The Marriage Contract by Natasha Black (best novels ever .TXT) 📗

were turning. He was excited, and so was I, even if I knew it was all an act. Jordan and Hannah didn’t seem to be onto us and ordered their own cobbler. The next few minutes seemed to stretch on forever as we waited for the dessert to come out of the back. I knew it was just me that felt that way, but it might have been an actual, literal eternity for all I knew. When I saw the waiters approaching our table, I was as much relieved as I was excited.

“Miss,” the waiter said and placed the cobbler plate in front of me. Sure enough, there was a scoop of what looked like homemade vanilla bean ice cream on top. But also, on top of that, was a ring. It glittered in the candlelight, and I heard Hannah gasp.

“What?” Jordan muttered.

I turned to look at Matt and was surprised that I didn’t need to tell my eyes to do anything. They were supplying tears all on their own. It confused me, but I had to ignore that for right then. I had a script to get through.

“Oh my God, are you serious?”

Matt stood up, tossing his napkin on the table. People from a few tables around us stopped what they were doing and turned to watch us as he knelt down on one knee. I could hear an audible gasp from both Hannah and a woman at a table behind me.

“Chloe,” Matt said, looking up at me. “I know this is fast, and I know it’s probably insane. But you make me insane. Everything about you makes me insane. You are the most gorgeous, intelligent, hilarious, sarcastic, wonderful woman I have ever met. Would you please do me the favor of being my wife? Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I said breathlessly. He stood, and we embraced to the loud sounds of cheering from the crowd around us. Our lips locked in a kiss, and for a moment, just a moment, I forgot it was an act. Everything else disappeared except his lips and the smell of his cologne and the ring on my finger.

“Oh my God!” Hannah said as we broke our kiss. She was standing and had apparently taken a bunch of pictures with her phone. I laughed when I saw her and felt tears streaming down my cheeks.

There were people from all over the restaurant coming over to congratulate us, but I gave Hannah a hug first. She kissed me on the cheek, and I smiled at her so wide I thought my cheeks would crack in half. I couldn’t help it. I was caught up in the moment, or at least that’s what I was telling myself. Caught up in the moment and the romance of the situation.

Matt and I kissed again, and he squeezed me tight into him. I could feel the bulge in his pants, and an image of him ripping my dress off me flashed through my mind. I had to do everything I could to suppress it and turn back to Jordan and Hannah. Jordan was standing and waiting to shake Matt’s hand, and when we sat back down, the waiter came by.

“Congratulations,” he said. “As a gift, the chef would like to extend you the offer of coming back to visit us again after your vows. If you would present this at the beginning of your meal, he would like to treat you to a celebratory dinner.”

He handed me a card with the name of the restaurant on the front and a scribbled name on the back in blue ink. I thanked him, and he bowed deeply before walking away.

Everyone was being so nice, and a part of me felt terrible. I tried to hide it, but it was there, hiding in the background of my mind. It was all a sham. We were fooling them. All this happiness was for nothing, because in a few months…

Matt stopped me from going any further with that thought when he scooted close, his phone in his hand. I saw him pulling up his contact list and going through the names. His hand was shaking, and I silently marveled at how good an actor he was. It was truly impressive how talented he was at this, and how much he didn’t want to hear his mother’s nagging about not being married anymore because of it.

“I’m so happy for you guys,” Hannah said. “A little confused maybe, but happy.”

“Confused?” Matt asked.

“You have to remember for as new as you two are to each other, this situation is even newer to us,” Jordan said. “We’re still getting used to the idea of you two dating. Now you’re engaged.”

“Well, get used to it,” Matt said, “because it won’t last long.”

“Excuse me?” Hannah asked.

“Yeah, excuse me?” I asked.

“I decided we should do it your way,” he said, then turned to Hannah and Jordan. “She explained that since her parents don’t want anything to do with her, and Hannah is her only family, that she didn’t want a big wedding.”

“When did you talk about that?” Hannah said, seemingly catching him in a lie.

“It was hypothetical,” he said. “We were watching a bridezilla show. She mentioned how since she moved here, if she ever got married, she would want something quick and with little fanfare. Is that still how you feel, babe?”

“Yeah,” I said, feeling like I stuttered over the word at first.

“How quick?” Hannah asked.

“As soon as possible,” I said, finally catching back up. “I just don’t want to spend another day I don’t have to not being married to Matt.”

“Oh, hold on, it’s Mom,” Matt said. “I texted her to tell her to call me. She had to be first. Mom?”

He was holding the phone up to his ear. I smiled at Hannah, and she smiled back, but I could see she was hesitant. I didn’t think they had anything figured out, but they might think we were being too impulsive.

“Yes, Mom,” Matt was saying into the