The Penalty Box (Vancouver Wolves Hockey #3)(30)

Her eyes were downcast, focused on the countertop.

“Say something.”

Her big brown eyes lifted to me, but she didn’t speak.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and squeezed my eyes shut. “We need to get married.”

“But you just said this would be a real marriage.” She sounded breathless.

“I know what I said.”

“But…”

I felt like the most selfish asshole in the world. I swallowed and looked at her. “I’m sorry. I’m screwing this up.”

She took a big breath. “It will save your career.”

“It will.”

Out of all the things I thought she would feel, the sadness that crossed her face was the last emotion I expected to see. It hit me like a hard, left-hook to my gut, making me feel queasy.

She slid off her stool. “I’ll go get ready.”





*



I stood beside Charlie in front of the judge as he went through the motions of marrying us. The judge cleared his throat, looking pointedly at me.

“You can now face your bride and repeat after me.”

I turned to face Charlie. She was staring directly at my chest, not looking up at me. This whole thing felt wrong. I felt terrible about this morning, and I had said things that I already regretted.

“Look at me,” I said under my breath to Charlie. Her reluctant eyes lifted to mine. I was committing to her. It might be the last choice I wanted to make, but my commitment was real.

The judge nodded at me and said, “Please repeat after me.”

There was so much trepidation in her eyes. I mentally willed her to keep looking at me as I spoke my vows of marriage to her while simultaneously and silently communicating my own version of that vow to her.

“I, Mica Petrov, take you, Charlie Watt, to be my wife and to live together in marriage.”

I don’t want this, and you know that, and for that I am sorry.

“I promise to love you, comfort you, honor, and keep you.”

I will never love you, but I will comfort, honor, and keep you as mine.

“For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”

I am rich and you are poor, but I will look after you. No matter what.

“And forsaking all others, I will be faithful only to you.”

I will never cheat on you, and I expect the same damn commitment of celibacy from you.

“So long as we both shall live.”

I won’t make the same mistake my parents made. We will divorce, but I will try my hardest not to make this year suck too bad for you. No matter what it costs me.

Her eyes dropped as soon as I finished speaking. I slid her wedding band on her finger.

“You may kiss the bride.”

She gave me a rueful smile as I bent my mouth towards her. Our lips met so tentatively. I could feel her mouth trembling against mine. Not knowing what possessed me, instead of lifting my head, I pushed further against her mouth, deepening the kiss. Her eyes went wide, opening her gaze to mine.

She tasted fucking delicious.

That thought made me pull back. She flushed a pretty pink and as she pressed her lips together, she looked anywhere but at me.

“Congratulations,” the judge said. “You’re now husband and wife.”





*



After the ceremony, Krista organized us in a series of poses for photos in front of city hall, which she deemed perfect to release on social media.

“This is the start of your happily-married campaign,” she assured me, when I grumbled over the number of pictures she insisted on taking. Charlie didn’t speak a word. She did what Krista asked her to do and smiled for all the photos, but she barely looked at me.

Krista pulled me aside when Charlie went inside to freshen up. She did not look happy. “What the hell is going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Charlie’s house burned down?”

I pressed my lips together. “Yeah.”

“So, she’s moved in with you?”

“Yup.”

“What’s going on between you two?”

“Nothing,” I insisted.

She raised her eyebrows and poked me hard in the chest. “You two are acting like polite strangers. Did you fight?”

“No.”

“Are you giving her a hard time?”

“You’d have to ask her that.”

“Well, you pretending to be in love is about as convincing as one of those after-school specials. That’s how shitty your acting is. You’re like two strangers who aren’t comfortable with each other, and you need to figure this out before the entire world figures this out.”

I didn’t know how to figure this out. “I’ve got this under control.”

“Mark said you’re playing tomorrow.”

“He called.”

She gave me a critical look beneath her fake eyelashes. “What the hell is going on with you, Mica?”

“We’ve had a tough weekend with Charlie’s place and getting ready for today.”

“Tomorrow they are having a celebration for you. The whole team and the WAGs. You’d better have your game face on.”

“We will.”