Chapter 4: Something new

- SIENNA-

I was almost done with my makeup when the doorbell rang. I ran to open it and found Michelle and Haley standing on my doormat.

"Girl, you look amazing," Michelle said and hugged me. "I can’t believe my baby is getting married before me."

"Oh, shut up, Michelle," I replied. Poor Hank wanted to marry you the day after you met him. You’re the one stalling." I pull away and adjust my new dress. It's a boho-style white lace sundress with puff sleeves, fitted bodice, and a flare A-line skirt that falls just above my knees. I loved it at first sight and plan on wearing it again and again. It’s not a real wedding dress, anyway. I paired it with my satin peep-toe heels that showed off my legs and left my dark blonde hair down in big waves.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this? It’s still time to call it quits.” Harper mentioned again while she hugged me. She is still against the whole idea. "It is your wedding, for Christ's sake. Don't pretend that it doesn't mean anything to you."

"You know pretty well that it doesn’t." I answer honestly. It was never in my plans to get married. I really can’t commit enough to being in a relationship, especially a serious one. I don’t believe it can bring me anything good. "And it's not like I'm tied to a wall with a chain. The lawyer specified all the details in the marriage contract. Either party can back out at any time without any repercussions. And if we go through, the contract automatically dissolves at the end of the hockey season in one year. Matt just plans to stay here temporarily and wants to be traded back to his old team in Vancouver. Hopefully, my finances will be under control by then."

"Talking about Matt..." Harper suddenly smirks. "That guy is insanely hot! Michelle was not describing him correctly the other day. I wouldn't mind hooking up with him if I were you. He'll be your husband anyway. It will literally be your obligation as a wife."

"Oh no, don't go there," Michelle disagreed. "You'd sleep with him once and want to kick him out of the house. And that would be a huge problem because you can’t. By the end, you’ll have to hide from a guy that lives with you".

"I totally agree. There is definitely something that is not in my future plans. And we have agreed to live separate lives anyway, considering each other. Also, neither of us will be able to bring anyone home for sex." I get lost in my thoughts about what it will be like to have someone to share the house with again since my mother passed away. I tuck my hair behind my ear and gaze at my friends.

Harper looked shocked for a moment."Oh, no, no, no, you're not wearing your pearl earrings. You know what my grandmother used to say? Pearls mean tears to brides. Trade earrings with me. My aquamarine earrings will be something blue and also something borrowed. Your dress is new, and your shoes are old, right? So we've covered all the bases. Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. We can't afford any more bad luck."

"You know I don't believe that nonsense, right?" I said, but I traded the earrings with her anyway. "Shall we go, or are we still waiting for Hank to come? Have you called an Uber already? I can't walk very far in these heels."

"Yeah, the driver is 10 minutes away. Hank's meeting us at the Courthouse along with Matt. He called himself the groom's best man." Michelle rolled her eyes.

It takes about 25 minutes to get to the courthouse. The guys were waiting for us at the front door. Hank, who is facing the street, saw us as we stepped out of the Uber and smiled. Matt turned to look at us, and I think I lost the ability to breathe. The man is a sinner in a white pressed shirt with a dark gray suit. I thought he was hot before in the blue Henley that he wore when we met, but this is a whole other level. I think my panties just melted.

He looked at me with an expression I couldn't decipher. I guess this is progress because at least he's not scowling like the other day. And I am sure I looked good today.

"Hi", I said to him, breathless. What the hell is happening to me? I cleared my throat. "You two look great." OK, that sounded stupid. Obviously, I'm referring to Matt because Hank is wearing what looks like an old bowling shirt.

Matt answers with a bored expression. "We have to make it look like a real wedding, don't we? Were you expecting me to show up in sports gear ?" He doesn't even bother to mention what I look like.

Never mind. The jerk was back, and my attraction was gone."Let's get this over with". Now I was pissed.

We enter the building and find the location of the ceremony. After 15 minutes, everything is finished. Surreal. I didn't ever have to kiss the guy, and now I am married. Meanwhile, Harper made sure to take lots of pictures, in an attempt to document proof that the event was legitimate.

I know I never dreamed of getting married, but the whole situation made me a little sad. After seeing what happened to my mother and her set of circumstances with my father, my view of marriage has been somewhat clouded. Well, to be honest, I don't believe in a happy ending for a relationship between two people.

We all come back to my apartment, and the girls notice my sour mood, but they don’t say anything. Hank went straight to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of Prosecco. He popped the cork and served it in some glasses that Michelle took out from the cabinets.

"Let´s make a toast", Hank said with his pearly smile contrasting with his dark skin. We all grab a glass and turn to each other. "To the unexpected couple who were the first of our friends to get married. May you be able to find support for each other to solve your problems during the next year. And may you overcome the issue of Matt having to shower in his suite, Sienna.

"Matt narrowed his eyes and turned to me. "Did you forget to mention something to me, Sienna?"