Chapter Text
There's a knock on his door.
Cyno stirs awake, rubbing the sleep off his eyes. Despite his grogginess, Cyno is sure today is Sunday, and that he doesn’t have work today, and that Tighnari could’ve just barged in like usual. He groans. The clock on his wall says it's 8 AM. Who the fuck is in front of his door at 8 AM on Sunday?
He reluctantly gets up, puts on a random shirt he can find in the drawer, and drags his feet to the bathroom. A mouthwash will do, he thinks, it’s not like he can find time to brush his teeth with all the knocking.
“Coming!” Archons, one more knock and he would’ve lost it. Cyno walks faster, he can’t wait to give the stranger a good scolding or two for disturbing his morning. His eagerness makes him forget to peek through the peephole, and what greets his eye after he swings the door open renders him speechless.
That's neither Tighnari who forgets the apartment’s password, nor some salesman hoping to hit their target bright and early. What stands in front of him now is a man, one that he can’t recognize.
He's… pretty tall and good-looking, with a good fashion sense too, Cyno noted. Or maybe he’s just that good-looking, and every piece of clothing he wears looks good on him. Cyno’s not sure, the one thing that caught his attention the most, though, was not his clothes nor his face but rather the bouquet of flowers nestled nicely on his right arm.
Cyno gulps, “Um… do I know you?” He asked nervously. It seems like the poor gentleman got the wrong address.
“Probably not. But I do know you. Good morning, Cyno,” the man said awkwardly, but somehow still managed to sport a smile. Drat, he got the right address after all.
Seeing no response, the gentleman finally realizes he’s yet to introduce himself. “Ah, apologies. I’m Alhaitham. We went to the same university. I came to discuss something with you. Can you perhaps make time for me?”
Cyno frowns. It’s too early for this. He doesn’t know what’s happening and what this Alhaitham wants, and it’s simply too early for this. He really wanted to roll his eyes and demand the man to just state his business because, again, it’s too early for this. But in the end, he just sighs, with every bit of sleep drained from his body, might as well listen to whatever Alhaitham has to say. “Sure, there’s a cafe downstairs. I’ll join you in 15.”
Click.
After giving more elaborate directions to said cafe, Cyno closed the door and immediately ran to grab his phone. He’s losing his mind. He doesn’t recall an “Alhaitham” and Archon knows what that man wants to talk to him about, not to mention the bouquet? Kusanali, help him.
“This better be good,” Tighnari’s hoarse voice can be heard from the other line. He clearly wasn’t ready for Cyno’s shenanigans this early, but he answered the call nonetheless.
“Did you know any Alhaitham?”
“Wha- who?”
“He went to Akademiya. Ever heard of him?”
“Cyno,” he hears a rustling sound, “College was ages ago, are you still asleep?”
He rolls his eyes as he steps to the shower, placing his phone on the counter and putting it on speakers. “No, he was at my door.”
“What?”
“He came to me this morning saying he wants to talk. He said there’s something to discuss.”
Cyno hears a hum. He knows Tighnari is fully awake now, he makes a mental note to apologize later for disturbing his Sunday.
“Okay and what does he want?” Tighnari sounds genuinely interested now.
“I don’t actually know,” Cyno sighed as he bit his lips, “but he… brings flowers.”
As he said that, Cyno began to piece the facts together. A man was on his door, dressed nicely, holding a bouquet, and claiming that ‘there’s something to discuss’.
Maybe he-
“Maybe he wants to ask you out?” Tighnari’s voice came after a beat of silence. Cyno can barely hear him through the sounds of water. Oh how he wished the shower sounds would just drown his voice completely because Cyno was thinking the exact same thing and hearing his thoughts out loud makes his stomach churn somehow.
“That’s crazy, I don’t even know him,” Cyno protested.
“You can get to know each other, it’s no big deal. Plus it’s only a speculation maybe I’m far off. Just hear out the man Cyno, I’m sure he can give a better answer than me seeing how it’s him who was in front of your door and all.” Tighnari said, not forgetting to add a snarky remark.
***
He was wrong.
Tighnari (and him) was far off and now he thinks being asked out would be a far better idea.
