Noli nods, not taking her eyes off me. I hold her gaze because, somehow, I feel like if I break eye contact, I’m going to lose her.
The judge starts talking. Both Noli and I respond when we’re supposed to. Internally, I’m counting down the minutes until I can get into the car and drive away from this courthouse. It’s a million times more stressful to be getting fake married for real than I anticipated.
“Do you have the rings?” the judge asks.
“Here they are.” Mack strides forward, a small bag in his hands.
I release the death grip I have on Noli’s hands and take it from him. I open the drawstring on the bag, and the rings topple out.
I hand Noli my ring and take hers between my fingers.
“Collin,” the judge says, “take Magnolia’s ring and repeat after me.” She pauses for a beat as I take a deep breath before slipping the ring onto Noli’s finger.
31
An Annoying Maraca
Noli
With a gentle shove, Collin slides the most stunning piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen up my ring finger. My gaze flies to his, and he’s watching me with an uncertain expression. My eyes widen of their own accord, and a soft smile licks at the corners of his mouth.
Like he’s relieved.
Like he really wants me to like this ring.
It’s not the look of a man who is using me as a means to an end.
I feel my shoulders relax. Somehow, I know this is all going to be okay. But I better not let my guard down yet.
“With this ring,” the judge says.
“With this ring,” Collin echoes.
“I thee wed.”
“I thee wed.”
Collin grips my fingers as he says those three words. So simple and yet filled with a whole lot of meaning.
It’s a good thing the ring has my full attention, because otherwise I’d be freaking out. The ring has a gold band and a simple, round-cut center diamond. What makes it stand out is that it’s surrounded on all sides by sapphires. It looks like a flower, which is a fitting tribute to my name. And the blue of the sapphire against the gold of the band hearkens back to my job as a dispatcher and the blue of the police force.
“Magnolia. Your turn.” The judge’s voice snaps me from the trance the ring has put me under.
I nod. “Collin,” I say, “with this ring, I thee wed.”
I slide his ring on his finger, and it doesn’t seem fair that he’s wearing cheap rubber while I’ve got precious gemstones.
He cups my hands in his and gives them another squeeze. I feel it in my chest.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Wisconsin, I pronounce you husband and wife.” The judge motions for Collin. “You may kiss the bride.”
Oh shoot.
My gaze rockets to Collin’s. He’s staring at me intently.
Collin leans forward, reaching his hands up to cradle my face. His position will block most of our kiss from our families, who are currently catcalling from the audience. The elevator kiss still fresh in their collective memory, I’m sure.
Oh, to go back to that moment, when I felt untouchable…except by Collin’s strong and sure hands and the hope of what was to come.
