Tonight was the perfect time.
The rest of the afternoon had been spent preparing, and afterward, we’d arranged to ransack our larder and have a gourmet dinner of smoked squid with some coconut milk clams.
It wasn’t a flashy wedding. It wasn’t a fancy feast.
But it was on our private beach with the people we loved the most.
It’s perfect.
“Just say whatever you want, Conner. But at the end, make sure you ask the question I told you.”
“Oh, man. That’s the part I can’t remember.”
I snorted. “Perhaps, Pippa can help.”
Pippa elbowed her brother. “Yeah, Co. I’ll do it. I’ll be better at it anyway.”
Conner stuck out his tongue. “How do you know, smarty pants?”
“Because I could read before you could and I’m smarter. So there.”
“Are not.”
“Are too.”
“Hey.” I held up my free hand (the one not glued to my bride). “Wedding over here...can we focus?”
Estelle clutched my fingers. “Thank you, G. I feel like we didn’t resolve everything this afternoon, but I’m so sorry for how I treated you, for not being more understanding of how my quietness would make you worry. I just—I needed to say I’m sorry and remind you how much I love you and how lucky I am to have you.”
I didn’t have a heart anymore; it’d turned into a cupid-shaped balloon and floated to the moon. “No more misunderstandings, okay?”
“Agreed.”
We leaned forward at the same time, meeting for the briefest kiss.
“Hey, no kissing the bride until I say so.” Conner crossed his arms. “Now, do you have the rings?”
Pippa’s hand shot up, holding the knotted vines I’d done as a temporary measure. If by some miracle we got off this island, I’d buy Estelle the best ring I could afford (which admittedly wasn’t much after spending most of my life in prison) and if we didn’t get rescued, then I’d carve her the best jewellery I could from a coconut shell.
Pippa (bless her heart) had tried to give me her mother’s ring. She’d said, between rolling tears, that her mother would want it to be worn.
My eyes had threatened to water like hers, but I’d curled her fingers around the diamond and kissed her forehead. I’d told her that the ring was hers. One day, it would be an heirloom for her daughter and it should be treasured.
“Okay, we have the rings.” Conner rubbed his face. “I guess, um...the power vested in me...by um, our island and the turtles, I pronounce you man and—”
“Wait!” Pippa bounced on the spot. “You didn’t ask if anyone objects.”
Estelle burst out laughing.
I struggled to hold in a chuckle. “Seriously, kid, you’re ruining my ego here.” I slung my arm over her tiny shoulders. “Do you object to me marrying this woman and having a baby with her and giving you a little sister or brother to play with?”
A calculating gleam entered her gaze. “I don’t object if it’s a sister. If it’s a brother, I do.”
Estelle laughed harder. “Sorry to disappoint, Pippi, but I can’t guarantee that and we have no way of knowing.”
She pouted. “Oh. Well, in that case. No, I have no objects.”
“Objections?” I squeezed her closer.
“Objections. No, I don’t have any of those, either.”
Conner smirked. “Honestly, and you call yourself smarter than me.” He ducked as Pippa whacked him with Puffin.
We couldn’t get married without the stuffed cat as our official witness.
He ducked. “Watch it!”
“Can we perhaps get back to the wedding?” I arched an eyebrow, doing my best not to laugh.
“Fine.” Conner grinned. “For the record, I have no objections. However, seeing as I’ve had a crush on Estelle since we crashed, I’m not going to let you put a step wrong; otherwise, I’m stealing her.”
My smile fell.
What?
Estelle giggled nervously. “That’s nice of you to protect my honour, Conner, but I’m sure Galloway won’t mess up.”
Conner and I never stopped glaring.
I didn’t expect it to happen, but the competition I’d feared had borderlined reality.
Conner meant what he said.
Just how deep do his feelings go for Estelle? And why didn’t I pay attention?
Dropping his gaze, Conner said, “Do you take Estelle as your wife?”
It wasn’t exactly the line I’d taught him to say, but it would do.
The sooner she was married to me, the sooner Conner could get over his little crush and respect that Estelle was mine forever. I pitied him that he was alone when no doubt his libido was through the roof, but I also didn’t want to fight with him.
And I would if it came down to it.
Something about living on an island made animalistic tendencies rise to the surface.
“I do.”
Looking at Estelle, Conner’s face softened. “And do you take Galloway as your husband?”
Estelle only had eyes for me.
She gave me a heart attack and resuscitated me all at once with a single glance.
“I do.”
Rubbing his nose, Conner announced, “In that case, I now pronounce you married. You may French kiss or do whatever it is that you do.”