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11

Hendrix

Grizz

Couldn’t do it, could you?

Another growl, and again, I shove the phone into my pocket. The brother’s chat is filling up with texts I haven’t answered.

Logan

You’ll get no shame here. I had to leave the house when Dylan changed Gigi’s diaper. I don’t know how you do it G.

Grizz

I can do anything for my baby girl. Whatever she needs, she just asks her daddy.

Jack

You’ll get used to it. After a while, you don’t even think about it.

Zane

Everybody poops.

Grizz

It’s just baby food.

Logan

Baby food that’s been left in the sun and turned into rancid decay.

Grizz

Damn, you packing a thesaurus over there?

Logan

Just speaking the truth. Let me know when your schedule lets up so we can record, Hen.

Logan’s is the only text I might answer, but not today.

Today, I’m standing in front of a massive desk in the city office building facing an old male judge with white tufts of hair sprouting from inside his ears. He looks like he might be 100 years old, and he definitely could use a visit to the barber.

His bench is positioned on a stage above me, so he’s looking down at the scene where we’ll exchange our vows. He isn’t smiling, and from this angle, it actually looks like he’s doing his best to stay awake.

I can’t stop hearing the voice of that old priest from The Princess Bride . Raven made me watch it, and now we’re having our fake wedding ceremony.

Marriage is what brings us together today…

Laughter huffs through my lips. I fell asleep before the movie was over with my baby girl on my chest. A smile lifts the corner of my mouth when I think about her sleeping in my arms like she loves me.

Whatever else happens over the next six months, that little girl resting on me like it’s the most natural thing in the world is the best shit ever.

Hayden Lucille Bradford is completely unexpected and very cool.

Raven named her after my mother, which kind of touched my heart. I didn’t even know she knew my mother’s name was Lucille. Dylan must’ve told her.

When I woke in the middle of the night and saw Raven sleeping on the couch, I quietly carried Haddy to her crib. She didn’t even wake up when I slid her from my chest to her mattress. Her little mouth began to move rapidly, sucking her pacifier, but she hugged Axel over her face and went right back to sleep.

Still, I was nervous to leave her there with me on the other side of the house and Raven in the home theater. So I crawled into the queen-sized bed in her room and went to sleep.

As soon as my eyes opened this morning, I slipped out before Raven could come in and check on her. Call me old-fashioned, but I didn’t want bad luck.

This might be a fake wedding, but I know the groom isn’t supposed to see the bride before their wedding.

Okay, technically I saw her in the home theater after midnight, but it was dark, and I’ve chosen not to count it.

I texted her first thing.

I’ve got a car service arriving here at ten-thirty. He’ll be waiting in the driveway.

Raven

Are you sure they can take us at eleven?

I think so. I think it’s a first-come, first-served type of thing.

Maybe I should’ve done a little more than half-assed research on that point. Still, how many people are showing up to get married on a Thursday morning around here? It isn’t Vegas.

Raven

We’ll be ready. I got Hads this cute little dress… Where are you?

Running errands—need to grab a few things. I’ll meet you downtown.

Raven

Wait! Haddy and I are going by ourselves? We can’t ride together?

I can’t see you til the wedding… it’s tradition—don’t be late!

Raven

Why are you being traditional? Are you dressing up? Are you renting a tux?

It’s not prom… I’m not sixteen. I own a tux.

Raven

Are you wearing it to our fake wedding?

Our wedding isn’t fake. It’s temporary, and no, I’m not wearing a tux. I do plan to wear a suit, tho.

Raven

So business casual? I can do that. Now I need to grab a few things Do you have a car I can borrow?

The fob is on a hook in the kitchen.

Raven

Hope I don’t get lost.

Use GPS. See you soon.

Raven

I can’t believe you’re springing this on me.

That’s a joke, right?

Now I’m standing in this small, wood-paneled, ancient-looking government room waiting for her to appear.

“We’ll have the both of you stand here to recite your vows.” An older man who looks like he’s worked here since the Reagan years is halfway through his instructions when the door opens and Raven steps through it. “The court secretary and I will serve as witnesses, since you don’t have your own…”

He continues speaking, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the woman who just entered the room. Her eyes hold mine as well, and my lungs tighten as I take in the sight of her.

