Officer Stepbrother Page 9

  Soon enough, we were pulling up at the courthouse and shuffling out of the car. Brent’s partner Vince was already waiting for us inside, slapping Brent on the back and shaking my hand as he offered us both his congratulations.

  Even though we had been outed to our parents, we had been primarily keeping our relationship under wraps for the past two weeks. With the exception of Vince, Brent hadn’t shared the news with anyone at the station and he didn’t plan to until after we tied the knot.

  I was practically vibrating in my seat with nervous energy as we waited for our turn. My mom was doing the same and I was elated to see that she seemed to be genuinely happy. It might have only been because she had been included, but I liked to think that in some way, she was offering her support to us as a couple as well.

  “Brent Jordison and Zoe Andrews?”

  All four of us stood up at once and Brent reached down to take my hands in his. We made our way into the courtroom where mom stood by my side and Vince stood by Brent’s.

  I was in a daze as the justice of the peace went through the traditional spiel, unable to focus on the words as I stared hard at Brent. He was staring right back at me, a goofy grin on his face and I knew he wasn’t hearing a word the man was saying either.

  We agreed not to exchange vows as part of the ceremony, deciding to do so privately instead, so when Brent stopped the older man from handing us the rings, I felt a wave of panic move through me.

  What the hell is he doing?

  “Zoe, I know we agreed to save our vows for later but I just want to say something.”

  My heart felt like it was going to burst right out of my chest, it was beating so hard. I nodded, silently willing him to continue.

  “You know better than anyone how shitty I am with emotional stuff,” he started and I almost snorted at the look of shock on the justice of the peace’s face. “Everything that’s happened between us was… unexpected, to say the least. And fast. Most people would probably say too fast, but fuck most people.”

  I nearly lost it at that point, between the older man’s scandalized expression and my mom’s loud guffaw.

  “I just wanted to say that I love you, Zoe. And I plan on loving you forever, even if sometimes I’m a dick who forgets to say it.”

  “Oh, Brent. I love you, too,” I sighed, my eyes tearing up with emotion.

  The justice of the peace cleared his throat. “Um, is that all?”

  “Yeah, I’m done,” Brent confirmed as he reached for the rings. “Sorry.”

  “That’s quite alright. Now, Brent, repeat after me…”

  We repeated the lines we were told to and slid the rings on each other’s fingers. When the man finally said, “You may kiss the bride,” we were already a step ahead of him.

  My mom and Vince clapped as Brent spun me around in the air like he loved to do and I smiled against his lips.

  When we pulled away, the other three people within earshot were loudly chattering so I leaned down to Brent’s ear and whispered, “My vows are a little less wordy.”

  Brent’s eyebrows raised. “Oh really? I can’t wait to feel-- hear-- them.”

  The two of us laughed and after we all signed the required documents, Brent and I walked hand in hand out of the courthouse. My mom graciously accepted the offer of a ride home from Vince so that us newlyweds could have some alone time.

  When we got to the car, I pulled Brent’s left hand to mine and snapped a photograph of our ring-clad fingers with my cell phone. He looked curious but didn’t ask what I was doing as I sent the picture to Danny, captioned with a message.

  ‘If not for you, this never would have happened. So thanks, you piece of shit! :-)’

  I turned over the phone to show the message to Brent and he roared with laughter before starting the car and driving out of the parking lot, the two of us ready to begin the rest of our lives together.

  Starting with my vows, I thought to myself, licking my lips as I leaned over Brent’s lap and reached for his zipper.

  It was going to be a long night.

  ~*~*~

  THE END

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  Dominion (Alpha Domain series, #1)

  Hunger

  Psycho Stepbrother

  Hurricane

  In My Stepbrother’s Sheets

  Alphas, Ménages, and Stepbrothers: Oh My! (Short Story Collection)

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