The man marrying us spoke again, so I didn’t get the chance to check it out more in depth. Instead, I heard the dreaded words, “You may kiss the bride.” Having missed the pronouncement of us being man and wife completely, I was shocked when Tucker moved closer and took my face in his hands before leaning down and kissing me rather soundly. I hadn’t been expecting the kiss, to be honest.

I thought he might place a quick peck on my lips, considering how much I apparently repulsed him. Instead, I got the full deal, complete with his tongue licking at the seam of my lips until I opened for him. Hand to God, I only did that because I was in shock that it was happening at all. It was only when he released me, and I glanced around, that I realized the entire thing had been filmed. I’d have to watch it later, because I didn’t feel like I was present for any of it beyond that damned kiss. “You look absolutely stunning, Mina,” Tucker whispered in my ear before he moved completely away from me.

“We’ll just need the two of you to sign the certificate, then your witnesses, and the rest will be taken care of for you,” the man interrupted. We moved in to sign the paperwork as requested, then Wes and one of the women – thankfully, the one who seemed to take pity on me – moved in to sign as witnesses. When the other woman also attempted to do so, Wes stopped her and pulled her away. I wondered what that was all about, but honestly, in the big scheme of things, it didn’t really matter.

Once again, I stood there, sort of floundering and wondering what the hell I was supposed to do with myself now. I turned to find Wes arguing with the woman, Tucker was speaking to the officiant as the other lady – I wished I knew her name – signed my marriage certificate, and I just felt utterly lost. While everyone was occupied, I wandered off to go check out the little pool and statuary we had passed on the way in. My shoes slipped off my feet easily enough as I hiked up the long, billowy skirt of the dress I’d worn and dipped my toes in the water.

I could still hear bits and pieces of the conversation Wes was having with that woman, though it was muffled enough that it sounded more like those old Charlie Brown cartoons when the teacher tried to speak. Honestly, I wished they would just shut up or go away so I could enjoy the serenity of the place. I leaned back on the soft, green grass so that my weight was held up by my elbows and forearms as I threw my head back, eyes closed, and let the little bit of sun that filtered through warm my cheeks as my feet swished back and forth in the pool.