down to the courthouse and file the paperwork together. We’ll slip out of work separately and take care of it. It’s gonna be the best kind of satisfaction, knowing you’re my wife and not his.”
She lets out a relieved breath. “This really could work.”
“It will. I’ll always protect you, Gemma,” I reassure her. “Now we just have to figure out how to get him away for a bit so we can move your things back to your place and change the locks. Should do a security system, too. Once everything’s done, you can tell him to fuck off.”
She chuckles, and the sound is so goddamn sweet. “I feel like I can finally breathe again. I can’t believe we’re really doing this—getting hitched,” she gushes.
“I told you we’d get through this together, and I meant it. Though I still want you to have the wedding of your dreams, sweetheart. The one you always talked about having when you were a teenager. I don’t want you to be robbed from that,” I say genuinely.
“I’d get married to you anywhere, Tyler. Courthouse. Church. Hell, even inside the deli if we had to. You’re enough for me and always have been,” she confirms. “As long as it’s us, I’ll be the happiest person alive.”
I chuckle, almost shocked by where this conversation has gone because it wasn’t promising ten minutes ago. “I promise to give you the wedding you deserve one day, but right now, we need to just make it legal. Let’s go to the courthouse on Monday. Maybe ask your dad if we can go in to work late. I’ll borrow Everleigh’s car and meet you in Birmingham so no one can tip Robert off. Since there’s no waiting period in Alabama, it’ll be official as soon as we sign and they file it,” I explain.
“That’s perfect. I’ll get with my dad and make sure we can get off. Then the only issue left is getting Robert out of town for a couple of days.”
I plop down on my bed and think this through. Knowing what I know about Robert, he’s easily deceived. When it comes to money, he’ll do anything. “I think I have another idea. What if he has a rich client out of town that he needs to meet? Think he’d fall for that?”
“Absolutely, as long as he thinks it’s worth his time. So it’d have to be a huge investment, someone with a lot of money. And I’ve been to so many of those boring dinners that I could literally write a guidebook on what to say.” I can tell she’s beaming by the tone of her voice. “He’s made this too easy for me.”
“Don’t get cocky.” I chuckle. “But who are we gonna have to do it? Someone who could pull it off. A man who could act and look the part.” After a moment of silence, it hits me. “Eric’s coming to town next Wednesday and owes me a favor from doing the deposition. He’d do it without a doubt.”
“Eric? Really? He’s already been through so much already.”
“He has, but he told me if I ever needed anything, he’d be happy to help. We can rent him a fancy car and buy him an expensive suit. You could coach him on what to say and how to act, and trust me, he’s got that douchebag vibe down. I hated him when we first met, so I’m sure Robert would adore him.”
Gemma laughs. “I’m sure he will. I’ll even use the money in Robert’s and my joint checking account to fund it.”
I chuckle as the adrenaline rush has me smiling nonstop. “Great, so I’ll talk to Eric, and you take care of your dad. Change my name in your phone to someone else, a girl's name or something, just to cover your tracks. If it gets too dangerous, call me. I’ll be there to beat his ass within ten minutes,” I say seriously.
“I’m sleeping in one of the spare rooms until the wedding, so I’ll be able to avoid him for a couple of weeks, but good idea. I’ll get things together on my end, and we’ll meet Monday. God, I’m so happy right now,” she adds at the end. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for rescuing me.”
I smirk. “I can think of a few ways.”
“Blowjobs every morning for a year?” she suggests.
“For eternity,” I add with a chuckle. “We’ve got this, babe. It’s all gonna work out, and in the end,