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?” Cyno said as he straightened his posture and put down the warm cup of latte he was holding. He cocks his head to the side, making a great effort to keep the smile on his face.
“We should get married,” Alhaitham repeats his previous statement. His calm and collected voice with that even smile left Cyno speechless.
As far as proposals go, Cyno can bet this is probably one of the least romantic ones. Cyno is baffled. Alhaitham had said that like it’s normal, like someone can wake up on a random Sunday and decide to tell a person they know in university that they should spend the rest of their life together under holy matrimony.
“But why?” Cyno queries, voice just above a whisper.
“Well I…” Cyno watches intently as Alhaitham stumbles upon his words. This is the first time this entire morning that Alhaitham loses a bit of composure. Cyno finds himself enjoying the sight.
“Professor Cyrus was my mentor and he wished for us to wed.”
Cyno’s eyes widen. He thought he anticipated everything, every answer Alhaitham could possibly have. But he never thought it would be this. That answer was so simple and it makes sense, it makes so much sense but at the same time it doesn’t and it only raises more questions.
He feels bubbling on his throat, figuratively and literally. He can also sense the urge to vomit, but before he can spill out his entire breakfast (that consisted of a matcha latte and a stick of bread) he decides to vomit words first.
“It doesn’t make sense, you know it doesn’t. I’m sorry to say this but I don’t recall him ever mentioning you. I know he has a lot of pupils and mentees and I know some of them, but I don’t know you. He never said anything about marrying me off with anyone! Even if he wanted that, he wouldn’t pair me with someone I didn’t even know!”
Streams of rapid-fire sentences spill out the moment Cyno opens his mouth. He winced as he realized some of the things he said might’ve hurt the person sitting across from him. But he just can’t help it, he finds himself in a ridiculous situation, nobody can blame him for being dramatic.
Silence accompanied them afterward. As expected Alhaitham doesn’t have anything to say to that, but his gaze remains fixated on Cyno’s face as if studying him.
Cyno sighed, “I’m sorry,” he began, “I can’t get married to you. Not like this.” He tears his gaze away, Cyno is not someone who is used to the business of rejecting people but he’s not about to accept this, however guilty it make him feels.
“I’m sure you are a great man and… I know Cyrus is proud of you as he does to every student under his care.” Cyno adds with a smile hoping it would soften his rejection. But as he makes a move to get up and walk away from their table, Alhaitham takes a hold of his wrist.
“Do you think I don’t have the same thought as you?”
“What?”
“Do you think I would just marry somebody I didn’t know? I understand your confusion and anger, Cyno. I would never force you into this marriage if you detest the idea. But have you stopped and ask yourself why would I go along with this?” That statement caught his interest because it is strange that Alhaitham would just willingly go along with that request. Like Cyrus is gone! For Archon’s sake!
Cyno sits back on his chair, silently urging Alhaitham to continue.
Alhaitham wets his lips, staring at Cyno square in the eye. “What if I told you there’s a will?”
Cyno stares at him, “That makes it even more unbelievable for me.”
“How so?”
“Why did you receive one but I didn’t?”
“How should I know? I’m not Cyrus,” Alhaitham shrugs, and Cyno rolls his eyes. “The point is, this will exist.”
“Okay but-”
“But Cyrus is gone.” Alhaitham finishes his words. “I know we can pretend it never exist, but you won't.”
Cyno ponders. At the end of the day, Cyrus is dead, and that fact can’t be changed. But Cyno feels too indebted to the man to ignore his will. Cyrus is his father, no matter what, and he never asks Cyno for anything in return for taking care of him all these years. If there’s indeed an unfulfilled request he made that Cyno can fulfill, he will do anything in his power to fulfill it.
“I need to see this will. I sure hope you have the physical copy with you?”
At that request, Alhaitham turns rigid.
“I don’t have it.”
“What? You bring it up first!” Cyno slams the table, not too hard but enough to make a few heads turn in curiosity.
“I mean, I don’t have it with me right now.” Alhaitham holds up both of his hands in front of his chest, silently pleading Cyno to stop attracting attention.
