no blood test. Nonresidents of Delaware have to wait 96 hours from the time they apply. All we’d have to do is register with the city as officiates.”
I gingerly look at Finn and then at Julie and to Simone. “Jeez, you guys have really researched and prepared for this.”
“Yes, we have!” Julie beams happily. “So, Happy Easter, Finn and Hadley!”
“Whoa, hold on .” Finn drops his fork noisily onto his plate. “Who says we’re doing this?”
“We do, big bro. Wilderness, you know you want to marry Hadley. We all know it. Just admit it already and let’s get this over with.”
He glares at her. “Bite one, Simone.” If that doesn’t pronounce, “I don’t,” then I’m not sure what else would.
Julie almost bounces in her chair. “Come on, Finn! We’ll even drive down to Richmond Monday morning and you two can apply that morning. We can have you married by lunch.”
Angling his head toward his mother, he scathingly replies, “Yeah, because I really want to spend our honeymoon in the backseat of my car in a damn parking lot.”
Crossing my arms, I softly clear my throat, trying to curb his vitriol. Finn circumspectly glances at me, but I unwittingly look away from him and out the window as Simone observes our silent exchange.
Chrissie states, “Just do it, already, Finn. Damn. We all know you two are meant to be together forever. Just marry Hadley.”
“Not you, too?” he fumingly barks and I tear my gaze from the window back to him. His clenched jaw wavers as he deliberates his glare on his mother.
Ricky laughs. “They got you good, Wilder! I don’t think you can say no now!”
Simone leans on the table and pleads with her brother. “Come on, Wilderness! Get down on your knee and ask her right now! You don’t need a ring this minute. You can go get one after we eat.” She gleefully grins at him. “Then you can have your honeymoon upstairs while we all watch a movie!” Everyone, except for Finn and I laugh. I don’t want to be in that bed right now with him. This is so awkward for me. Now he’s going to reject me in front of his family. That’ll be extra special.
I peer up at Finn and unexpectedly see an odd look in his eyes as they flicker around the table. He looks torn. About what? Starting another fight with me? I’m not saying a word this time. I already know how he feels.
“If you’re going to propose to her right now, wait until I get my camera!” Julie gets up and leaves the room. “Don’t do it without me!” she elatedly yells from somewhere outside the dining room.
“Fuck,” Finn mutters down into his plate. Fabulous. This situation is worse than I originally thought.
“Finn, do it!” Simone orders with a smile that could brighten a cosmic black hole. “You know you want to so much! It’s killing you not to marry your woman! You seriously want to!”
“Shut up, Simone.” Finn growls warningly. Yep. Way worse.
Julie runs back into the room. “Okay. Finn, go ahead!” I close my eyes, wishing I really weren’t there.
“I’m not doing it here, so just sit down,” Finn replies irritably.
“Oooh! Does that mean that you are going to?” Simone squeals.
“Simone! Shut the hell up!” he yells at her. From the corner of my eye, I see him briefly glance at me and then down to his plate again.
“I think he’s actually going to do it!” Simone whispers boisterously to her mom. “He just doesn’t want to do it in front of all of us!”
“Leave him alone!” Chrissie interjects.
Julie says, “Finn, just so you know, we can drive down anytime to do it.”
“Mother,” he gripes and takes a drink of his water. I really want to be somewhere else. The trunk of my car sounds nice right now.
“What, Finn? Don’t you want your sister or me to marry you?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s illegal in all 50 states,” Ricky quips.
“Good one,” Chrissie praises him.
Julie counters, “You know what I mean, Finn.”
Finn stoically sits back
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