Page 39 of Ex- Factor

The heavy courthouse door shut behind us with a final echo. The late afternoon sun poured golden light over everything. Eshe clutched my hand, the new ring on her finger catching the sun. Ekon was on my hip. She turned to say something—and then the world exploded.

In sound.

Brilliant blue and silver sparks burst in the air.

Standing on the courthouse steps, grinning like madmen, was Cassius, lighting another fountain firework with the tip of his cigar. Anel, Jonas, Naomi, and West stood nearby, shaking their heads.

“What the hell?” I laughed, pulling Eshe closer.

“Are you crazy?” Eshe shrieked, still smiling. “Cassius, that’s illegal! The police are right here ! The jail is right there !”

Right on cue, the courthouse door opened again. Two sheriff’s deputies stepped out, looking deeply unimpressed. They glanced from us to our crew.

Cassius, unfazed, waved with his cigar.

A tense silence followed. Eshe held her breath.

One of the deputies, an older man with a thick mustache, cracked a smile. He nudged his partner. “Relax, Henderson. It’s their wedding day.” He looked at Cassius. “You got a permit for those, son?”

“Nope!” Cassius called back. “But I’ll donate to the sheriff’s office!”

The deputy shook his head, smiling wider. “Go celebrate somewhere else. And clean up your mess before you go.”

He turned and went back inside with his partner.

The second the doors shut, Angel screamed, “ YOU’RE MARRIED! ” and sprinted up the steps to crush us in a hug.