“Let's meet up again later,” Alhaitham continues, “Next week maybe? I’ll bring the will with me.” He offers with a smile, letting down his hand when he sees Cyno begin to relax.
“Okay,” Cyno agrees, seems like he has a whole week to think up his… answer to the proposal.
After the whole conversation at the cafe, Cyno went straight to do the next most logical step to do: reaching out to his friends from Akademiya. He asks Tighnari to come over because he needs a friend to think with, and at his suggestion, he decides to call Cyrus’ past mentees and students.
“Hey do you want to talk to Sethos?” At the first ring, Scara answered his call. Scara worked together with Cyrus on numerous projects and is a fiance to his cousin Sethos. He wasn’t exactly his student or mentee or anything and only became acquainted with Cyrus because of Sethos but they did spend a lot of time together and Cyno figures he might know about Alhaitham more than him.
“No, actually I was hoping to talk to you.”
Cyno hears a pause, “Alright? What's up?”
“Do you know Alhaitham?” Cyno asks straight to the point, and not even a beat later, Scara answers with a sigh, “From Akademiya? Of course, I do.”
Cyno frowns, “You sound annoyed.” He points out.
“Yeah well… he used to barge in a lot to Cyrus’ office when we were having a meeting and Cyrus used to sideline me to talk with him. It’s not like they’re discussing anything important. If I recall correctly Cyrus was close with his dad or grandma or something. Those people keep getting mentioned whenever they talk.” Scara says and Cyno silently listens in awe because this is the first time he has talked to him in a whole paragraph.
“I’m surprised you only ask about him now, considering they were close and everything. I thought you were friends with him?” Scara asks, and Cyno shakes his head even though the other party can’t see him.
“What makes you think that?”
“Well, Alhaitham was friends with Kaveh, and I just assumed because you do know Kaveh, right?”
Cyno pauses, now that's new. He knew Kaveh but not so much that he knows his other friends, but he knows someone who does.
“Huh… no actually we only briefly crossed paths a couple of times back then, but Tighnari does.” Just as he said that he heard someone knocking on his front door, perfect timing he thought.
Not wasting a single second, Cyno runs up to the door immediately after hanging up his call with Scara. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew who Alhaitham was?”
Tighnari gave him a look .
“Because I didn’t know who he was?” He rolls his eyes as he shoves Cyno out of the way, beelining to the pantry.
“Liar. I talked to Scara and he said Alhaitham was friends with Kaveh and you were friends with Kaveh as well!” Cyno accuses.
“Well, he never brings him up? Plus we aren’t friends friends he was just an upperclassman I respect and had to hang out with.” Tighnari shrugs as he takes out a bottle of water from the fridge.
“I still don’t understand why you would do that. It's not like you guys have the same major or anything.”
“Tsk tsk Cyno, you need to be well-connected with a senior to survive college.” Tighnari starts lecturing him, nevermind that they both finished college ages ago.
“I graduated no problem.”
“Yeah because your dad is the professor.” Tighnari says as if it's supposed to mean anything.
“Okay whatever. That aside can you help me next week?” Cyno changes his tone and Tighnari groans, he knows he won't be able to refuse whatever Cyno requests.
Hearing no refusal Cyno grins, “Please clear out your plan because we are meeting my self-proclaimed future husband next week.”
***
Next week arrives in a flash, after a series of short messages between Cyno and Alhaitham here they are in the very same cafe as last week. Everything is the same except that both of them seem to share the same idea.
“Hello Tighnari, it's been a long time!” Kaveh greets him with a grin and Tighnari replies with an awkward smile. Beside him, Cyno watches the exchange in disbelief.
“You didn't tell me you’re bringing company.” He says to Alhaitham who is seated right in front of him.
“You also didn’t tell me.” Alhaitham counters as he shoots a nod at Tighnari.
“Touche,” Cyno said quietly, he’s annoyed by this but he knows he’s to blame as well.
“So?” Cyno clears his throat, “Where’s the will?”
Alhaitham takes out an envelope and places it on the table. Cyno looks around to all three pairs of eyes staring at him, he picks it up and wordlessly takes out the content to read it.
