- Chris Evans Fanfic -
"Now Kiss your bride."
Shelby's eyes began to focus on Jake's, her body tensing up as an innocent expression formed on her face. Jake's hand that held onto her hands moved to her neck, pulling her into him. His lips pressed t...
- picture of Shelby and Jake's wedding attire below -
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For most of the night, Shelby was unable to sleep because her mind was alive in thought. Tomorrow before noon, Shelby would no longer be a Benes. Although it was temporary, she'd become a Strong. A bride but not truly a wife. She'd be sleeping in a stranger's bed, in a stranger's home, and would be temporarily living a liar's life. Before being accused and arrested, Shelby would have thought a scheme such as temporarily being married for protection would have a bizarre and terrible idea. Immoral for the relationship lacked love. Shelby's identity seemed to be slipping from her fingers faster than she had realized, and all within the time frame of two weeks. However, this scheme was her bed, now she must lay in it.
Tiredly, Shelby had forced herself to get up and began to do her hair and makeup around seven o'clock a.m. The past couple of days she had breakfast at the hotel dining room, enjoying the free meal that was offered during her stay. This morning, the twenty-four-year-old's stomach was in knots and she felt too nauseous to eat. Her hands slightly began to tremble as her anxiety worsened through the morning, having to fix her mascara several times due to messing up. Jake said he would pick her up at nine o'clock, which was when Shelby had to check out of her hotel room.
Teddy brought Shelby comfort as he laid in her lap purring and whimpering softly as he slept. While Patricia remained in the hospital, Teddy would stay with Shelby until her mother was released. The day before she had called about installing a new glass window next week so her mother wouldn't come home to a hole in the living room window. She would also clean up the place so Patricia could rest easy knowing she didn't have a mess to come home to. In Shelby's mind, she still thought of her childhood house as her home. The more Shelby thought about Jake's estate and protective fencing around his property, the more she felt like she was being sentenced to imprisonment. Safe but not entirely free.
After packing all of her things, Shelby had begun to put Teddy in his carrier when a knock at the door made Shelby jump. Her shot nerves, along with lack of sleep, made her even more on edge. Fear filled her at the thought of Wiler or his men appearing on the day of her wedding, ruining her protection plan. She cleared her throat and cautiously went to the door.
"It's me." Shelby looked into the peep hole to see Jake standing on the other side of the door. "Open up."
Relief filled Shelby, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath in. It's all happening right now. So soon! Well, here we go...
Shelby unlocks the room door, surprising her when she sees the sight before her eyes. Instead of his usual laid back attire, Jake stood in the hotel hallway wearing a nice navy blue suit with a white necktie. A white tulip pinned to the left side of his blazer to match the bouquet of white tulips in his hands. His medium length hair had been combed and styled back, his beard slightly trimmed for the occasion. If it wasn't for her nerves and his beard, Shelby would have considered Jake to be incredibly handsome.
