Page 124 of Heartbroken Husband
“I know it,” he said after a beat, his voice a little lower and quieter now. “I just sort of wish it could only be for us, you know? I’m not talking about Jennifer and Lu choosing the dress. That part is great, obviously. I’m talking about?—”
“The wedding as a whole?” I sighed. “Yeah, me too.”
“It’s just that it’s all for show. Dad and Clark are planning to invite half the damn world and we’re just the window dressing.” There was a thoughtful, quiet moment. His tone changed, turning strangely hopeful. “How about we play our part on the day like we originally agreed, but what if tomorrow is just for us?”
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Are you free in the morning?”
“Yes?”
“Okay, then. I’ll pick you up at nine.”
“What exactly have you got in mind, Zachary Westwood, and why am I suddenly scared?”
“Don’t be scared,” he said gently. “Just be ready, okay? I can’t wait to see you, Adeline. Seriously, this is going to be great.”
CHAPTER 47
ZACH
The courthouse wasn’t fancy. That was the first thing I noticed when we walked up the cracked concrete steps with Jennifer and Lu bouncing between us like caffeinated pinballs.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked, looking up at the building.
She turned to face me, those blue eyes bright with excitement and a tiny smile already starting to spread across her lips. “Zachary Westwood, all I want is you. The sooner we can make it legal, the better.”
My heart tripped over itself and I tugged her closer to my side. “Alright, then. Let’s go get married.”
“Let’s.”
The front doors opened and a security guard smiled at the girls, handing them each a courthouse sticker like they’d just arrived at Disneyland. “Enjoy your visit, young ladies.”
They grinned and loped past him, charming every guard and attorney in sight while Adeline and I went through security. The guard at the door smiled at us too, inclining his chin toward the staircase. “You’re looking for room 2B.”
Adeline glanced down at the cream Chanel pantsuit she had on, apparently the complete opposite of the garish butgorgeous gown—her words—she had to wear for ourfor-the-presswedding in two weeks’ time.
“Is it that obvious?”
He glanced between us, nodding faintly as he let us pass. “Most people who come in here aren’t dressed like that. Or smiling. There’s a lot of handcuffs and prison uniforms and general grumpiness. Judge Ellington has a bubble machine for weddings, though. You’ll love it.”
My eyes widened as Adeline grinned and tugged me forward. “Judge Ellington. That’s who we’re going to see, right?”
“Yep.”
“A bubble machine,” she repeated excitedly, even laughing as she dragged me toward the staircase after the girls, who were acting like they were on the best field trip of their lives.
True to what we’d been told, the judge did have a bubble machine. It sat beside the bench, spewing rainbow-colored bubbles in every direction and filling the room with a vaguely soapy, chalky scent.
Jennifer gasped. “Mommy, he has bubbles!”
Lu tried to maintain her usual level of emotional detachment, but she failed spectacularly when the machine spun slowly, sending bubbles floating in her direction.
“This is the classiest wedding I’ve ever attended,” Theo said as he walked in behind us.
Amber rolled her eyes beside him. “It’s festive. Love is supposed to be festive.”
Adeline laughed, and for a second, I forgot everyone else even existed. She looked beautiful. The pantsuit was elegant and hugged her in all the right ways, and the joy in her eyes rendered me incapable of thought.
