Marriage of Unconvenience

“We’re building a life together and there isn’t anyone I would rather do that with. I love you.” Cara sniffed and Ansel ran up with some tissues as she pulled a notecard out of her bra. Now it was my turn to listen to her.

“Loren. You’re my best friend, and my favorite person. When my own family wasn’t there for me, yours took me in. I can’t imagine my life without you, and I don’t want to. Whatever souls are made of, yours and mine are made of the same stuff. I love you and I can’t wait to see where life takes us. Even if you ruin my spreadsheets and always make us late. I’d rather be late with you than on time with anyone else.” Now I was crying. Why did she have to do that to me?

I was blubbering and crying all over the place and Cara took the tissue Ansel had given her and wiped my eyes. My makeup was probably running. I bet I was a complete mess. I was definitely going to delete these pictures.

“Cara and Loren have shared their vows with each other and all of us. Now for the second part.” He turned to Cara and smiled at her. I was barely aware he was even here. All I could see was her.

“Do you, Cara Margaret Simms take Loren Lynne Bowman to be your wedded wife, your best friend and your soulmate?”

Cara threw the tissue down and took my hands again. We both laughed and cried as she said, “I do,” and then it was my turn.

“I-I do,” I said and the weight of what we were doing settled on my shoulders so hard that I thought I was going to fall over.

“With the power vested in me by the state of Massachusetts, I pronounce you married. You may seal your vows with a kiss.”

I hadn’t thought that anyone was going to be seeing this, so I figured we could just tell the officiant that we weren’t going to kiss, or maybe do a fake kiss or something, but there hadn’t been time. Now everyone was staring at us and we were crying and my parents were crying and Cara was looking at me as if I was the most important person in the entire world.

I opened my mouth to say something, and then Cara tugged me forward. It was either fall into her, or dive sideways and eat the gross carpet, so I fell into her, and consequently, my lips met hers. It was happening before I realized and my body seized up for half a second. Then my brain screamed OMG, YOU’RE KISSING CARA AND SHE’S KISSING YOU AND THIS IS YOUR WEDDING AND YOU’RE MARRIED NOW and kissed her back.

I kissed her back. Her lips were soft and sweet on mine, and slightly salty from our combined tears. What started as a simple pressing of our lips together quickly turned into... something.

She inhaled and sucked my bottom lip into her mouth. Oh. I trembled and held onto her desperately. Dimly, I heard people cheering, but I was completely consumed by Cara. She let go of my lip, but only to let her tongue reach out and taste me. It was gone before the sensation registered. I wobbled and almost fell over as she smiled and then we walked back down the aisle to the song My Life Would Suck Without You. I had the suspicion Ansel was responsible for that one. I was going to yell at him later, but for now, I couldn’t stop smiling and holding Cara’s hand.

“OKAY, THAT’S PERFECT,” Zane said. Cara and I had been posing on the steps of the courthouse for the better part of an hour. He’d made us do all kinds of shots, even ones where we kissed each other on the cheek, but he hadn’t pushed us to do any lip kissing, which I was grateful for. I was still off-balance from the kiss during the ceremony. Cara and I hadn’t had time to talk, let alone about that.

After a few more group shots, Zane finally agreed to stop and said he would be sending us a flash drive with our pictures in a few weeks, and posting a few test shots online so we could tell him if we liked them or not.

“Great, thanks,” I said.

“You’re two of my favorites. I can tell you’re really in love. These are going to be dynamite.” I rolled my eyes at his back as he went to talk with my parents.

“I bet he says that to all the couples.”

“Maybe not,” Cara said, adjusting some of my hair. “I’m starving.”

“Me too. Maybe we should have had a reception. Then we’d get food sooner.” She nodded and then I called out to my mom.