Page 84 of Marvelous

Chapter 12

Cassie

It was the very next day, and I woke up and smiled at the sight of the wedding band that had been added to my engagement ring.

I wondered if twenty-five hours broke the record for the shortest engagement ever.

I looked at Alec, who was awake and smiling at me, and I said, “Morning, Husband.”

He winked, “Good Morning, Wife.”

Then he bent his neck and kissed me softly.

***

We were at the mall because, thanks to Tatum, she had figured out that this needed to stay quiet.

She had told us about a guy in the mall who could solder my rings together so it wouldn’t be noticeable that we were married.

And Alec’s ring was on the same chain as his dog tags.

That was when his phone rang.

He pulled it out, checked the screen, then he winked at me, then he answered it and put it to his ear, “King? What’s shaking?”

I watched Alec’s face as he listened, and then I watched as his eyes closed, and his body tensed, and then he whispered, “Fuck.”

Bringing my arm up, I wrapped it around his waist and gave him my silent support.

He bent his neck and pressed a kiss on my head, then he said to King, “Let me ask Cassie, one second.”

Then I gave him my eyes. He asked, “One of our buddies was KIA last week. They are bringing his body home today. Go with me to the airport?”

Immediately, I nodded.

To King, he said, “We’ll be there.”

Then he hung up and hung his head. I pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw as his beard tickled my cheek.

The man who had been soldering my ring was done, and then he asked, “Military?”

I didn’t respond.

Neither did Alec.

He took Alec in, and then he nodded, “This is free. Congratulations.”

Alec opened his mouth to argue, but the man shook his head, “Airborne.”

To that, Alec nodded.

Then he took my rings from the man and then tagged my hand and placed them back on my finger, “These never come off. Ever again.”

At my nod and smile, we left the mall, and then we headed to the airport.

At a gate, Alec showed his military ID.

The man radioed in and got confirmation.