The waiting room felt colder than I expected. The walls were cream but dull, and the ticking clock on the far end did nothing to soothe the nerves crawling up my spine.
Zayne sat beside me silently. James had stepped away to speak with someone at the desk, leaving us in a quiet so thin I could hear the faint hum of the vending machine nearby.
It wasn't a grand wedding. No flowers, no music, no aisle. Just a legal process and a signed document.
It was a fake wedding. But still a wedding. I found it a humourless joke how all my firsts were with Zayne and neither was planned. First kiss, first night, first kids, and now first time getting married.
The thought of that made my fingers trembled where they rested in my lap.
"Are you okay?" Zayne asked softly.
I nodded, even though I wasn't sure. "It's just… surreal."
"I know." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "If it helps, I'm nervous too."
That surprised me. "You?"
He glanced over at me with a crooked smile. "I've never been fake-married before. Kind of a big step."
I smiled at that. It was ridiculous, and yet… comforting. "Well, if we're doing this, we might as well be nervous together."
We sat like that for a while, side by side but not touching, until the clerk called out our names.
"Lia David," she said, glancing at the paper in front of her. "Zayne Aster. You're up."
I stood, my knees slightly unsteady. Zayne offered his hand again, like he had earlier. This time, I didn't hesitate as long. I slipped my fingers into his, and even though my grip was light, he held me steady.
The courtroom was smaller than I thought it would be. Clean, simple, with pale wooden floors and rows of chairs on either side. A single table at the front held a stack of papers, and a judge— an older woman with a kind face, stood waiting.
"Good morning," she greeted us with a smile. "This won't take long."
James stood off to the side, hands in his pockets, a knowing smirk on his face as he gave us a small thumbs-up.
"You're both here for a civil marriage, yes?"
"Yes," we said in unison.
Zayne cleared his throat. "It's a… practical arrangement."
The judge raised an eyebrow, but she didn't question it. "Understood."
She walked us through the process—names, signatures, oaths. I barely heard her. My focus was on my own breathing, on the soft pressure of Zayne's hand still holding mine.
"This part requires both of you to repeat after me," the judge said.
I swallowed.
"I, Zayne Aster, take you, Lia David…"
Zayne spoke the words calmly. If he felt any different on the inside, his demeanor didn't show it.
"…to be my lawfully wedded wife." His eyes flicked up to meet mine, and I looked away shyly.
Then it was my turn. I repeated the same words back, but the moment I said "husband", my voice almost faltered.
It wasn't real. And yet, somehow, saying it out loud made it feel like it was.
The judge smiled at us. "And with that, you are now legally married. Congratulations."
It was done.
I'm now a married woman.
Just like that.
She stamped the paper and handed us our copy. "I hope you two lovebirds get to celebrate your wedding after this." She zeroed in on Zayne, "Don't let go of a woman like her young man."
"I won't." Zayne turned to me, an unreadable expression on his face.
The judge nodded with satisfaction, gave us one last look, and left.
Zayne turned to me. "That's it, then."
"Yep." My voice felt small and strained.
There was a pause. I didn't know what to do— hug him? Shake his hand? Was I supposed to say something? My thoughts were jumbled and all over the place.
Before I could make up my mind, James walked over and broke the tension. "Well, that was the most romantic fake wedding I've ever seen."
Zayne rolled his eyes. "Don't start."
"I'm just saying." James looked between us. "You two sold that pretty well. For a second there I thought it wasn't fake."
Zayne glanced at me, and I gave a small smile, unsure of how to feel.
James turned to me, softening. "Seriously, congratulations… or whatever is appropriate here."
I chuckled under my breath. "Thanks."
"We should go," Zayne said. "The kids are probably wondering where we are."
"Right." I followed him out, James trailing behind us.
"I still can't believe you're a father now." James gave Zayne a pat on the back— or rather a hit. "With not one but two kids!... I never thought I'd live to see this day." He burst out laughing.
"Best believe it," Zayne peeled his hand off of him. "You'll meet them soon so be on your best behavior." He warned.
"Ah, I'm good with kids... how bad could it be?"
Zayne and I shared a knowing look. Oh, he had no idea who he was dealing with. Those two are a force never to be reckoned with.
Outside, the sun had climbed higher in the sky. The city buzzed around us. Cars passing, people talking, life going on like nothing monumental had just happened in that tiny courtroom.
I walked beside Zayne in silence. His shoulder brushed mine, and I didn't move away.
"You okay?" he asked again, softer this time.
I nodded. "Yeah. Just… a lot to process."
We reached the car, and before we got in, I looked at him.
He wasn't the same man I met four years ago. And I wasn't the same girl who left without saying goodbye.
We were older now. Wiser. Tired in different ways. But maybe, just maybe, this version of us had a shot at something real... even if we were pretending.
Of course, I didn't say any of that out loud. I couldn't even believe the thought crossed my mind. Instead, I climbed into the car and buckled my seatbelt.
Zayne joined me on the driver's side, and before starting the engine, he looked over. "I have something for you." He reached over and pulled out a box from his pockets. A lovely silver ring rested inside it.
"It's beautiful." I stared at it at a loss for words. That ring alone looked like it costed a fortune. "I... I can't accept this."
"I won't force you," he began, "but I want you to have this... it might be a contractual marriage but I still want to do things right."
I nodded, blinking away the tears that stung my eyes. Why was I even crying?
Zayne removed the ring from It's box and carefully placed it on my finger. "It fits perfectly." He smiled with satisfaction.
"Thank you." I whispered. "It means a lot."
"We'll be okay," he said quietly.
I nodded, desperately wanting to believe him. "I hope so."
He reached out and gently rested his hand over mine. I didn't resist this time, didn't shake or hesitate. I just let it be.