Page 19 of Playing Along

Moment of truth: I do not actually hate the thought of being legally bound to Nora.

“Legally bound? Don’t make this weird, Nor,” I joke, using humor to hide my true feelings.

“Ha. Ha.” She blows out a puff of air. “How would we even pull this off? I mean, the police found the body on my front lawn. They’re looking for me. It’s not as if we can find someone to marry us in the middle of the night. This isn’t Vegas.”

“Wait, so you’re actually considering doing this?” I ask.

Second moment of truth: It makes me feel extremely pathetic that three years ago I proposed and she said no, but now she might say yes because it could save her from going to jail…and yet I’m still excited about the prospect of marrying her. Yep. Extremely pathetic. And yet, it’s true: I am excited to be Nora’s husband.

Not that I’m going to tell her that. No need for her to know I’m probably still in love with her.

“Maybe,” she hedges. “But only if you’re really sure. Anyway, I’m just gathering intel. What’s the point of deciding yes or no before I even know if we could pull it off.”

“Sure, that makes sense.” I drum my fingers across the steering wheel. “But I guess I want to go on record as saying that, while I am willing to do this for you, I certainly don’t want you to feel stuck or as if this is your only option. You experienced something traumatic tonight. Something no person should ever have to experience. Offering to marry you is my attempt at helping to correct that injustice. I know nothing can ever fully correct it, but I want to do my part to help you come back from that trauma. That being said, if you don’t want to marry me, we'll find another way to keep you out of jail. We could always make a run for it. Start over somewhere warm and sunny. Antigua, maybe. Seems like that’s where lots of criminals like to flee to. Makes you wonder about the crime rate there, but hey—”

“Yes,” Nora cuts me off, bursting out the word.

“Yes?” I echo. “Yes, what?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she elaborates, her eyes wide and jaw set.

Do not smile, I instruct my rebellious mouth. Do not even think about smiling.

“Right, um, okay.” I pretend to be really engrossed in the setting of my windshield wipers. A move that sadly backfires when I accidentally flip them to the highest speed, sending a screech through the car as the wipers rub against the dry glass. Smooth, Jack. Real smooth.

“So we’ll have to head to City Hall first thing in the morning. We can pay extra to expedite the marriage license. My cousin did that when she and her boyfriend decided to elope before he left for his deployment. If things go to plan, we'll be married by tomorrow afternoon. We’ll need witnesses, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. We can find two people off the street if we have to. You’ll need your birth certificate–which will pose a problem now that there are cops at your place. We’ll have to either sneak into your place somehow or make a request for one at the courthouse. I think those can be provided the same day. Of course, we’ll have to call in sick to work. I’d really like to avoid talking to anyone at my work until after we’re married, so I’ll send an email that I’m out for the day rather than calling. But for you it’s important that it doesn’t look suspicious for you to call in sick the same day that Ian doesn’t show up to work. Is there anyone in the office you can leak it to that you’re not actually sick, just playing hooky to get married? Ideally someone who loves to spread office gossip.”

“Wow,” Nora murmurs, “you’ve thought of everything.”

I run a hand over the back of my neck. “Uh, yeah. Guess I did.”

No need to tell her that this plan has been working itself out in my head all night.

“I can tell my friend Stella about the wedding. She’ll spread it around.”

“Perfect. Yes, in the morning, call Stella.”

Nora nods, then peers over at me. “So do you just think this fast on your feet? Or have you had this plan in mind all along?” she asks, an exaggeratedly light tone to her voice that lets me know she’s trying to appear as if she cares way less about the answer than she actually does.

“No…All along? Nah. I mean...” I clear my throat, rubbing my hands up and down around the steering wheel. “Did I consider that things might be heading this way…maybe a little. It was just a contingency plan. Always good to have one.”

There’s a beat of silence, then Nora whispers, “Thank you, Jack. You always take such good care of me.”

The words are bittersweet. It’s nice to know she thinks so, but I can’t help but wonder why that wasn’t enough to make her say yes three years ago? What did I not do or provide for her that would’ve swung her answer in my favor?

“It’s no big deal,” I say gruffly. We’ve reached my driveway now, and I turn into it. “We should also talk about Stafford’s voicemail…I think I’m going to have to lose my phone. That way we have a story for why I didn’t get it.” I ease the car into my garage, then put it in park before turning to face her. “And then maybe I’ll tell them, you spent the night at my house–in the guest room, of course. I’ll be sure to mention that. I don’t want to tarnish your reputation as a Christian woman.” My eyes flick to her hands where I know I’ll see the pearl promise ring her grandpa gave her on her 13th birthday. “I know how important that is to you.”

Something strange flickers across Nora’s eyes, there and gone so fast I don’t have time to identify it; but then, just as fast, she darts across the center console, plants a soft kiss on my cheek, then settles herself back in her seat, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink. The spot where her lips brushed the skin of my cheek tingles. I have to force my hand to stay at my side, rather than allowing it to rise to my cheek to feel the spot for itself.

“What was that for?” I ask testily, making her cheeks turn even pinker.

“S-sorry,” she stutters. “I just. Well, it was a thank you of sorts. So, thank you. Again.” She doesn’t say anything more, just fumbles with the handle on her door for a few seconds before finally managing to get it open. She flees into my house without so much as a backwards glance in my direction.

I sit there for a minute, staring after her. Then, when I’m sure she’s safely inside and not going to come back out, I give in and lift my hand to my face, letting my fingers trace over the imprint of her kiss.

Chapter 9

Nora

Source: www.allfreenovel.com