Chasing Clouds

by Kathryn Andrews

“It’s time to make that move,” he says, and a gasp slips through my lips as my eyes widen.

“It’s time to make that move,” he says, and a gasp slips through my lips as my eyes widen.

Approaching her slowly, I pull her into me. She tucks her arms between us and buries her face in my chest. I shouldn’t be touching her, much less holding her this close, but right this moment, I don’t care.

Approaching her slowly, I pull her into me. She tucks her arms between us and buries her face in my chest. I shouldn’t be touching her, much less holding her this close, but right this moment, I don’t care.

Through the fear, he gives me a one-sided smile, and deep down I know everything is going to be okay.

With every step they take, I relax and sink back deeper into the arms of a man who’s a complete stranger and now my hero. Bending down, he rests his mouth next to my ear and whispers, “It’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.”

I know without a doubt I could have walked by myself, but the smile on his face is priceless. He whispers that he’s proud of me, and although this moment is fleeting, I’d do it all over again just to hear those words from him.

The church is so silent you can hear the cicadas outside in the trees. This time no one answers, and as the minister continues, I let out a sigh of relief.

Grandfather guides us farther forward and shakes Reid’s hand. “Congratulations, son. I know the two of you will be very happy together.” He smiles brightly then leans over to kiss me on the cheek. “I’m very proud of you. Things always have a way of working out for the best—never forget that.”

I don’t know her, but after this morning, it seems I would do anything for her. Shit.

I will no longer be anyone’s doormat. I am not a pushover, and I refuse to allow people to treat me this way anymore.

“Stay away from us,” he growls. He doesn’t even need to say or else; it’s implied, and my father knows it. Glancing once more at Grandfather, who is grinning at us, I shake my head in disbelief.

Hell, I’m giving her props for even showing up. I would have given the one-finger salute as I drove away as fast as possible. No wonder she married me; why would anyone want this life?

“So, if you would, please raise your glasses. Here’s to Reid and Camille. Together, may you both find your way, fall in love every single day, and always listen to what your heart has to say—it’ll never steer you wrong.” Everyone raises their glass and takes a sip. “Now, go make me an uncle!”

The thing about marriage is I’ve always considered myself allergic to it—like, break out in hives at the mere suggestion of it—but today, I don’t really feel itchy, just more uncomfortable about the unknown. Maybe it’s because this marriage is fake, or maybe it’s because deep down I know I have nothing to lose . . . like my heart.

Are you in some kind of trouble?” She doesn’t sound put off, more like she’s gone into mama bear mode. “Not anymore. At least I don’t think so,” I answer honestly. “Well, did Reid tell you we know people? You just say the word.” A laugh escapes me, and Reid smiles.

It’s time for you to stop listening to everyone else and decide for yourself. What do you want to do?”

For as long as we are a we, I’m yours.” I roll my lips between my teeth and watch him. His eyes widen just a little, but they never break from mine. “I’m yours, too,” he says, letting out a deep breath.

it hits me: he wants to go out with me. With me. I don’t know why this gets me so excited, but it does.

Nothing would make me happier than to have the world see us out and together. I have nothing to hide, but I know she does—herself.

It also occurs to me that I’m liking all of this just a little too much, things I’ve never liked with anyone: her in my home, her sharing meals with me, her out in public with me, her touching me, her on my arm for others to see—her, her, her.

“A Yankee turned Southerner.”

Who cares? I certainly don’t care what you look like. I think you’re beautiful whether you’re dressed up for our wedding or climbing out of bed in the morning. It’s all the same to me, because all of it is you. You have to live your life, and you can’t be worried about what others think all the time.” He said ‘our wedding,’ and I think a piece of my heart broke off and blew his way.

“All right, but . . . Reid, man, I hope you’ll allow yourself to let go and have some fun. This little arrangement might work out well if you let it.”

‘Music is the only thing that understands and can respond to all emotions of the heart. When you’re happy you hear the melody, when you’re angry you focus on the beat, and when you’re sad you listen to the lyrics.’”

Sometimes the best surprises are the unexpected ones, and, Camille, you were really unexpected.”

“What made you do it? What made you change your mind?” Bryan asks, looking at her. She gives him a little smile then turns to me. “When you know, you know, and I just knew. It was time to make that move, and our story needed a chance.”

“After I objected and walked up to the altar, she turned around, saw me, and laughed. Stopping that wedding was the craziest thing I’ve ever done, and she laughed at me.” The entire group starts laughing, and Jack slaps me on the back. “No, no, no! It wasn’t like that at all!” Camille protests. “Yes, it was, princess, but don’t worry about it. In the end, I still got the girl.”

He leads the way, and I follow. I would follow him anywhere.

“Absolutely not. Like it or not, for now you are my wife, and I take care of what’s mine.”

I’m not supposed to be falling for my fake wife.

Dreams are fake, not reality. If something is important enough to me, I’ll make it happen. It’s as simple as that.”

Is it wrong that as she talks about the things on her list, the wheels in my brain start turning as to how I can make all of them happen? That would imply that we are going to be together longer than the two months, though, something neither one of us has talked about.

“Camille, I want this so bad. I want you so bad. You have no idea . . . weeks,” he mumbles against my skin. I turn my head to look at him; his lips are swollen and just inches away. “Then what are you waiting for?”

This moment . . . Him . . . All of it . . . He’s just saved me and ruined me at the same time.

“I want you to know I had a really good time here with you. Every minute exceeded what I could have ever imagined. No regrets.”

She calms the storm in me, and I wonder, This can’t be wrong, can it?

With my hands on her hips and a slight shake of my head to keep her silent, I pull her closer until her chest brushes mine and my lips seal onto hers. Hours and hours I’ve spent kissing her over the last few weeks, but this kiss feels different, more. It’s unhurried, deeper, more sentimental and tragic at the same time.

She’s my wife, I’m her husband, and what we just shared was real and true. I made love to my wife.

“My favorite thing we did was everything, because I got to be with you.”

“Why? Why are you again letting someone else make the decision for you?”

He also doesn’t speak to me again. He looks for me the minute he’s awake then proceeds to glare until he falls asleep once again.

I’m not sure I even take one breath, but the second the door clicks shut, my heart splinters right down the middle, leaving me gasping for air.

You asked me why I did all this, and the answer is simple: it was love at first sight. I might not have recognized these feelings in the beginning, but they made themselves very clear, very quickly, and I would do anything for you, any time. I’ll always be here for you.

I never thought a girl like you would ever marry a guy like me. Thank you for saying yes.

No one would blame him for walking away and saying enough is enough. Love isn’t always enough.

Clutching them to my chest, my eyes catch on the jar of shells I placed next to the planes. Some are broken and some are whole, but together they are all beautiful, just

like Reid and me, and now, knowing he feels this way, I can’t give up. I won’t give up, at least not until I’ve given it my all.

“Going somewhere?” “Yes,” I reply, but I don’t tell him where. Instead, I just stand there, staring at him like he might disappear if I blink too many times.

It’s quite possible that once he enters, I’ll lock the door and never let him leave.