21. Maeve
21
maeve
Things I’ve learned today: You can get a marriage license and have a judge marry you all on the same day. Who knew?
When Josh and I got married in this very same courthouse, we didn’t do it on the same day. We applied for the license and took a few days to make sure our families could be there for it. That was as romantic as it got.
Then there’s today’s elopement. It’s just going to be me and Logan, with Kat as our witness. I didn’t tell my family, which is killing me. I don’t think Logan has told his brother or anyone else. I haven’t even told Jayce what I’m doing yet.
Partially because I don’t know how I’m going to tell anyone. And partially because I still can’t believe this is happening.
Logan gave me twenty-four hours to change my mind, which I appreciated. What I didn’t appreciate was waking up today—after a dream I’d rather not talk about featuring a naked Logan Matthews—and not having a single other idea that is better than tying the knot.
I have a problem. I need to fix it. This is how I’m fixing it. Nothing more. Nothing less.
So here I am, driving to the courthouse in a cream dress and nude heels, for the second courthouse wedding of my life.
Funny…I never saw myself as a marriage girl. And here I am doing it again.
I guess you can never say never…
At that moment, an image of my siblings flashes through my mind and what their reactions are going to be when they find out.
Simon will be pissed he wasn’t invited.
Ainsley might cry in happiness.
Stella will be shocked then want every detail of what’s really going on.
Quinn will see right through me and the wedding.
Which is why they won’t be there today. And more so, why I’m not telling them the truth.
At least for now. It’s what’s best. I don’t want to lie to them, but even more, I don’t want them to have to lie for me. It’s not their job to protect my secret, so I’m telling them what Logan and I agreed last night was going to be our story. And most of it is actually the truth.
Or a version of.
Simply, we met months ago on a business trip. We ran into each other again just recently—after the photo was taken with him and Candace, since that was the last woman he was rumored to be with—and we’ve been inseparable since. And, because we are so in love, we decided why wait? We’re just two crazy kids who couldn’t wait another day to be Mr. and Mrs.
That’s our story, and we’re sticking to it.
I’ve been panicking that something will mess this up. But Logan? He’s been nothing but amazing, easing my fears while also giving me a sharp dose of reality when I need to hear it. And yes, I know he’s getting something out of this too, but something in my gut is telling me that even if he didn’t need me, he’d still be doing this.
Now I just hope this will work.
As I navigate the streets of downtown Nashville, part of me still can’t believe this is happening. When I officially agreed to this yesterday, I didn’t realize we were going to do it in twenty-four hours. But it makes sense. Jayce is with his dad tonight—since Josh wants to be father of the year, he asked for another night and I agreed without a fight, mostly to keep him unaware that I have a counter to his master plan.
We’re not sure when Josh is going to file the paperwork, so we wanted to make sure this was done before I was served. And since I was going to be downtown anyway today for a consultation, I told Logan we could just meet at noon and get it over with.
Because “get it over with” is how every bride should describe their wedding day.
A few minutes later, I’m pulling into the Davidson County Courthouse. Like I’m getting ready for a new job, I do what I always do and close my eyes, take a breath—only this time, the mantra is a little different:
“You can do this. Be confident. Know you’re doing this for a greater good. Don’t fall in love with your husband.”
There. That seems like the right things to say as I get out of my SUV. Logan sent me a message that he was already here, so I make my way through the metal detector and head to the chambers of the judge who had a gap in his schedule and could proceed over the wedding on short notice.
I let myself take a few deep breaths as I head to the third floor. When the doors open, I’m shocked to be staring at Logan, who’s holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers and looking way too good in a black suit.
“What are you doing?”
He just sends me a dazzling smile as I walk out of the elevator. “I know roses are cliché. But I was also once told that there’s a difference between classic and cliché.”
For the first time in three days, I feel myself smiling. “She sounds like a smart woman.”
“And beautiful.” Logan gives me his arm, offering to escort me down the hall. “Even in a wedding like this, every bride should have a bouquet.”
An unexpected tear threatens to burst through, but I push it back. I know he doesn’t know, and no way could, that when I married Josh, I didn’t have a bouquet. I forgot all about it, and so I walked down the aisle with a single flower we picked from the park across the street from the courthouse.
“Come with me,” Logan says as he guides me down the hall. As we turn the corner, I see Kat sitting on a bench, typing something furiously on her phone.
“You look beautiful, Maeve,” Kat says as she stands up. “Fair warning, Logan: A crime reporter from The Nashville Banner saw you coming in. Questions are being asked. We might need to put on our game faces quicker than we expected.”
I nod and take a deep breath.
You’re doing this for Jayce. For your family. This is how you fix the problem.
“Okay,” I say as I look up at Logan. “Should we go in?”
He shakes his head. “I know we need to get a move on, but I have something for you first.”
I’m speechless as Logan takes a ring box out of his pocket. “I know the tradition is to do something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, but since I didn’t have much time, I had to combine a few of them.”
When Logan opens the box, my jaw nearly hits the floor when I see the gorgeous aquamarine ring. “We’ll consider this something new and something blue. I hope it’s okay. It reminded me of your eyes.”
I nod furiously, trying my best not to cry, though that’s proving futile.
“I thought you could borrow this for the day,” Kat says, handing me a beautiful vintage handkerchief. “I don’t cry much, but on days like today, it’s good to have one just in case.”
I nod and hug Kat, who I’m quickly realizing is just as great as Logan said she is. “It’s like you can read my mind.”
