When We're Thirty

by Casey Dembowski

  “Never better, Abbott.”

  “Hey now,” Eddie said, cupping his hand over theirs. “Save that for the finale.”

  Will hadn’t told him the whole truth or, rather, any of the truth. Eddie would’ve still married them out of respect for his friendship with Will. Brothers didn’t deny brothers unless drugs, death, or physical harm were involved. Will had assured him that it wasn’t a shotgun situation, but Eddie wasn’t stupid. He’d been there the day Madison and Jon’s affair rocked the Thornes. He’d been there in the months after. So even if he didn’t know about Hannah and Will’s arrangement, he knew enough.

  “Ladies and gentleman,” Eddie began, his eyes comically sweeping over each of them. “We are gathered here today to witness the union of Will and Hannah, two of the best people I know. To know them is to love them, and though Will and Hannah haven’t been together all that long, I’m not surprised that we’re standing here today. If you search your hearts, I suspect you aren’t surprised either.”

  Will wondered if Eddie had expected more people. Eddie had personalized his opening, and though he was only talking to Kate and Stephanie, who Will hadn’t even known was coming, his speech still sounded as if he spoke to a room full of people. He wasn’t being glib either. Eddie, for all they’d razzed on him in college, took marrying people very seriously. Once, after too many beers, Eddie had explained that, in some way, he felt a responsibility for the couples he married, be they friends, family, or friends of family.

  “Marriage is a risk, a leap of faith, perhaps more so than any other choice in your life. Because it is a choice. Will, Hannah, you two are choosing each other, choosing to embrace and strengthen and grow the love you have for each other. Now,” he said, pausing to give the couple a knowing smirk, “you just have to continue to choose each other for the rest of your lives.”

  Will caught Hannah’s eye. They were as golden as ever, hinting that her mood was at the very least still good and calm.

  She broke away from him, turning the full power of her smile on Eddie. “Easy-peasy.”

  “Easy-peasy indeed.” Eddie held up his hand, and Hannah high-fived him without hesitation.

  This. This was why he loved her, had always loved her. She had high-fived the officiant—friend or not. Hannah made stories in everything she did. Their wedding story would already be unique, but now, it would be fun. It would have personality. It would perhaps stand out enough to make everyone believe in their love.

  “Now, Will, if you would please repeat after me: I, William, take you, Hannah, to be my lawfully wedded wife.”

  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 14

  Hannah

  “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 rogue tears toppling her eyelids. He’d gone out of his way to get her a ring. A perfect ring. Kate’s words ran on repeat in her head—Will had loved her, possibly loved her still. All signs pointed to yes. Their wedding could’ve been quick and easy at city hall, but he’d made it special for her—for them. The situation was going to require careful navigation. She held Will’s heart in her hands, and she refused to break it.

  She exhaled, covering her nerves with a laugh, and pushed his ring onto his finger. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor, and respect you.”

  Eddie beamed like a proud papa. “Will and Hannah, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Will, you may finally kiss your bride.”

  And kiss her he did. It wasn’t the uncertain kisses they had shared in the past. It was three years of friendship, five years of silence, and a weekend of mayhem rolled into a moment. She leaned into him, their lips dancing instead of clashing. He clung to her waist, his fingers warm even through the fabric of her dress. Her head was fuzzy and heavy with the weight of mixed emotions—excitement, fear, wonder, regret. The kiss had definitely lasted longer than the five Mississippis appropriate for a wedding. In the background, Hannah heard Kate laugh, Stephanie whistle, and Eddie joke about breaking it up. They broke the kiss, but Hannah remained in Will’s embrace. She linked her pinky with his—pact fulfilled.

  Part 2

  Chapter 15

  Hannah

  Hannah pinned her hair back, tugging at the strands until they cooperated. After three days of Florida’s most beautiful beaches, her hair was feeling the effects of the humidity. The fact that the swanky Wellington Thorne resort didn’t offer flat irons almost surprised her, but the place did have an in-house salon. She sighed. At least beach waves were in style right now.

  When they came in from the beach an hour ago, Will had requested she get fancied up and handed over her freshly dry-cleaned wedding dress. He’d been stingy with details before stepping into the shower, but Hannah did not doubt that it was something spectacular. For an impromptu honeymoon between platonic newlyweds, the trip was exquisitely planned. Will had pulled out all the stops—couples massages, private beaches, and chef’s table dinners. And he’d been so honest these past few days. They’d always shared so much—talking about everything and nothing, as Kate had put it. But with just the two of them there, connected by their new shared secret, it was so much more.

  Will told her about his family—about his father and his brothers and the Thorne legacy. He talked about his mom and how much things had changed after her death. That part she had already heard. Stories about his mom had been in Will’s drunken ramblings sophomore year when her death had still been so fresh. His vulnerability had been part of what led to her crush on him—with each story he told, each moment with his brothers strained by grief, she had wanted to hold him, to shield him from the pain tearing at him. Back then, she had spent months rationalizing her feelings for Will, burying her crush so they could stay friends. And now she was his wife. Kate had hardly seemed surprised by their pact. Would that be the general consensus? Everyone would shrug and say, “Finally. We’ve all just been waiting on you two.”

  If it wasn’t for the separate beds in their hotel room, it might have felt like a real honeymoon. Hannah might even have considered making it a real honeymoon, but there’d been no talk of invoking Rule 3a, and Will had been a perfect gentleman the whole time.

