He Gave Her an Hour, I Chose Another Groom in Seconds Chapter 04
I watched them walk away and slowly unclenched my stiff fingers. I sat alone inside city hall, waiting.
When only five couples remained ahead of me, I texted Silas: [Five parties left. You can head back now.]
He replied instantly: [Willa and I are still waiting to order food. Five couples? That’s still a long wait. Stop rushing.]
I locked my phone screen, A chill settled in my chest.
Two more numbers were called on the screen. I messaged him again: [Only three couples left. Hurry back, or we’ll miss it.]
This time, he took ages to reply. Another number was called before his reply finally came through: [Why the rush? We just got our food. Wait a little longer.]
With only one couple left ahead of me, hurried footsteps echoed behind me. My heart jumped, and I spun around.
Charlie Hart.
Our eyes met. He leaned forward, breathless, and smiled at me. “Chloe. I made it. I finally got here on time.”
At that exact moment, the loudspeaker announced my ticket number: “Party number twenty-one, please proceed to the window for your marriage license.”
I smiled. I slipped my arm through Charlie’s and sat down at the counter.
The clerk handed us paperwork to fill out our marriage applications. I glanced sideways; Charlie’s hands trembled slightly with excitement.
Once we finished writing, the clerk asked the standard question. “Are both of you certain you wish to proceed?”
I nodded.
Charlie suddenly spoke up. “Wait.”
He turned to face me. “Chloe, are you absolutely sure? If you marry me, I’m never letting you go. Even if Silas…”
He was cut short by Silas’s ringtone blasting from my purse. I answered.
Noise flooded the line. “Chloe, we’ll have to try another day. It’s almost half past eleven. Willa and I just left the Fondue Restaurant. We won’t make it back in time. Willa mistook wine for soda and overdid it. She’s wasted. I need to drive her home. Go back to your place for now.”
A quiet laugh escaped me. I was completely done with Silas. “No need. I got the marriage license this morning.”
“That’s nonsense. I wasn’t there. How could you possibly get the license without me? It was a genuine emergency. Willa’s—”
I cut him off before he could pile on more excuses. “Silas, we’re breaking up.”
I ended the call.
Then I looked back at the clerk. “I’m certain.”
Charlie didn’t say a word. He just laced his fingers tightly through mine and held on.
The clerk handed over our official marriage license.
I lifted it, snapped a photo, and posted it to Instagram: Forever starts with you.
I turned to Charlie and smiled. “Let’s go. Mom’s waiting for us at home for lunch.”
Back at the parking lot, Silas was settling a drunken Willa into the passenger seat when a friend called him. He picked up, greeted by his friend’s cheerful voice.
“Congrats, Silas! I just saw Chloe’s Instagram post of the marriage license. You two finally got your license! I’ll give you a huge wedding gift when the day comes.”
Silas froze, confused. “What are you talking about? I’m not at city hall. How could Chloe possibly get married without me there?”
The laughter on the line vanished. His friend double-checked the screen, then said in a panic.
“Wait…Silas, you need to see this. Chloe’s marriage license doesn’t have your name. She married someone else.”