She’s wearing a simple, knee-length cream dress with lace tiers forming the skirt. The top is a round scoop that shows off her mouth-watering cleavage, and it has quarter-length sleeves ending at her elbows with lace flowing onto her forearms.

She’s not wearing a veil. Instead, a pretty floral wreath is woven into her soft brown hair, which hangs in waves around her shoulders. Her amber eyes are framed in thick, dark lashes, and her pink lips are full and glossy. My hand instinctively rises to my stomach.

Our baby girl is on her hip, but for several moments, I only see Raven.

Haddy’s grumpy fuss breaks my stare, and I see she’s wearing a white dress made from that sheer fabric I always saw on Dylan’s ballet skirts. Tulle, I think? She also has a wreath of flowers in her hair, too, but they’re larger than her mama’s.

They’re also what’s causing her to fuss. A frown twists her small features, and she keeps reaching up to try and lift it off her head.

Raven moves her hands down again, putting a pacifier in her mouth. Axel is tucked under her arm, and when she sees me, everything changes.

She bounces on her mom’s hip. Her little hands reach out, and I laugh at how happy she is. Raven’s full lips curl with a smile, and I don’t know what to make of all these warm and zippy feelings in my stomach.

I’ve known a lot of people, but none have ever reached in and snatched my heart right out of my chest the way this tiny human has.

Jack’s daughter Kimmie always runs and yells when she sees me, but it’s different. We’re close, but she’s a lot more excited to jump on Grizz’s back than to hold her arms out to me.

Haddy, by contrast, seems to know I’m her dad, and she likes it.

The muscles in my shoulders tense. What does a baby girl want from a guy like me? I’m still learning, but whatever it is, I’ll do my best to give it to her.

Hell, if I have anything to do with it, she’ll never have a sad day in her life. Which is pretty much the reason we’re here.

The old man is back, touching my arm. “Ready to begin?”

I glance at Raven, who’s still waiting at the back door. She gives me a little nod, and I give her an encouraging smile.

“We’re ready,” I say .

“Let me turn this on!” The court secretary is an equally old lady with white hair styled in a round pouf around her head.

She scurries over to a side table and presses the button on a black, rectangular-shaped cassette player. With a loud click, it begins playing the wedding march.

The speaker is tinny with not enough bass, but the song is instantly recognizable.

Raven walks in time down the center of the room to where I’m standing, and my baby girl reaches for me. I take her, moving her into the crook of my arm, and she rests her head on my shoulder still sucking her pacifier.

I smile down at her pretty mamma. “You okay?”

My voice is quiet, and she blinks rapidly as she nods.

“You look really nice,” she whispers. “Very handsome.”

“You’re very beautiful.”

The tips of her ears turn pink, and she blinks away. “I always thought my wedding day would be different.”

My smile tightens, and I take her hand in mine. I don’t want her to be disappointed.

“It will—when you do it for real. It’ll be everything you want it to be.”

These words shouldn’t be bitter on my tongue. They’re the truth. The only reason I’m here is to help her get what she wants. I have to keep my thinking straight.

Her chin drops, and she shakes her pretty head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m being so sentimental. It must be the music.”

Thankfully, the old judge cuts in. “Let’s begin.” Our eyes move to him, and he turns to Raven. “We’ll start with the bride. Repeat after me. I, state your full name, take thee, state his name, to be my lawful wedded husband…”

Raven’s hand is small in mine, and I look down at her soft, olive skin. We only had one weekend together, but I know who she is. She’s independent and strong.

Like me, she has dreams and things she wants to accomplish, and I’m not going to be the reason she doesn’t get to make them come true.

Her voice is soft with a little rasp as she follows his instructions. “I, Raven Lorrain Gale take thee, Hendrix…”

Worried amber eyes fly to mine.

“James,” I provide quietly.

“I should know that,” she whispers, seeming flustered.

“No you shouldn’t.” I give her a reassuring smile.

She takes a breath and continues. “Take thee, Hendrix James Bradford, to be my lawfully wedded husband…”

We continue through the rest of the vows. We leave off the part where she promises to obey me, even though I thought we could have some fun with that.

Now it’s my turn. The judge tells me what to say, and the room falls quiet.

“I, Hendrix James Bradford take thee, Raven Lorrain Gale to be my lawfully wedded wife…” Our eyes lock, and something moves in my chest.

“To have and to hold, in sickness and in health…”

“...in sickness and in health,” I repeat.

