Page 134 of Truck Me

“Yes, but …” She glances around and gasps again when she sees the crowd now gathered at the entrance to the courthouse. “I’m so confused.” She turns her tear-filled gaze back to me. “Are you suggesting we get married today?”

“Yes.” I don’t hesitate with my answer. “Our families are here. As is your friend Sierra. All we have to do is walk through those doors. The judge is waiting for us.”

“Garret. This is crazy.”

“No, it’s not. It’s love. Maybe it looks crazy to others, but you’re all I want. Please say yes, Princess. Marry me. Today.”

“But.” She looks down at her clothes. Her tears spill down her cheeks and I worry I made a huge mistake. “I’m in jeans. I can’t get married in jeans.”

I point behind us to where Sierra is standing. She’s holding a garment bag and a pair of Charlotte’s favorite high-heeled shoes. “Got you covered. We can change inside.”

After sliding the ring on her finger, I push to my feet. “Everyone we care about is here. Even your father. He’s having a great day and is wearing his best suit. Rayne has the flowers, and she looks so beautiful in her dress. Everyone is ready. They just need us. What do you say?”

A slow smile lifts her lips as more tears fall down her cheeks. She glances around, her eyes landing on our happy families. “I say you’re crazy, but okay.” She turns back to me, her smile bright and wide. Then she throws her arms around my neck and hugs me close. “Let’s get married.”

My body sags in relief and I take what feels like the first breath in days. “Thank fuck. You just made me the happiest man alive.”

I don’t know how, but her smile grows wider. “And you’re about to make me the luckiest woman alive. Now kiss me.”

“Isn’t that supposed to come after we’re married?” I ask through a teasing grin.

She chuckles. “Since when do you care about following social norms?”

“I don’t.” Then I press my lips to hers. I don’t care who’s watching or how indecent this kiss is. Charlotte Weber is mine and I’ll kiss her however and whenever I want.

Epilogue

When lists come true.

Charlotte

This year started out as one of the worst years of my life. In the blink of an eye, I lost everything I’d dreamed of having. One minute I was proposing to a man I thought was the love of my life, and I was ready to put in an offer on a building space to open my own business.

Things didn’t quite go down that way. Turns out he wasn’t the man of my dreams, and I wasn’t meant to open my own salon in Chicago.

Because my man was waiting for me to return home so we could fall in love.

In January, I didn’t think there was any hope for this year. I mean, who would have thought I’d still get married and open my own business after a scandal that lost me my job? I sure as hell didn’t.

But here I am. It’s the middle of September and only one week away from my thirty-first birthday. All my goals to achieve by age thirty just came true.

It’s been about five months since Garret shocked me with a courthouse wedding, and two months since Mrs. Engle decided it was time to retire.

She accepted my offer a few weeks ago, and I closed on the building this morning. The hair salon in Beaver is officially mine.

Spinning around in the main room, I can’t decide where to begin. I can’t move the couch until Garret gets here to help, so I decide on removing all the pictures from the walls.

Garret should be here any minute with the new sign for outside and the supplies we need to start on the remodel. There’s not a lot to change. Mostly painting and replacing all the furniture and decor. The floors are in great shape, and I like the existing layout. I want to add another station. If business continues to pick up, I should be able to support two other stylists.

The gossip surrounding my relationship with Garret spread fast and far. Turns out in this small town, gossip is good for business. Unlike the rich and famous, small-town folks wanted to be a part of our story. People came from as far as Chillicothe just to get their hair done by the disgraced former Miss Ohio who once did Oprah’s hair.

Once I embraced the gossip, and took the time to set the rumors straight, business boomed. I’m now booked out two months in advance and I feel like I have my old life back.

Granted, life in Beaver looks a lot different than my life in Chicago.

Honestly, it’s better.

That’s something I never thought I’d say. The only thing I miss about my old life is Sierra. She’s visited me a few times since the wedding, and Garret and I spent a long weekend with her just before school started back up for Rayne.