Chapter 2

MAY. “Marriage is a commitment to love and support each other through every joy and challenge that life may bring. It is a partnership built on trust, respect, and understanding. As you stand before us and exchange your vows. . .” I zone out. What am I thinking right now, you might ask. I have no words to explain it. I stand in front of Ethan Chase, exchanging words—vows—that have no meaning to me. I feel like a liar. This should be more sacred. I should feel something for the man I am tying the knot with. Why does this feel like a business deal instead? It doesn’t help that his eyes are blank and empty as he says his vows. It doesn’t also help that his hands are cool when they grasp mine to slide the ring onto my finger, unlike mine which are clammy and slick. It doesn’t help that the only person who seems excited about all of this is his grandmother, Harriet. She’s our sole witness. I wonder what Anna will think when she finds out that I have done this. Will she scold me? Will she yell at me? Will she let Sean speak words into her ears again and tell her they’re better off without me anyway? That I'm obviously just looking for a sugar daddy? Or maybe I can get away with not telling her at all, not until I see how ridiculous the idea turns out to be. Right now, I refuse to feel guilty for taking this step to secure my future. Whatever that is, I think as I look at Ethan again. Grey eyes lock on mine as the judge speaks the last words, binding us "For rich and for poor, till death do us part." And through each word, I can’t help but think “Shit. I’m really doing this.” “You may kiss the bride,” the judge starts to say, but Ethan cuts in. “There is no need for—“ I stop him. Shit. I could at least get a sense of normalcy on this day. Who doesn’t get kissed on their big day? Not me. Closing the distance between us before I can convince myself otherwise, I step on my toes, leaning in. Ethan goes very still as he watches me. “Sorry,” I mutter before pressing my lips against his. I know this is probably going to sound weird, but I’ve never been kissed before. Not a real kiss. I've been too busy trying to get by each day the past few years to have a boyfriend. I wasn’t sure what I expected before leaning my face up to Ethan's, but it definitely isn’t the warmth pooling in my stomach or the heat shooting up my thighs. The fine hair on my skin rises as his lips part mine and strong arms encircle my waist, locking me in place. For a moment, I’m in heaven. I have no idea what to do with myself, but Ethan takes the lead doing things to my lips that have my brain turning to mush. Then he lets go of me suddenly, leaving me cold and gaping like fish out of water. Ten minutes later, we are signing the certificates and I still feel the tingles on my lips. I can’t look at him and when his fingers brush against mine slightly, I jerk. He tosses me a side glance but he says nothing. I don’t either, not until we are done with all the formalities. “Here,” he says, extending a bunch of keys to me. “The keys to my—our—apartment.” “Not scared I’m going to run off with your furniture or something?” I joke, trying to diffuse whatever tension that kiss wrought on us, but Ethan doesn’t smile. At this rate, I’m wondering if he ever smiles. “You can, but I’ll find you.” There is something about the way he says it that has me doing a double take, trying to read his personality from the way he looks, and of course, I arrive at nothing. I start to take the keys from him, but I halt midway. “You should hold on to those. I’m heading to my sister’s first.” “Take them. I won’t be home till later.” “Do you. . .want to come along? To my sister's place." Ethan looks at me blankly before replying curtly. "No, I have something to do at work." "Right." I flush feeling a little dumb for asking him to anyway. What if he said yes? Was I planning on springing a new husband on my sister? My sister who doesn't even know yet that I am getting married. That I am married. That would have been a disaster waiting to happen. I blame his eyes for my confusion. That and the kiss. I raise my eyes to his surprised to see that he is already looking at me. Did he just glance at my lips? Is he also thinking of that kiss as much as I was, or is this just a wishful imagination on my part? When he notices my gaze on him, whatever look that had been in his eyes fades and he regards me with that cool distant stare again. "I'll see you at home later." Before I can even wish my new husband goodbye or say anything at all, he turns and walks away. I blink at his disappearing backside with confusion. Is that how this marriage will be with him just up and leaving after telling me how things will be? I feel a reassuring touch on my shoulder and I turn to see his grandmother at my side with a kind smile on her lips. "Don't worry," she says softly. "He has a lot of things to do at work." It is at that moment that I realize I don't even know what Ethan's occupation is. Great job, May. Get married to a man before even knowing where he works. All he talked about at coffee were vague details of his various dealings. What if he turns out to be a drug lord or something, luring unsuspecting girls to marry him via his innocent-looking grandmother? I haven't heard of that sort of scam before but there is a first time for everything. I clear my throat. "Where does he work?" "Some corporate something." Harriet is dismissive, waving away my concerns with a hand gesture. "That is not important. The important thing is why didn't you invite any family members to the wedding?" How can I begin to explain this in a way that won't make her immediately want to annul the marriage? "I did," I begin haltingly not quite sure what to say. "My sister really wanted to make it to meet you all but…" The words hook in my throat and I can't think of anything to say that will remotely make sense. Harriet looks at me questioningly. "But?" I panic and I say the first thing that comes to mind. "Cough." "Cough?" Harriet's brows come together. Usually, I am a terrible liar. Today it is even worse. "Her cat came down with a cough and had to go to the emergency vet." Harriet looks confused, so I add hastily, "It was a very serious cough." She is silent for a moment, so silent that I am sure she will call bullshit. Then she speaks, "Oh dear. That is simply terrible." I nod. "That it is." A quick save. I did it. Now I just have to go home and tell Anna that– "I will keep you company to visit her and her cat. I have nothing to do at home anyway." Harriet beams at me. Oh no. She can't follow me home. If she does then…"You really shouldn't bother, Harriet. I can go on my own." She placed her hand above mine, her gray eyes settling on mine. "We are family now, you should never need to do anything alone." Tears of joy fill her eyes. "I always thought that I would never get to see my boy married." She pats my cheek and in that soft touch, I can feel her gratitude. "You fulfilled that dream for me. The least I can do is to go and visit a sick cat." Her speech is so heartfelt that I cannot say no. The only problem is that there is no sick cat at home. Anna is allergic to cats and did I mention that I am terrible with lies? But she is still looking at me with those open trusting eyes so I find myself agreeing. "Okay." I need to think of something, anything at all, to stop this impending disaster. My mind whirls as she hooks her arm with mine and we begin to walk towards the exit. I take a step, then another idea comes to me. It's not a particularly good idea, but it might just work. I trip over myself pretending to swoon as I brace myself for the cold, hard floor of City Hall. I can't take her home if I have fainted, can I? Strong arms wrap around me and pull me into the cool embrace of somebody. My eyes fly open in surprise to see… "Ethan?"