I should’ve expected this to affect me, but damn , I had no idea I’d feel this way, like I’m taking ownership.

I’m one of the fastest runners in the league. All of this should make me want to run. I shouldn’t have this tightness in my stomach, this feeling that we’re doing something important.

Raven’s eyes travel over my face like she’s studying every reaction I have. I’m pretty sure she’s been studying my reactions since the day she arrived in LA to see if I’ll let her down.

I won’t.

Haddy is a curve ball neither of us saw coming, but Raven can handle it. I can help her. Maybe not with a poopy diaper, but with other things.

We finish the vows, then the judge glances between us. “May I have the rings?”

“Oh!” Raven lets out a soft gasp, but I’m prepared .

“Right here.” I place the two inexpensive yellow-gold bands I picked up this morning on his book of vows.

“What…” Her dark lashes flutter, and she looks up at me. “How did you know my ring size?”

“I guessed.”

The sales girl told me the average ring sizes, and I picked one from what I remembered, watching her take care of Haddy. She has delicate hands, slim fingers.

“Repeat after me.” The old man directs us to put each others’ rings on at the same time. “I give you this ring as a daily reminder of my commitment and love for you.”

We repeat the words, but this time our eyes don’t meet. They’re on the gold bands sliding on the third fingers of our left hands.

Raven’s tremble. Her voice is quiet. “It fits.”

My throat tightens, and we’d better wrap this up before I forget this is all an act. It’s the music and the small room, and it’s kind of warm in here. I think they’re running the heater.

It’s been a cyclone of a week. A lot of really big changes have hit me hard and fast, but I can take it. I grew up learning to hang on until the big wave passes.

I’ll get back to training next week, and things will go back to normal. Football is my life, and I’m only here to do a favor for a friend.

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The old man holds up both of his hands over us. “You may kiss the bride.”

Raven’s eyes widen almost like she’s afraid of what I’ll do. With a wink, I lean down to gently kiss her pink cheek. Her sweet, flowery scent swirls around us, and I want to bury my nose in her hair.

I don’t.

“Don’t worry, Rave.” I move my lips to her ear, speaking so only she can hear. “I know the rules.”

Her shoulder lifts, and she blinks away, looking at our little girl as the flush I know so well travels to her ears .

The old lady presses the button on the tape recorder again, and the wedding exit march begins. Haddy perks up, bouncing on my hip to the tune.

She finally gave up on trying to rip her floral headband off her head. Now her attention is back on me, and she lifts her chin, patting my cheeks with her damp little mitts.

“Da!” She announces happily, almost like she’s been thinking about it the entire ceremony. “Da-da-da!”

My expression changes, my eyes snapping to Raven’s.

She’s just as surprised. “Did she just say…?”

I’m not sure.

Haddy bounces on my hip, saying it again. “Da!” Then louder, almost a squeal. “Da- da !”

“That’s your first word?” Raven laughs in disbelief. “Seriously, Hads? After all I’ve done for you?”

The little girl’s eyes blink, and she laughs that cute baby laugh of hers. “Da-da-da!”

“That’s me!” I give her a bounce, pulling her closer to my chest for a hug. “I’m Dada!”

Reaching out, I wrap my arm around Raven’s shoulder, drawing her to my side. We’re standing in front of this judge who just pronounced us man and wife, and I’ll be damned.

My daughter just called me Dada .

I don’t believe in signs, and I’m not losing sight of what we’re doing here, but I won’t lie, nothing tops this moment.

Haddy twists against my hug, and I loosen my arm. She continues bouncing on my hip, patting my face and shoulder almost as if she knows she did something impressive.

She also hasn’t stopped saying it. “Da… da… da!”

“I’m not sure she knows what it means.” A hint of resentment is in Raven’s tone, and I chuckle more.

“She knows.” I can’t resist teasing her. “It only took her four days to figure out who’s the man.”

Raven exhales a groan. We’re walking slowly to the back of the room where we’ll sign the paperwork .

“I read somewhere it’s easier for babies to say the D sound than the M sound.” Raven is still rationalizing. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“It means something,” I counter.

“It means you haven’t stopped holding her since we got here.”

I don’t want to argue with her pretty mama on our special day, but this is the cherry on top of a crazy week. I lean down to kiss my daughter’s chubby neck as she squeals another Dada .

“Let’s get some cake.”