  Will stepped into the bathroom with a short knock. He wore the same suit from the wedding, and like then, he looked stunning. She found herself wanting to touch him, to see if his cheeks felt as scratchy as they looked with his late-afternoon stubble. She clasped her hands in place, turning a smile on him instead.

  “Are you coming, Mrs. Thorne?”

  He’d been calling her that since the wedding, and the effect hadn’t worn off. She was a Mrs. And she was married to Will Thorne, of all people. “Where are we going exactly?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Will led her through the hotel and down to the lobby. His hand clasped hers, loose but secure, always keeping her close. As they made their way down a winding hallway, music started to filter in, muffled only by distance. There were occasional loud bursts every time someone opened the door to the ballroom. They reached a vestibule where discarded table numbers sat forgotten. Will glanced through them and picked up a pair from Table 17—one she knew would definitely be in the back and on the bride’s side.

  “What’s going on, Will?”

  He opened the door to the ballroom. A familiar ballad was just finishing up, the bride on the dance floor with her father. Will grinned. “If anyone asks, I’m the bride’s cousin twice removed on her mother’s side.”

  She’d married a wedding crasher. “Will.”

  “We deserve a reception and a first dance, albeit a little delayed.”

  “We do?”

  “Come on, honey.” Hannah felt her cheeks heat again. Honey. It hadn’t been patronizing or playful. It had come off his lips with some endearment behind it. “Don’t you want a story to tell the kids one day?”

  “Kids?” The word cut the breath from her chest. Kids were not part of their equation. Before she could wipe the shock off her face or formulate a reply, he was grinning at her again.

  “Okay, fine. Don’t you at least want a story to tell our friends and family over Thanksgiving?”

  Good God, Thanksgiving. She knew she would have to tell her family eventually, just not in a few weeks. But, yes, she did want a story to tell. She wanted real memories with Will, not just ones from almost a decade ago. Tightening her grip on his hand, she let him guide her into the ballroom. Guests were crowding the bar and making their way back to their seats for the salad course. Will led her to their table and pulled out her chair before introducing himself to the only other guest at the table.

  Hannah took the moment to catch her breath. The past six days had been a whirlwind. But at the same time, she felt as comfortable with him as if they never fell out of contact. That’s how it was between them. That’s what had made her love him all those years ago. Once, this night would’ve been her dream. For a small part of her, maybe it still was. She recalled the memory of the pact—the one that had been playing on repeat for so many days now—to the kiss and his drunken request that she cancel her trip to Europe with Kate and instead spend the summer with him in New York. She hadn’t thought that he’d meant it. At least, not in a real way.

  Will’s hand squeezed her shoulder, and Hannah turned a smile on the middle-aged gentlemen sitting next to him.

  “This is my wife, Hannah,” Will said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

  The man nodded at her, his hands occupied with buttering a dinner roll. “Ronald Wayland. Will tells me you two are newlyweds yourself.”

  The lighting in the room changed from blue to red, and the music faded into a quiet ballad as guests returned to their seats for dinner. The song was one she’d heard far too often on her coffee runs. She clasped Will’s hand, pulling him away from whatever conversation he’d been having. “Dance with me?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” he said, his smile growing.

  They fell into the sway of the ballad. Hannah felt everywhere their bodies touched—his hands on the small of her back, her fingers at the base of his neck, the length of their torsos aligning. Goosebumps rose on her skin as one of his hands came up and caressed her arm. Her whole body shuddered at the intensity of that single touch. But this was Will. Will, whom she had married for health insurance. Will, who’d had her alone in a hotel room for three days and hadn’t tried a thing. There was his ex-girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend to consider. Two rebounds, a legally binding marriage, and sex did not make for
the best combination. A year was a long time to be together if whatever she was feeling was a symptom of the lights and the music and the ring on her left hand.

  Hannah inched closer to him. Will’s hands bunched in her dress as he looked down at her, his eyes forming a question. Then the lights came up, and the song faded out. Couples deserted the dance floor as the DJ announced the main course.

  Will smiled and placed the softest of kisses on her cheek. “Thank you for the dance, Mrs. Thorne.”

  Chapter 16

  Hannah

  HANNAH STARED UP AT her new apartment building. She still couldn’t quite believe that she lived on the Upper East Side or that their apartment had a park view and was within falling distance of Museum Mile. The apartment wasn’t actually Will’s but one of the family’s apartments. Will had moved in after splitting with his ex. He’d been unable to bear the constant reminders in his old apartment, so it remained vacant, as he was unwilling to give up his prime location in Tribeca.

  Since Hannah didn’t have a built-in nest egg, she took Will and Kate’s suggestion to sublet her apartment, something she knew very little about but which both said was the norm. All she knew was that she still paid the rent, and the money would magically reappear in her checking account. Kate’s query about the differences in Will and Hannah’s lifestyles made more sense now. Will would never have to live somewhere with spotty heat or wonder how he was going to make rent or if that late payment was going to ruin any future renting opportunities. True, his father could ask them to move out at any point in the next year—and very well might when he found out they were married—but even a few months rent-free would give her savings account some nice padding.

  Will walked out of the high-rise, his suit jacket swapped for one that looked the same as the one he claimed didn’t match. But what did she know about expensive suits?