Chapter 17: Ninety Dollars

Rafe's POV

The hallway at Reno city hall had not changed in three years.

It had the same beige tile and the same bench.

The same window at the end still looked out at a parking structure.

Lydia stood under it in a green dress, holding a bunch of grocery-store carnations.

"Right here," she said. "This is where we stood. I remember the light."

"The light was fluorescent."

"You're so unromantic." She laughed and straightened my collar.

"The photographer is stuck in traffic. Forty minutes. We have the hall to ourselves."

I had the phone in my breast pocket, recording.

I had pressed the red button in the cab, and I had checked it twice in the elevator.

Casey did not know I was here.

Eli had texted me the deadline that morning. Noon on the thirteenth, or a stranger in a gray overcoat sold her house.

That threat still stood, and every minute in this hallway was a minute closer to it.

I had not called her, because the clause forbade it.

Also, I could not say her name yet without my voice doing something.

"You're not wearing your ring," Lydia said.

"It's in the loft. I didn't want to lose it on a plane."

"Hm."

She took my left hand and turned it over, and looked at the bare finger.

Her own hand was warm in mine. On her right was the thin gold band.

I had bought it in this building's lobby, from a jewelry cart, for ninety dollars.

She had forgotten to buy rings, and I had panicked.

She had called it her grandmother's ring to every person we knew for three years.

"Lyd," I said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything, baby."

"Why Reno?"

She blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"Why did we get married in Reno on a Tuesday in March, with no one there? Why did it have to be secret?"

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