Fake Marriage Box Set

She shrugged. “You knew this wasn’t going to be the most conventional wedding,” she said.

I nodded. “I’ll call local bakeries then, and see if any of them can make a peanut butter cake for this weekend.” It still hadn’t dawned on me that our wedding was just a few days away. I supposed with enough money it was useless to worry about anything.

“That would make me the happiest blushing bride,” Maddie said. She leaned her head toward Mom and whispered a few words that resulted in a soft laugh from them both. I tried imagining Maddie in a wedding dress, a blush over her cheeks, a glass of champagne in her hand. I imagined her with the smile of a woman who was marrying the love of her life, a man who would promise to love her the rest of his, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t imagine her looking at me with such a smile. Was what we were about to do wrong? Was I ruining something for her? Would she still get to experience to joy of marrying the man of her dreams even after a fake wedding?

Maddie was beautiful beyond words, even as she made conversation with a woman much older than her. They didn’t have much in common, but Maddie still held her own. There was a glow to her skin that I hadn’t noticed before, like the natural shine of someone after a day out in the sun. She drank her wine and twirled a strand of hair in her finger and gestured in my direction after making a joke, most likely at my own expense, and they both broke out in laughter.

I was being silly. Of course, Maddie would still get the day of her life, and it’ll be even richer and grander than ours because it’d be real. There was no reason to worry about her happiness. She’d be fine.

But I wasn’t sure if I could say the same thing about me. This wedding, as fake as it would be, would most likely be the only wedding I’d have. And it wasn’t for lack of trying or motivation; the right woman, one who wasn’t interested in publicity or money or fame, was difficult to find.

“How many guests?” Mom asked. I realized I had finished my drink and stood to get another.

“Not a lot,” Maddie said, and I was thankful for her answer. “We were thinking under thirty. Close family, obviously, but neither of us have that many friends.”

“Twenty would be ideal,” I said. “We want to keep it small.”

“More peanut butter cake for everyone,” Maddie said, and we exchanged a smile as I poured whiskey into my glass. “And Gavin will be reading the first chapter of his story,” she added.

“I’m what?” I asked and took a seat.

“Oh, you are?” Mom’s face brightened, and she leaned toward me. “That’s wonderful! I’ve been looking forward to it so much. This night is going to be so wonderful, isn’t it?”

I chewed on my lip and looked at Maddie. Her smile was tilted to the side; she was clearly happy with herself.

“Yeah,” I said. “Just wonderful.”

“I forgot to ask, are you having it at the church at the end of the street? We haven’t gone in so long, I’d be surprised if they let you in,” Mom said.

“I don’t think they’d turn us away,” I said. “But no, it’s going to be right here, behind the house so that you can go.”

After realizing that the only venues that were available for the weekend were all at least 30 minutes away, I had decided to have the wedding in my backyard. I mentioned it to Maddie over text not wanting to make it a big deal, but she had been far more excited about it than I had expected.

“It’s going to be beautiful,” Maddie gushed. “We’re having wildflowers brought in and hanging over a canopy that’ll be on top of us and classic wooden chairs for the guests. A marble dance floor, floating lanterns, and a golden fountain of the god of love with rose vines climbing his body. I have it all planned.”

I leaned back in my seat and raised an eyebrow. It seemed Maddie had stayed up late with her own planning as well.

“Everything sounds amazing,” Mom said. “A beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple to start their life together.”

“It’ll be something,” I murmured and finished my second glass. The night was coming to a close, and Maddie and I both took turns saying goodnight to Mom.

“Call me if you need any help planning,” she said as we stood in the doorway. “Your father and I only had a court wedding, but I’ve always wanted to plan a real one.”

“I’ll call you with any questions I have, which will be a lot,” Maddie said. “I promise.”

Karen closed the door behind Maddie and us, and I walked back to my house in silence. She walked several feet in front of me, and I was finding it difficult to divert my attention away from her backside. She swayed slightly, but her hips still moved in a seductive way that made my mouth dry and hands twitch.

“The first chapter isn’t ready to read aloud,” I said as I closed the door. She opened the storage container on the side of the couch and pulled out a blanket and pillow.

“It’ll never be ready with that attitude,” she said and made her makeshift bed. “You and I both know that reading your story’s the only thing that could make the night even more special for her.”

“Yeah,” I agreed and walked across the living room. She stopped abruptly as I stood in between her and the couch, and a moan escaped her lips as my hands trailed down her back and cupped her ass. My other hand pressed on her neck, ever so small, but it was enough to rouse my cock, and I slid a hand down her collarbone, across her chest, and dipped beneath her dress.

“I need to wash those sheets,” I murmured as I pulled her close. “We might as well sleep in the same bed until I do.”

One of her hands gripped my shirt with a weak fist as I pushed her sleeve off of her shoulder. Her skin was warm beneath my touch, and her hands trembled, but she didn’t move. She wanted it as much as I did.

“Okay,” she said.