and not once did he step back from what it meant to be a public figure. But today, at this moment, he was just a man sitting beside a woman who fascinated him, and they were married on paper.
They were headed to her home.
This was no longer ‘Ricky’s deal’ he’d negotiated. He wasn’t taking the condo that his agent had arranged and had already canceled. He was serious about speaking with the attorneys if either Ricky or Nadine made a move to dabbling in his life once again.
He was done. –Out–distanced.
New life, new wife.
Turning, Liam looked at Ashley once again, needing to fill the silence with something, anything. She was classy, graceful, and a steady presence – which he desperately needed right now to keep his own panic at bay.
“We’re going to be okay,” Liam offered and saw Ashley’s sharp glance just before she turned on what looked like an empty road. “I’m going to need directions and probably should have bought myself a vehicle, but I feel like today is about tackling a few necessities… the most urgent things pressing on either of us.”
“I’m not sleeping with you,” Ashley volunteered hoarsely, not commenting on anything he was mentioning – but it was an opening into a conversation, and he’d take it.
“I’m not asking you to,” he replied quietly, watching her. “I would rather have your friendship than a few minutes of physical intimacy.”
“Well, that’s one way of putting things.”
“Okay, how would you have said it?”
“Sleeping together, making love, screwing, or…”
“I get it,” he interrupted, stunned. “I guess maybe I’m old fashioned because I feel like the marriage act is something personal and intimate between a couple.”
“The marriage act, huh?”
