They arrived to find two other couples already waiting in line. The clerk must’ve been remarkably efficient, checking both out in less than five minutes. With a tired smile and worn-off makeup, the middle-aged clerk looked up. “How can I help you?”
“Good evening,” Finn greeted her with a flourish of his hand and a deep bow. “We need two marriage licenses, please.”
“Have you filled out your applications online?”
Though she was pleasant in her delivery, Steph could tell she’d probably asked the same question a thousand times every day for years.
Finn cocked his head. “No. We didn’t know we could.”
The woman leaned to the side and craned her head to check out the boisterous group, which now included Cole at the back, attempting to link arms with a mortified Jarrett.
“Those two with your group?” the clerk asked.
Finn rolled his eyes. “Yes, but they’re not getting married. Only four of us.”
“As long as no one else is in line behind you, you can just fill out your forms right here.” She slid some papers forward. “Print and sign at the bottom. Include your social security number. I’ll need to see picture ID—a driver’s license or passport.”
“Carina, you go first,” said Finn. “Then I’ll help Branson.”
Carina moved up beside Finn and quickly finished her part, flashing her driver’s license, which included an image worthy of a magazine cover.
Who looks that good on their driver’s license? Steph decided to keep hers in her purse until the last minute, lest anyone see her disastrous picture. The lady at the DPS office had attempted three previous shots, each one capturing Steph’s eyes closed. In the final attempt, Stephanie had held her eyes open so wide she looked like someone had punched her in the stomach. Over her objections, the DPS agent had pronounced it perfect. Steph had often considered misplacing her license rather than being stuck with the bug-eyed image for eight years.
Cole and Jarrett were laughing at a video on one of their cell phones, and they called Carina back, clearing the way for Finn to work his prank, putting her and Carina together on the marriage license.
“Stephanie, you can go next. Okay, sweetheart?” Finn gave her a wink.
The pen slipped in her sweaty fingers as she attempted to write her information down. She whispered, “No offense, Finn, but I’m nervous filling this out. You sure you can pull this off? And when are you going to tell her? What if she doesn’t think it’s funny?”
“No doubt, she won’t see the humor in it. But the rest of us will have a great laugh.” His elbow nudged her, and she glanced up to find him staring with unrepentant merriment in his eyes. “Stop worrying. She’ll be angry with me, not you. And I could care less.”
“If you say so.” She passed her driver’s license to the clerk, who gave it a summary inspection, compared it to her paperwork, and slid it back to her, face up. She sucked in a surprised breath and slapped her hand over it. Not quite fast enough.
“You take that picture at gunpoint?” Finn attempted to pry it from her fingers, then tickled her ribs and succeeded in snatching it away.
“You cheated,” she hissed, giggling. “Give that back.”
“Sorry, sweetheart.” He guffawed, holding it out of reach and ogling her fish-eyed expression. “I can’t pass this up. It’s a perfect distraction. Hey, Jarrett! Catch!”
To her complete horror, he tossed her license to the back of the room, into Jarrett’s waiting hands.
“Nooooooo!” She scrambled after him as he held the license high, displaying it to Cole and Carina. “Give me that!”
“Stephanie,” Cole cackled as Jarrett passed him the license in a cruel game of keep-away. “Back in Texas, we’d say you look like you got stuck with a cattle prod.”
“So not funny,” Stephanie replied, though she couldn’t help laughing. “Be nice. I’m injured.”
“I think you look cute,” Jarrett argued. “Kind of like a baby owl.”
Carina opened her mouth to comment, but Stephanie sent her the murderous look she’d used for years on Ellie when she’d been misbehaving. Carina bit her lips, instead. Wise move.
“Okay,” Finn announced. “We’re all done.”
“I’ll take ours.” Carina waltzed up to Finn, her hand outstretched.
“I have it, safe and sound, and I’m keeping it.” Branson’s grim expression brooked no argument as he patted the chest of his tuxedo.
Steph wondered if Carina would find a way to steal it.
“Let’s get back to the tournament,” said Cole as he handed Steph’s license back. “Hey, Stephanie. Don’t be upset. Shock and awe looks good on you.”
“Cole, you are walking on thin ice,” Jarrett replied. “Did you see the look Steph gave you? She’s about to put you in time-out.”
“Time-out, I can handle.” Cole held up his palms in mock terror. “I was afraid she might stick that license where the sun doesn’t shine.”
Branson had a concierge doctor waiting in the lobby when they returned to the hotel. He insisted on remaining behind with Stephanie, since he needed to authorize his employer insurance, but sent the others back to the tournament. Carina hesitated, giving Steph a dirty look, but Cole propelled her forward, whispering something hilarious in her ear, her strident laughter echoing off the high ceilings.
Though the baby-faced guy wore a white coat with M.D. emblazoned on the pocket, Steph could hardly believe he was a doctor. With wide eyes and sparse beard, he could’ve been high school aged. As he poked and prodded her ankle, Steph bit her lip to keep from crying out. Breaking out in a cold sweat, she quickly shed her wrap and gripped the arms of the chair.
This innocent-looking kid is a sadist.
She hissed in pain as he twisted it one direction and back the other.
“You sprained your ankle,” he said.
Duh. Thanks for nothing.
