Marriage of Unconvenience

“Yeah, they are. But I think I did okay? Honestly, it’s all kind of a blur.” This whole day was a blur. When I looked back on it, I probably wasn’t going to remember much. One thing I did know I would never forget was the way Cara had kissed me. She’d really gone for it, to make it convincing.

“I know,” Cara said. “That’s why I had to write my stuff down ahead of time. I knew my brain was going to blank. I mean, I’d practiced, but it was a whole other thing standing up there. Maybe they should have classes or something to prepare you for that stuff.”

“And how to find an apartment, and pay bills and all of that.” My parents laughed.

“You’ll both figure it out, kids. We did,” Mom said, smiling at us over her shoulder.

“I hope so.” I shared a look with Cara and she smiled back at me. Holy shit, Cara was my wife.

Thirteen

We finally got to the house and Mom got out almost before the car stopped moving and headed to the barn.

“We’re not just having some food in the house?” I asked Dad, but he just winked at me in the rearview and got out of the car to hold the door open for me and Cara to get out.

Our friends were standing around their cars waiting for us and they let out cheers.

“You’re all dorks,” I said, but I couldn’t help but smile.

We all headed into the house to find that Mom had commandeered Dad and Ansel to help her do whatever it was that she was doing.

“Mom?” I asked, but she was too busy giving orders. I shrugged at Cara and we went to sit in the living room.

“This dress is so comfortable, I never want to take it off,” Cara said with a sigh.

“You both look amazing, seriously. I’m more than a little jealous,” Cedar said. She had a hardcore passion for fashion and also worked as a makeup artist. We probably should have asked her to come and help us, but I hadn’t known that she was coming today.

“I feel like I’m probably melting. And I know my makeup is smeared,” I said. Cara’s eyes were smudged as well from crying. Cedar’s eyes lit up.

“Can I touch you up? Or give you a new look? Please?” She never let an opportunity go by without doing our makeup. Even if we were just going out for ice cream. I never minded being her canvas.

Cara and I both sighed at the same time.

“I’ll go first,” she said, and then Cedar ran to the car for her kit that she always had with her in the trunk. When Cedar came back, she sat Cara down in a chair and did her magic, wiping off everything I’d done and starting fresh. I didn’t mind. I sat with everyone else and talked about the wedding and that we were moving in together and how fast things changed and how adult getting married was.

“We might do it, what do you think?” Kell said, looking at Lane.

“You asking?” Lane said, putting her arm around Kell.

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Whoa, one wedding at a time,” Jason said. “I can only take so many emotions.”

“Let’s just get through this one,” I said. Cedar finished with Cara and I had to give her props for her skills. She’d done more of an evening look, accentuating Cara’s eyes and giving her more of a dramatic lip.

Mom ran in and asked for more people to come help, so while Cedar finished my face, most everyone was roped into helping in the barn.

“This is going to be ridiculous,” I said to Cara, who stayed with me.

“Probably. But when else can we have such an awesome party?” She had a good point. You should be allowed to have parties for all kinds of things. Parties for getting a new job, or moving, or buying a car. With presents and food and dancing. How awesome would that be?

“I’m just hoping we can relax a little. This has been the longest day ever. I’m going to sleep so good tonight.”

“As long as I don’t starfish and steal the whole bed,” Cara said in a teasing tone.

“No way, I’m going to push you onto the floor. I need my damn sleep.” She laughed and Cedar sprayed my face with finishing spray.

“There, you’re golden,” she said, and I checked my face. She’d done a similar look as Cara’s, so we were almost matching, but she’d tailored the colors to complement our skin tones.