When We're Thirty Casey Dembowski (the chimp paradox .TXT) 📖

The words shattered Will’s resolve to appear as close to neutral about the situation as he could. His breath caught in his chest, his heart raced, and his voice trembled. Hannah was all he could see—strands of light-brown hair falling across her cheeks from the wind, the curve of her lips as she smiled at him. It had always been and would always be Hannah. How had he ever thought differently?

Chapter 14Hannah

“To love and honor you for all the days of my life.” The words reverberated through her body, sinking into her skin and bones. Most people imagined saying something akin to those words while standing in front of family and friends and professing their complete love for another person.

At the start of the ceremony, she’d felt playful. The train ride across the city and the power walk up the High Line—in heels, no less, which had done her knee no favors—had boosted her confidence. Things with Brian were settled. The ceremony represented the start of a new path, unconventional though it may be. Under that excitement, she was a pile of nerves. When Eddie had talked about choosing each other, Hannah understood, maybe for the first time, that that was exactly what love was really about. Those buried emotions had bubbled under the surface and, god, she had high-fived Eddie. Will had clearly thought it was cute. But it was more than that—the high-five had loosened the reins, and the levity of the moment hit her. It was her wedding.

For better or for worse, today would always be a part of Hannah’s story. Today mattered. And it wasn’t how she ever expected, but standing there, hands interlocked with Will’s, Kate and Stephanie at her side, in her favorite spot in her city, it was perfect. Will’s vows, whether they were ones he had found or written himself, had been flawless. Instead of talking about unconditional love, they spoke of encouragement and support and laughter—all things that couples shared but also things that Will and Hannah had once shared and would share again. As she had repeated the vows, her eyes locked on Will’s, they weren’t a lie. She did promise to encourage him, to support him, and to always be open and honest with him, because they had been best friends. And in their friendship, there was no other way to be.

Hannah shifted her weight, trying to find a comfortable position for her knee in her heels. But it had been too long since she’d worn real heels, and she’d walked much too far. She’d known better.

“Are you okay?” Will whispered, turning a concerned eye toward her.

Perfect. She’d been late, and now her stupid knee was upending the ceremony. “It’s fine. It’s just heels and I don’t get along that well.”

“Here.” Kate pulled out a pair of rolled-up flats from her clutch. “I had a feeling you were going to need these.”

Stephanie snickered—the same sound she’d made when Hannah had arrived in the heels. Her exact words as she pulled her into a hug had been “You finally agree to wear heels today of all days?” So maybe Hannah had put up a fight about anything higher than a kitten heel for Stephanie’s wedding, but this was hers.

Hannah slipped the flats onto her feet, expecting them to be jokingly large—Kate wore shoes two sizes bigger than hers—but no, Kate had gotten these special. “Thank you!”

She chanced a look at Will. He had his hands in his pockets and the same amused grin she’d seen on him a million times before—his “only Hannah” grin. Except now, in light of the information she’d gleaned from Kate’s cryptic warning, Hannah didn’t know how to take that smile. Her whole understanding of Will was being colored by Kate’s admission, up to and including the marriage pact she’d so blithely agreed to all those years ago. Most people who made marriage pacts ended up in relationships. At least, that’s what the internet said. Had Will’s plan been to make the pact and woo her after Europe? He couldn’t have planned for Paul. Only Hannah would travel halfway around the world and come back with a boyfriend from her hometown.

Eddie cleared his throat, and Hannah straightened, relinking her hands with Will’s. She mouthed “I’m sorry,” but Will only shrugged before directing his gaze back to Eddie.

“The rings?”

Rings? Married people had wedding bands, but there must be some protocol for ringless weddings. Wedding tattoos were all the rage now, right? Wouldn’t Will have prepped Eddie for that? But no, Eddie looked at them expectantly.

“Oh, right.” Will took a tiny box out of his suit pocket. It was that particular shade of purple associated with one of the city’s finest jewelers.

Eddie took the box without a word, handing a ring to Hannah. It was thin and flat—not curved—and was most likely made of platinum, or maybe titanium. It would look good on Will. She attempted to peek at the ring in Will’s hand, but he shielded it from her view.

“From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment that is also never-ending. Will, please take Hannah’s hand and repeat after me.” Eddie paused while Will and Hannah reconfigured their hands.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor, and respect you.” Will’s voice remained steady as he repeated after Eddie, and the ring slipped seamlessly over her knuckle.

Hannah’s breath caught at its delicate beauty. With its sparkling half pavé, the slim band was the perfect complement to her left hand. It would fit comfortably under her engagement ring, but she also knew—and she bet Will did, too—that it looked even nicer on its own.

“This seemed more your style,” he said, leaning close to her. “I know the engagement ring is a bit much.”

Tears rushed to her eyes, forcing their way to the surface with little warning. She sucked in a breath, a few