Impractical Jokers, Practically

Chapter Nineteen

A hush fell over the crowd. All eyes were on Sal and me. 

I guess this punishment was pretty smart of Q, Joe, and Murr to conduct. Seeing how everyone--the entire crew, the guys' families, and the show's fans--knows that there's something between Sal and me. So, a joke marriage between me and someone that's not Sal is a great way to really draw out the emotion. So much emotion, in fact, that I just told Sal that I love him. In front of everyone. 

I don't know if that's really romantic or really stupid. 

My palms are sweaty and itching, but there is nothing I can do about it because Q still has our hands interlocked. Q doesn't look that surprised at what I just said, but his eyes are definitely wide in shock. I look over at where the cameras are and, yup, the Impractical Jokers crew are definitely capturing every single second. I look back at the boys. Joe and Murr are holding back smiles and, when I glance at Sal, his expression looks a mix of shocked and happy. Astonished but excited. 

The priest clears his throat, he knows that this marriage is all for the show; Q and I are not really in love, but he still looks uncomfortable. "Yes, Alexa, uh, that is all very well, but you're here to marry Brian so let's focus." 

"I love you too," Sal calls out to me. "You obviously know that already." He's grinning from ear to ear.

I smile back at Sal and this, this, is the moment I want to remember for the rest of my life. Not so much marrying Q or having the show document my every move, but seeing the sheer joy on Sal's face. Nothing can compare. I love making Sal happy and that's what I'm going to try to do from now on. Nothing would make me happier than seeing him happy. Isn't that what love is? 

I'm so glad I told him. Finally, I can say confidently, with absolute conviction, that I love Sal Vulcano. 

I'm so giddy right now, and all I want to do is run over to him and kiss him, but I'm still in the middle of marrying Q right now so that will have to wait. If anyone was watching this unfold, and didn't know that it was all a joke for a prank show, they would be confused as fuck. 

"...you are now husband and wife. Brian, you may kiss your bride." 

Q pulls me closer to him and kisses me. I feel nothing, which is what I was expecting, but it was still unnerving to be kissing a friend in front of the guy I love. Even if that friend is, for the time being, my husband. 

"Okay, that's enough!" We pull apart, the kiss only lasted like 4 seconds really, to see Sal glaring at us. He still looks happy, no doubt because of me, but certainty now more pissed off. I just confessed that I love him and then he watched me marry one of his best friends. 

I pull back from Q, creating space between us and he smartly let's go. I realize that I've now kissed Sal, Murr, and Q and kind of feel a little trashy. 

"Yay for the happy couple!" Joe exclaims. He's clapping his hands, eyes full of mischief. 

"Congratulations!" Murr is saying, they're really milking this, and then Q is pulling me along, taking me back down the aisle. I look back for Sal, but I can't quite make out his face, and then we go out of the big doors and Q is bringing me back in the dressing room where I got ready. 

"Well that was...something," I say. "When this episode airs, I hope the fans will be happy." 

"What more could they ask for?" Q jokes. "They got to see a wedding, us all dressed up, not to mention the people that ship you and Sal will be over the moon. Even the people that ship you and me." He winks, then sees the look I'm giving him and says, "What, the fans ship you with each of us four, you know that."