“And I’ll put you in jail,” he shot back. My mother gasped. Trina went wide-eyed as did Sinclair’s family. My mother said, “Oh lord.”
I laughed. “Good. Do you really think you’ll win re-election by interrupting a wedding and putting a groom in jail because you have the hots for the bride?”
His jaw tensed. “That’s not what this is about.”
I stepped up to him, wanting to intimidate him. “Oh, so you admit to wanting Sinclair for yourself?”
“Wyatt, let me handle this,” Sinclair said, grabbing the mayor by his arm. “We need to talk.” She turned to me and the judge. “Just give me a minute.”
“Sinclair,” I said, worried that if she left to talk to the mayor, he might say something that would change her mind. What if she liked him too?
“I’ll be right back,” she said to me.
I wasn’t happy about it, but I nodded. I knew Sinclair well enough to know she didn’t want me all macho and taking charge. I had to trust that she’d come back and stick to our deal.
She led the mayor out to the hallway while our little wedding party started talking amongst themselves.
“What’s up with that?” I asked Ryder.
He shrugged. “I have no idea.”
I turned to Trina, my eyes glaring at her with the same question.
She gave a little wince. “Mayor Valentine has a little crush on-”
“Crush? He crashed my wedding. Who the hell does he think he is?” I turned to the judge. “This is still America, right? He can’t just walk in and stop a wedding because he’s the mayor, right?”
The judge shrugged, clearly baffled by the turn of events as well.
“I know, I know, he’s being crazy.” Trina looked back to where Sinclair exited with the mayor. “I don’t know what he’s thinking. He’s never acted on his interest in her. He’s her boss, and he’s a stickler for the rules. But it’s no secret that he’s been biding his time.”
“Is it me or would he interrupt anyone she married?” I asked, trying to decide if I should take this personally.
“It’s probably the speed at which it’s happening,” Ryder said.
“Does he know?” I asked Trina. “About the arrangement?”
She shook her head adamantly. “No. Not specifically. He may have guessed. I don’t know.”
What kind of man would I be if I let another man steal my bride away in the middle of my wedding? I’d be a pussy, that’s what.
“Fuck this shit,” I said as I strode toward the door. I didn’t care if Sinclair got mad. “Wyatt!” my mother yelled, glancing at Sinclair’s parents, probably with concern that my language would put them off.
I reached t
he door just as Trina joined me. “She won’t like it if you barge in there guns blazing.”
Torn as to what I should do, I decided to determine what they were talking about. I leaned my ear to the door to see what I could hear.
“It’s not like you to run off and get married, Sinclair. What’s really going on here?” I heard the mayor ask.
“Firstly, it’s none of your business.”
Good, she was going to give him a tongue lashing.
“It’s as if you’re doing this just to be able to build opposition to Stark. Really, you have more sense than this. What you’re doing is nuts.”
“What I’m doing is getting married. You have no say in my personal life.”