A lump the size of a basketball forms in my throat, and I squeeze her tighter.
Orgasmatron (Emily)
It’s been two weeks since Steel proposed. And now we’re sitting in the car at the very top of the Ferris wheel, the very same car I was sitting in with Courtney and Maddie when he jumped into the car.
Cess decorated the car with pink and white streamers, twisting them up the bar in the middle and draping them around the umbrella roof.
She came with me to Walmart, and we found the pretty white dress I’m wearing now. It comes almost to my knees and has a full skirt and halter top. We even found a plastic tiara, and I’m wearing it now feeling like the princess my father always said I was.
I’m clutching a bunch of flowers that are tied together with a string. They’re colorful roses mixed with baby’s breath. Part of me didn’t want to spend the extra money to get roses, but they’re my favorite flower, and between my perfume and my tattoo, I didn’t want a different type of flower.
Steel is sitting beside me, in his old black jeans and a black dress shirt he bought just for today. He must be hot as hell, but he looks hot as hell so I can’t complain.
Papa Smurf is on the other seat, holding the rings in his fist and a piece of paper in the other.
“I’m going to say it again because I need to make sure you both realize how serious what you’re doing is. You don’t have to get married in a church, this is as real and as serious. Your vows are as real as saying them anywhere, because you’re saying them to each other, and you have to trust and be true to each other. Do you understand that?” Papa Smurf says.
“Yes,” Steel and I say.
Steel takes my hands, and we shift our attention from Papa Smurf to each other.
“Right then, Steel, do you want Goldie as your wife?” Papa Smurf asks.
“Absolutely,” Steel says.
“And Goldie, what about you? Do you want Steel as your husband?”
“I do,” I say.
“In that case, we’re going to start the wheel. The ups and downs of this wheel represent the ups and downs you’ll face in your marriage. We’re going three times around, and either of you can have me stop the ride at any time. If neither of you stop the ride, and we go three times around, then you’ll be husband and wife.”
The idea of stopping the ride isn’t a consideration for me, and I’m positive it isn’t for Steel either.
The wheel starts up, and Steel pulls me close.
Into my ear so only I can hear, he says, “I’m going to give you one hell of a life, Goldie. I’ve known you’re all I need since the first night we met. I’m all yours. And you can hold me to that.”
My chin quivers, and I try not to cry. This wedding is serious to me. I can’t imagine my life anymore without Steel in it. This isn’t exactly how I imagined getting married, but it feels right. No, it feels better than right. It feels perfect.
I sink deeper into Steel’s arms as the wheels take us up and down.
“That’s twice around, you sure you don’t want to stop this thing?” Steel asks with a smile.
“No chance,” I say, my voice weak from choking back tears.
“Because once we’re married that’s it. We’re married forever.”
“What about you, are you going to stop it?”
“Are you kidding me? If the power blew right now, I’d make those fuckers down there turn it with their hands.”
I’d laugh, but there’s no trace of joking in his voice.
“I love you,” I say.
“And I love you,” he says, and we kiss.
“That’s it, three times around is done, you two are married,” Papa Smurf announces, taking us out of our own little world.
The wheel stops with our car at the bottom. Steel opens the door and takes my hand to lead me out.
All the carnies here have gathered, waiting at the wheel, and they cheer and clap us as we walk down the ramp. Steel’s arm is around me, pulling me along. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard.
“You dog,” Razor yells.
“I’m the luckiest man alive,” Steel hollers back at him.
“Where are we going now?” I ask.
“On our honeymoon.”
I laugh. “And where do carnies go on their honeymoon?” I’d wonder if we’d go offsite to a motel for a few days, but I know better than that now.
“The Gravitron, baby,” he says, the seriousness he’s had all day now gone from his voice.
“Shut up! In there? I should’ve known.”
Steel laughs, “I’m going to sweep you off your feet.”
“Ha, four G’s of force and the ride’s the one that’s going to sweep me off my feet.”