Breaking Down

Chapter 10

10

Tyler

I glanced at my phone again. I still had over thirty minutes before I had to go pick up Gabi, and then we both would do the craziest thing of our entire lives.

Sighing, I leaned my head back against my truck’s seat and closed my eyes.

A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed my life could get this screwed up, could turn into an infinite black hole. I couldn’t even ask myself where things had gone wrong, because I knew what had happened and it hadn’t been my fault. Or anyone else’s.

There was a light at the end of that tunnel now, at least. Granted, it was a crazy light and it could get all kinds of complicated, but it was the only damn light I had seen since this mess started and I was going to hold on to it with all I had.

That didn’t mean I would enjoy all the pretense, but it was all part of the deal. And I really, really needed this deal.

After leaving Gabi’s place, I had gone to the vet clinic and filled out a vacation form for the next week so I could get some things done, like going to the immigration lawyer with Gabi, looking for an apartment, perhaps moving, paying bills …

Lena was usually nice, but once she saw I was skipping work without any notice, she shot me a glare. I didn’t wait until Dr. Bohm acknowledged my request. He could call me if he wanted to argue about it.

Next, I went to a tux and suit rental place and rented a black tux with a white bow—I thought white would be fitting, since I expected Gabi would be wearing white. Right?

And now I was seated in my truck just around the corner from Gabi’s place, waiting for the time to pass so we could get the first step of this crazy journey done.

My phone dinged with a new text. I picked it up and checked it.

Gabi: I’m ready at The Dress Shop. Come pick me up, please.

I frowned. She had said to pick her up here. What the hell?

Grunting, I started the engine and drove to the place, which was only four blocks from where I had been waiting. There was a no-parking sign in front of the store, but I ignored it. I pulled over and killed the engine right there. With another grunt, I hopped out of the car and walked around to the sidewalk. A short man with graying hair walked by and stared at my tux. Right. I was dressed up, and it would catch anyone’s attention. s**t.

I reached for the doorknob and saw her through the glass. Gabi twirled to me and halted, a small smile on her lips. My heart skipped one … two beats before kicking into overdrive. s**t, she looked stunning. Like a princess.

I forgot what I was about to do. I almost forgot my name as she walked to the door, her eyes still on mine. She reached for the door and I shook the daze out of my mind. I fumbled to open the door from the outside before she could and stepped to the side.

“Hey,” I said, feeling so f*****g lame.

“Oi,” she muttered, halting in front of me.

Her sweet perfume tickled my nose and I inhaled deeply. I couldn’t identify the scent, but it was floral, beautiful and delicate—just like her.

“You …” My throat felt dry. “You look beautiful.”

Her smile widened and I almost put a hand over my heart to slow it down. “You clean up well too.”

I cleared my throat. “Ready to go?”

She took in a deep breath. “I think so.”

Trying to play my role, I offered her my arm. She still had a small smile when she hooked her arm on mine and let me guide her to my beat-up truck. Anxiety hit me. My truck was old and rusty and dirty. She would get her dress dirty too.

I opened the passenger door for her and, without thinking, caught her in my arms. She let out a small “oomph” in surprise.

“Sorry, I just … The truck is dirty and I don’t want your dress to get ruined.” I gently deposited her on the passenger’s seat.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Her blue eyes stared back at me, and I found it hard to breathe.

I nodded, then closed the truck’s door and jogged to the other side. Once I was seated and had my seat belt fastened, I started the engine and pulled the truck into the streets of Santa Barbara.

Once we were on the road, Gabi said, “Sorry I wasn’t at the apartment waiting. I thought … the bellman would see me dressed like this and tell my brother or cousins.”

“Oh, yeah, no, you’re right. That makes sense.”

It was only a five-minute drive to the courthouse and soon we were both standing in line. Thankfully, we weren’t the only ones dressed up for a wedding ceremony, so I felt a little better about that.

Then, it was our turn. We filled out the paperwork, showed them our IDs, and Gabi paid the fees.

“Please, come with me,” a short lady who smelled like hairspray said. She also smelled of baby powder and had lipstick smeared outside her lips.

Gabi and I followed her through a door into a hallway and then into a courtyard. There was a small table set up with a white cloth, a man in a dark gray suit behind it, a short woman with yellow-blond hair beside him, and another woman with red hair and a big camera off to the side of the table.

“Hi, I’m Jeffry Osment,” the man in the suit said. “I’m going to perform your ceremony. This is Lenna, your witness.” He gestured to the blonde and she waved at us. “And this is Carol, the photographer.”

We greeted them all. Mr. Osment asked Gabi for the rings, and she handed a black box to him. That caught me by surprise, since I only expected her to have bought her engagement ring, not the wedding bands too.

Then, Mr. Osment started.

“We’re gathered here in the presence of this witness for the purpose of uniting in marriage Tyler and Gabriela. I remind you both that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home …” He went on with a small sermon about the duty of a husband and a wife, then he proceeded, “Tyler, do you take Gabi as your lawfully wedded wife?”

I didn’t hesitate. “I do.”

“Do you promise to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“Gabi, do you take Tyler to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

She didn’t answer.