Page 121 of Resisting Isaac

I make a show of looking him up and down. “You cleanup okay, cowboy,” I tease, trying to make light of the situation because I don’t know how else to calm the ache that’s building in my chest.

He shrugs. “No one is looking at me. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, sweetheart. Even prettier than on TV.”

I laugh lightly. “You’ve never seen me on TV.”

His face changes, a flicker of guilt like a puppy who just told on himself for chewing up someone’s favorite shoes. “Have you?”

He grins. “I might’ve watched a few of your movies.”

Now I’m blushing like I’m fifteen again and the varsity quarterback is flirting with me. “Yeah? Which ones?”

He rolls his lips inward, mumbles what sound like “all of them,” then turns toward the priest.

My cheeks warm. I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop smiling when I whisper, “Are you flirting with your fake bride?”

“Hell yeah, I am,” he murmurs. “Just in case it’s the only wedding I ever get. I’m not wasting it.”

We stand beneath the adobe archway, bougainvillea blooms curl like confetti in the breeze.

The priest finishes speaking with my family, then he begins the ceremony with a prayer. He speaks in Spanish, weaving blessings into promises. Isaac doesn’t understand all of it, but Antonio has taught him enough over the years that he appears to get the gist. He never breaks eye contact with me. He listens with that quiet intensity I’m coming to crave more than I should.

He mouths the wordswe got thiswhen my voice trembles during the prayer. Reaching for my hand without hesitation, his fingers intertwine with mine.

His thumb traces circles over my knuckles as I say words meant for show. But they feel dangerously close to the truth.

When it comes time to say our vows, he surprises me by telling the priest—who asked me multiple times today if I was sure I wanted this or was it just because of the pregnancy—to hold up a second.

We all watch as Isaac pulls a folded-up napkin out of his jacket pocket. There’s a lipstick kiss and a coyote on it.

This man wrote his vows on the napkin I left him after our one-night stand. A napkin I didn’t know he kept.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

When he begins to speak, I notice his hands are shaking too.

“I never took life very seriously,” he admits. “I worked hard all day then focused on the fun. I thought joy was fleeting. That forever was something only my old-fashioned parents could have.” He clears his throat and continues. “But I’ve never felt more serious than I do right now, standing in front of you, Elena Ortega, holding these words I tried so hard not to get wrong.”

I smile at him. He smiles back. For a moment, there’s only us.

My mom, dad, aunt, nieces, and several cousins disappear along with the priest and the rest of the world around us as Isaac Logan says, “Every day you write down three real things to help you stay grounded. To remind you what’s real. Some days the lists change. Most days I make an appearance on them. If I’m lucky and on your good side.”

There’s a small titter of laughter from our small audience.

He inhales deeply before he continues.

“I don’t know if this counts as wedding vows, but I wanted to share my three real things.”

My mouth is probably hanging open in shock as he continues.

“Number one. I always thought a wife would besomething other guys had. Someone they complained about having to get back to during nights out. I counted myself lucky I was free, untethered to anyone or anything except my family’s ranch.” In the audience, someone, my dad I think, clears his throat. Isaac keeps going. “But then you made me tamales and paced on my porch because you didn’t want me to see how nervous you were. And you bandaged my hand when I cut it. And you trusted me, with your body, your heart, and your soul.”

His green eyes shimmer with emotion.

“And now, the thought of going out without you, of going anywhere without you, sounds awful. Because there’s nothing and no one I want to be around more than you.”

I give him a soft smile because this sweet serious side of him is kind of sexy. For a fake wedding, this is beginning to feel awfully real. Unless Isaac Logan picked up some acting skills on the set recently.

“Number two,” he continues. “I see how dedicated you are, how hard you work, and it makes me want to work harder, to be the kind of man who is worthy of you. The kind of man who deserves to stand beside you.”