Page 182 of Hunt for You

I made sure they gave her a veil. I didn’t give two shits that she was wearing dark jeans and a hoodie—and she apparently didn’t care that I was dressed the same.

We stood in front of those men and we vowed our lives to each other. I held her hand and stared into her eyes and all the problems, all the questions, all the obstacles that were going to try to push us apart just fell away when she spoke.

The celebrant gave us a chance to say what was on our hearts, and her words made me shake.

“Sam, I… I know this is crazy. And I know I’m crazy. But I’m also crazy for you. All of you. You’re the only person I’ve ever met who seemed to understand me. Really understand me. And want the same things I want. I… I know I’m going to let you down, but I don’t want to. I want to be with you every day. I want to stand up for you. I want… I just wantyou.”

My heart skipped a beat at her big eyes, so wide and fixed on me, like she was a little bit shocked, and a little bit scared, and a little bit awed.

I had to clear my throat before I could speak. I was already holding her hands, but I tugged her a little closer so I was standing over her, looking down. I wanted to kiss her already, but I knew I needed to do this first.

“I’ve never met someone who saw me… all of me,” I said hoarsely, squeezing her hands. “From the first second I saw you, you’ve never been out of my mind. I’m… stunned to be standing here with you. But so grateful too, Bridget. This is what I want.Youare what I’ve always wanted. Someone who shares every part of me, every day.”

“I will,” she breathed. “I promise, Sam. I will.”

“Me too,” I rasped.

I was swaying towards her, drawn in, unable to resist, but the celebrant chuckled.

“Not long now—just bear with me for a moment so we can make this legal…”

I didn’t even hear the vows, but I knew what they were.

For better or for worse.

For richer or for poorer.

In sickness and in health.

As long as we both live.

And my entire being sighed with relief when she responded,“I do.”

I didn’t wait for the announcement, I took her face in both hands, pulled her in and took her mouth with every ounce of the desperation and urgency I was feeling. Because I needed her to bemine.I needed to brand her. And I knew she felt the same way, because her arms wrapped around me and her fingers dug into my back and she plastered herself to me from knee to chest…

One. We were one.

Or about to be anyway.

Finally.

I would have taken her right then and there, but the celebrant cleared his throat and after a few more kiss-drunk moments, we broke apart. He smiled apologetically and muttered that we needed to sign the contract.

My hands were shaking, but I gripped her with one hand while I signed with the other, and she did the same. Then they witnessed for us, gave us our certificate, and we were moving again, both jogging through the halls, Bridget laughing and smiling, running out to the car—where she drove because she’d already booked the hotel and knew where we were going.

I could barely think straight. Kept clawing hands through my hair and shaking my head because I could barely believe this was real.

I didn’t think I’d ever been happier—or more terrified.

The drive to the hotel was short—and fast because Bridget drove like she was testing for Formula One. The tires gave a short squeal when she stopped in the parking lot, but then suddenly… nothing.

She was sitting, staring at the bushes in the garden at the base of the hotel, her hands gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white.

I blinked and reached for her leg. “Bridget, what’s—”

“Is this real, Sam?” she breathed, then licked her lips and turned to look at me, her eyes wide. “Was all of that real?”

I nodded slowly. “It was for me. Was it real for you?”