Terra is staring at the building—The Little White Wedding Chapel. Her eyes go to me. "Saxon?"
I twist in my seat. "Terra?"
She licks her lips. Swallows hard. "M…fuck." She blinks hard, opens her eyes and meets mine. "Marry me. Now. Please."
Anjalee gasps and slaps her palm over her mouth.
My heart stops. "For real?"
She yanks at the door handle—Inez hits the unlock button and Terra scrambles out of the SUV, out into traffic, around the back, and to my door. Jerks it open. Kneels in the door opening. "For real. Marry me."
I shove my crutches out and find my feet. "You're serious. Get married, right here, right now, at the Elvis chapel?"
"Yes." Her eyes water. "I've got your back. Saxon, I've got your back."
No one speaks.
"Fuckin' nut job," I whisper, taking her hand. Lift her to her feet. "I love you too. Yeah, fuck it, let's get married."
The others have swarmed out of the SUVs.
"What's goin' on?" Chance says. "Looks like a weird, backwards proposal."
"Because it is." I raise my voice so they can all hear. "Detour, everyone. Terra and I are getting married."
Silas and Naomi trade glances.
"You wanna?" Silas says to her.
Naomi just nods. Then looks at Terra. "Is that all right with you?"
Terra sniffles. “Hell yes! Double wedding." She takes Naomi's hand. "I guess we'd better start getting to know each other huh? We're gonna be sisters."
Which is how I end up standing in front of an Elvis impersonator, staring down into Terra's turquoise eyes, only half listening as the impersonator-officiant makes Elvis lyric-themed love puns.
Finally, I cut in. "Hey, yeah, we got it. You've got Elvis jokes. Let me talk, man." The officiant stumbles over his half-told joke and looks at me, and then gestures at me. "Thanks. Listen, Terra. I've done a lot of crazy shit in my life. Stupid shit. Dangerous shit. But this? This is the sanest thing I've ever done. I know you. I love you. I want to be with you, and only you, for as long as you'll stick with me."
Terra squeezes my hands, breathing hard, eyes glimmering with unshed tears. "I want to say it, Saxon. I'm trying."
"Hey, I know. Okay? You don't have to."
"I'm all in. It's like…I saw you on the sidewalk, and I just knew: you were it. It scared me then, and it scares me now. I just…saying that—saying those words…I…" She shakes her head, closes her eyes. "I'm nothing if not self-aware. I've done a lot of self-reflection over the years, trying to figure myself out. And I…everything has always been about control.”
"Terra, I know." I cup her face. "I'm not asking for that part of you. I'll take as much of you as you'll give me. I know you feel it, honey. I see it. I feel it. I hear it. And you know what? It may feel like we've known each other forever because the last couple days have felt like a fuckin' lifetime all packed into a few hours, but really, we just met. I can wait. You'll get there, someday. And if you don't, that's okay. I've got you. I get it."
She shakes her head. "No, it's not okay. I'm holding back, and you're not. I just…fuck." She tips her head back and blinks.
"Terra—"
"Shut the hell up for a second. Just—give me a minute."
Everyone laughs, because she says this with a sniffle and a laugh.
Finally, she sucks in a deep breath. Holds it. Turns her eyes to mine. "You deserve all of me. I can shoot a man's brains out, but I can't say three little words? Fuck that." She holds up a hand to forestall me. "Shush."
I grin. Bite my lip.
"Don't laugh at me, asshole."