When I back away and lightly dab my eyes with the something borrowed, I turn back to Logan.
“I don’t have a lot of old, for obvious reasons,” he begins as he takes his wallet out of his back pocket. “But I guess for us, we’ll consider this old.”
I look down as Logan opens his wallet and takes out what looks like a key card.
Is that…
“Yes, I kept it,” he says, handing it to me. “I wanted something to remember that night by.”
Now I’m not a crier. My sisters joke that at some point over the years, Mama Maeve’s heart turned black. And I don’t disagree with them.
But this? What Logan’s doing right now? And not just the gifts, but agreeing to marry me, to help me when he didn’t have to? Let’s just say I’m glad Kat lent me the handkerchief.
“Thank you,” I say, doing my best to keep every emotion at bay. “But you didn’t have to do this. Any of this.”
Logan takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “Oh, Love…one of these days you’re going to realize I know I don’t have to. But I want to.”
“Matthews-Banks wedding? We’re ready for you.”
Our names being called breaks the spell Logan cast over me. I dab my eyes one more time, slip the key in the purse, and turn back to Logan.
“You ready?”
He nods and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. “Let’s go get married.”
“Have either of you prepared vows and would like to speak them at this time?”
Shit…vows? Was I supposed to do vows?
To be fair, I didn’t even know we were in this part of the ceremony. After I walked down the makeshift aisle, handed Kat my bouquet, and gave my hands to Logan, I kind of blacked out.
I’m still getting over the gifts and the whole “getting married” thing.
“I…I didn’t prepare any,” I admit.
“That’s fine, dear,” the judge says. “Logan? Would you like to say anything?”
“I would,” Logan says before leaning into me. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to say anything back.”
Easy for him to say. When this judge is asked one day to testify if we were a loving couple, he’ll be able to say, “The groom? Great. The bride? Not so much.”
“Maeve,” Logan begins. “From the moment we met, I knew there was something different about you. To this day, I still don’t know what it was, but I knew you were going to change my life. And even if that night would’ve ended there, you still changed it. You’re brilliant and beautiful. Smart and kind. You amaze me with your talent, and you’re the best mum to Jayce. I’m just glad that I can be a part of your life, no matter where that road takes us.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. Is this how he really feels? I mean, I knew from comments he’s made and the looks he’s given, that he wouldn’t say no if I said “let’s give this a try.” But this? This is much more than I expected.
“Thank you, Logan,” the judge says. “And now?—”
“Excuse me,” I interrupt. “Can I still say a few words?”
The judge smiles and slowly nods his head. “Of course.”
I suck in the biggest breath I’ve ever taken and close my eyes for a second. When I open them, I’m looking right into Logan’s, who are nothing but warm and filled with…love?
No. That’s not what that is.
“Logan,” I begin, refusing to let my brain go down that rabbit hole. “Thank you. For everything.”
I pause for a second, wondering if I should really say things I haven’t rehearsed.
Fuck it. We’ll do it live.
“You’ve stepped up in my life when others haven’t. You’ve seen things in me that I didn’t know I had in myself. And your faith in me is…well, I don’t know what I did to deserve it, but thank you for believing in me. Thank you for going on this journey with me. Just…thank you.”
A wink from Logan allows me to breathe.
“And now, may I have the rings?”
My eyes go wide as I realize we didn’t get rings. What the hell? I’m the shittiest bride ever.
However, and I should’ve known, magically out of Logan’s pocket comes two wedding bands.
“Do you, Logan Matthews, take Maeve Banks to be your lawful wedded wife?”
Logan sends me a perfect smile. “I do.”
I take the ring from the judge and slip the ring onto Logan’s finger, pushing it gently past his knuckle.
“Excuse me, Maeve?”
I look over to the judge, wondering why he’s stopping the ceremony. “Yes?”
He eyes the ring. “You put it on the wrong finger.”
“Oh! Shit!” The snickers from Logan and Kat aren’t helping as I hurriedly pull it off his hand and put it on the other. “Don’t you dare laugh, Logan Matthews. You could’ve given me a high sign or something.”
“Apologies. I was too in the moment.”
I finish putting the ring on his correct finger and let the wave of embarrassment pass through me. This is how I know I’m not supposed to be a married woman; I can’t even get the rings correct.
“Sorry again,” I say. “We can continue now.”
The judge gives me a warm smile. “All right then. Do you, Maeve Banks, take Logan Matthews to be your lawful wedded husband?”
This is it. Last chance.
Yet, I don’t hesitate. And I’m not willing to take questions on that topic at this point in time.
“I do.”
Logan slides the ringer on the correct finger, giving it a squeeze as he finishes.
“By the power invested in me by the state of Tennessee, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Logan? You may kiss your bride.”
Oh shit-fuck-damn! The kiss! How in the world did I forget about the kiss!
My eyes have to be pure panic as I look at Logan. And this mother fucker—also known as my husband—just has the audacity to smirk at me.
Smirk!
I suck in a breath as he steps to me, bringing me into his arms, and I think covering my reaction from the judge.
“Don’t worry, Love. I’ve got you.”
And he does. Logan brings me in for what some might call the perfect kiss. Not me. But some.
No tongue, but not a peck. He cups my face in his hands and expertly uses his lips to kiss me the exact way he wants to. It’s sensual without being sexual. Intimate but somehow still acceptable for public.
And I hate that I want more.