Page 24 of Silver Linings

“And because I’m going to be your wife…”

“I hope you’ll agree to come with me. A fresh start for you and Sprout somewhere the Callahans have no reach.”

“This is the only place I’ve ever lived. I don’t know.”

“Silver Springs is going to be a great place to raise the baby, Lil. And she’ll have so many uncles ready to fuss over her and protect her. You don’t have to give me an answer about moving today. We can still be married and figure it out later. But I hope you will say yes.”

Lily stared into his eyes for a minute before she nodded in agreement. Tucking her arm into Gunner’s, Lily prayed she was making the best choice for her and the baby.

Getting their license was easier than Gunner had thought it would be, and fifteen minutes after their paperwork was all sorted, he and Lily stood in front of a judge. The guy was no nonsense and seemed to be in a hurry, which Gunner could appreciate. Efficiency was usually hard to come by.

“Do you have rings you wish to exchange at this time?”

“Oh, I didn?—”

“Yes.” Gunner could see the surprise on Lily’s face. It certainly wasn’t anything fancy. He wanted to wait to get something that would fit her fingers once they weren’t so swollen from the pregnancy, so he’d enlisted help from Gia to get simple silicone bands for them both.

“Good. You can take them out now and you’ll exchange them as you say your vows.”

Gunner nodded, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling the rings out. Lily’s was white, and had a braided twist design, while his was a simple black band.

“I wanted to get something comfortable for your finger.”

“That was very kind of you.” Her voice was small, but he could see the appreciation written on her face.

“Lily Katherine Bennett, do you willingly choose Gunner Joseph Brooks as your lawful wedded husband?”

Gunner squeezed both of Lily’s hands, and noted that they still felt like ice, even after he’d been holding onto them for several minutes. Her eyes were searching his, as if she had a million worries swirling around in her mind. But he saw the moment she swallowed down her fear.

“I do.”

“Please place the band on his finger.”

Lily’s hand shook as she tried to slip the silicone ring over his knuckle. He smiled and helped push it the rest of the way on before grasping her hands again.

“And Gunner Joseph Brooks, do you willingly choose Lily Catherine Bennett as your lawfully wed wife?”

There was no hesitation. He wanted to do this for Lily and her baby. “I do.”

“Please place the band on her finger.”

Her band slipped into place, and his heart slammed inside his chest. They were married. She and the baby were his responsibility from there on out.

“By the powers vested in me by the state of Connecticut, you are now husband and wife. Congratulations. If you would like to take a picture to celebrate, my clerk would be happy to assist.”

“Oh, I think that’s okay,” Lily said as she tried to pull her hands free from Gunner, looking down towards the floor.

“Lily, we’ll want to show Sprout our wedding pictures one day. Let’s get one for her.”

She nodded in agreement, and the older women ushered them together with the judge before taking a few pictures on Gunner’s phone. The judge wished them the best, and then they were done.

The feeling of the ring against his skin was doing weird things to his head and his heart. Why was he suddenly feeling even more protective of her?

“Can’t complain about the efficiency there. You were right. It was all easier than I thought it was going to be.”

Lily hadn’t taken his hand when they left the courtroom, and he noticed how she slowed her pace, walking a step or two behind him. When he turned to see why she hadn’t responded, his heart fell. Her face had turned deathly pale, and despite having her feet firmly on the ground, she swayed as if she were off balance.

“Hey, whoa. You okay?” Concern shot through his body. She leaned her side against the wall and closed her eyes as he pressed his hand to the small of her back, ready to catch her if she passed out. Which, fuck, she looked like she might actually do. “What’s going on, Lil? Do you need to sit down? Do you need a doctor? What should I be doing right now?”