Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
W hen she saw Amari standing in the open doorway, Jules's heart stopped. Not the kind of stop where it skipped a beat. The blood in her chest stopped pumping for a few seconds before starting up again. The jolt that kicked the valves back into action was painful.
She had imagined this day for the last two years. Amari standing at the altar waiting for her. But their positions were reversed. She was already at the altar. He wasn't walking toward her; he stood still at the other end of the aisle.
Was he about to object? Did she want him to? Of course she wanted him to. She wanted him to stop the proceedings, storm down the aisle, and take her hand in his own. So why was she holding on to Fish so tightly? Or was Fish the one holding on to her?
Jules turned away from Amari and tilted her head back to look up at Fish. She had to make sure and skip over everything below his chin because the sight of the man in his uniform… Oh, boy. Jules hadn't known she had a fetish until she was standing in Amari's place back at the entrance the room gazing down the aisle at Fish.
She couldn't remember consciously moving toward Fish. She just remembered staring, trying not to drool. And then she was standing before him, and he was holding her hand.
The same strong hands held her steady now. Jules knew that if she asked it, Fish would let her go. He'd clear out the room and make everyone give her privacy with Amari. If that's what she wanted.
The confusion made her grip Fish's hand tightly, as if to silently tell him not to let her go. Fish's hand tightened around hers in response. He stepped closer, his presence a comforting shield. The masculine scent of him was sweet but spicy. In contrast, Amari's expensive cologne often made her wrinkle her nose.
Amari. He was still standing in the doorway. He took a step… but not toward her.
His eyes darted around the room, taking in the crowd of people who looked back at him with bated breath. Realization dawned on her: Amari was more embarrassed that people knew his girlfriend was getting married than he was upset that his girlfriend was marrying another man.
For the second time, her heart stopped. But this time, it didn't hurt as much. Disappointment settled heavily at the bottom of her chest.
Amari wasn't going to object. He wasn't going to stride up to the front and demand to take Fish's place. Instead, he took a seat at the back of the room, and only then did he glance up at them. His gaze was detached. He even gave a nod, as though giving permission for the judge to continue.
Jules stared, dumbfounded. Her fingers clenched in irritation, but they were met with reassurance. Fish stepped even closer. His thumb gently rubbed the back of her hand, a silent promise that he was there for her. She bet if she asked, he would march to the back and toss Amari out of the room. But she didn't ask.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Kiss? Right. There was the ceremonial kiss.
Fish lifted a brow. It was a question. He was asking her if she wanted to. Once again, he made clear that he would follow her lead in this. That was this man. He always asked first, then he made whatever she wanted possible, moving objects out of her way until her path was clear. Then he'd stand behind her as a sentry that dared anything new to get in her way.
This time, Jules would be the one to forge the path. She stood on tiptoes, tilting her head up to meet his lips. She was still a few inches shy.
Fish's hand landed on her hip to steady her. Not only would he clear a path for her, he would never let her fall. He lowered his head to just within a centimeter of her lips. He was allowing her the final choice. But in the process, he'd removed the obstacles, namely their height distance.
Their lips met in a tender kiss that sent a wave of warmth through her. The kiss was soft. Yet it carried the weight of their vows. Her poor abused heart stopped for the third time today. But this time the pause was gentle. There was a fluttering in her chest as Fish's lips moved against hers. Her toes tingled, and she felt a warmth spread from her lips to the tips of her fingers, just like when she came in from a day spent playing in the snow to snuggle by the fire.
All Jules could focus on was the man standing in front of her. His lips were still on hers. Jules had kissed a few men in her life, but never had any kiss made her stop breathing so she could take in every sensation. She wanted to press closer to Fish, to deepen the kiss. She didn’t need air, but her lungs protested.
He broke away, but not entirely. He breathed against her mouth, giving her his oxygen. It made Jules lightheaded.
Then she heard the applause. The sound was a sudden, joyous explosion that pulled her back to reality. Everyone in the room was congratulating them. First Jacqui and Noah, their smiles wide and genuine. Then her cousins, Bunny and Birdy, both chattering excitedly about how beautiful the ceremony was.
"Congratulations, Jules," was a chorus repeated over and over again by people she'd known her whole life. But if pressed, she couldn't have called anyone by their given name.
"Didn’t know you had it in you, Fish," said a guy Jules was certain had lived on her street and laughed when she'd fallen off her bike as a kid.
"Make sure you keep her happy, or you’ll have us to answer to." That came from her cousin. What was her name again? A rabbit or a flying animal of some sort?
"You two are perfect together. I knew it from the moment I saw you together," said a man who had been her high school principle or was it principal? She couldn't even remember basic words now.
As the congratulations continued, Jules glanced over at Amari. He was lifting his phone to his ear, his expression already distant. She knew what that meant. He was being called away, likely to tend to a medical emergency or some other pressing matter. The disappointment she felt was a familiar weight, but it didn’t sting as much this time. He glanced up briefly, their eyes meeting for a split second before he turned away.
"The wedding reception is at Chow Town," Jacqui announced, and everyone began to file out of the room.
With Jules and Fish at the back, they were the last to get to the exit. The only person left was Amari. He turned to face Jules and Fish, his expression one of frustration.
"That didn’t go as planned."
Jules took a deep breath, ready to explain. "Jacqui closed the restaurant and put a sign on the door that we were at City Hall for an event. So, of course, everyone came over to see what was going on."
Amari sighed, shaking his head. "I don’t blame you, Jules. But the plan remains the same. Annulment in a few months."
"Of course," Jules replied, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
Amari leaned in to kiss her, but before his lips could touch hers, Fish pulled her away, his grip firm and protective. Amari glared up at Fish, his eyes dark with irritation.
"She's a married woman now." Fish pointed to the judge’s assistant, who was still in the room, busily handling paperwork. "We wouldn’t want to give the town more to talk about."
Amari frowned, his jaw tightening.
Fish tucked Jules into his side, his arm a comforting barrier between her and Amari. "We'd better get to our reception. Everyone's waiting."
As they walked out of City Hall, Jules felt a profound sense of safety nestled against Fish’s side. The warmth of his body, the steady rhythm of his breathing, and the spicy-sweet scent of his cologne all enveloped her, creating a bubble of security and comfort. She didn’t say anything about the judge's assistant being nearsighted.