It’s a will alright, it has Cyrus’ signature and all. The content is quite clear and is worded and formatted more like a letter than anything. It’s said that Alhaitham is a great man and that his dad would be proud of what he has grown up to be and that he wishes Cyno could settle down with him.
Cyno feels his eyes well up with tears, “I don’t understand,” he whispers, “Why does he never say anything to me?”
The table grows silent, it’s almost laughable that there are four people here to do the business of two just because the situation they’re in is so new and now Cyno is about to cry in front of his friend, someone he only met twice, and someone he also only met twice but is also his future husband.
“Maybe because he doesn’t want to burden you,” Alhaitham’s voice cut through the air and Cyno just had to look up.
“He was sick he probably knew his time was near and that you were gonna be busy with all the things you had to do after his… death.”
“Um, we’re gonna go to order some food.” Reading the mood, Tighnari stands up while tugging Kaveh’s arm silently telling him to follow along.
“I didn’t even know he wanted me to settle down,” Cyno replies to him after Tighnari and Kaveh had gone. “I never bring up marriage to him, he never asks me about my love life or anything! This is just crazy to me still.”
Alhaitham nods, “I understand if you still can’t accept it.” Cyno can hear the disappointment in his voice and his mouth reacts faster than his head when he says, “No!”
“No I- ugh it's not about you it’s- it's me. I- We…” Cyno stammers and Alhaitham gives him a smile, he quietly reaches out to his hand. “I understand but I believe I can convince you.”
Just as Cyno is about to respond he sees Tighnari and Kaveh glancing at their table seemingly about to walk back to them and at a record speed he pries his hands away from Alhaitham’s.
“So we’ve been thinking,” Kaveh starts as he puts down a tray filled with various pastries on the table, “What if you guys give it a try?”
Kaveh’s suggestion was met with eye rolls from Alhaitham and giggles from Cyno because that was what they discussed right before they got interrupted.
“We can arrange the dates and you guys can get to know each other. What do you think?” Tighnari chimed in as he snuck a bite of a croissant. Alhaitham and Cyno share a look before agreeing with a knowing smile.
“Alright.”
“Okay so do you guys have anything in mind? Like an ideal date idea maybe?” Kaveh asks enthusiastically, looking back and forth at the to-be-wed couple and his smile starts to fade when met with silence.
“Nothing? Really? Damn how dry was your love life before this?” The blond sighed exasperatedly pretending not to notice Alhaitham glaring daggers at him.
“Amusement park, cinema, arcade, anything?” Tighnari came in with an assist, listing every popular date place he could think of but none of it speaks to Cyno and from the look of it Alhaitham doesn’t feel it too.
“I think it’s better to choose somewhere we can actually talk,” Alhaitham suggested.
“Like what? A cafe? You guys did that twice and look how that go. The first meeting one of you almost walked out and the second both of you had to bring a plus-one.” Tighnari scoffs, “Enough talking, what you guys need is to be familiar with each other’s presence. Forget it, Kaveh and I are going to arrange everything. All you need to do is be there and be square,” He adds.
***
Two tickets to HoyoLand later and here they are. If it were up to Cyno, amusement parks won't even be making it to his top 3 first date destinations but today he’s just an actor following whatever scenarios Tighnari and Kaveh cooked up for them so groaning and whining won't change a thing.
It’s not like Cyno has anything against amusement parks but he believes places as such are only reserved for married couples of 20 years, not for young couples whose love has only just started budding, and especially not for a pair of acquaintances who are not even that close to walk shoulder to shoulder.
In its peak season, amusement parks are both crowded and hot. You need extra patience to get in any one of the rides and you need a strong bond of trust with whatever partner you decide to bring with you if you want to have even a sliver of fun.
Cyno groans again, glaring at the group of college students who just passed by him. One of them had shoved him but was too busy laughing to notice. Cyno rolls his eyes. Alhaitham had gone for a bit, he said he was gonna buy them some drinks and Cyno refused to come with because he felt too tired and didn’t want to leave his resting place underneath the shade of a tree. That is until some group of tourists came by to rest and he gradually lost his place. Not only that he got swept up by the wave of people and now he doesn’t even know the direction to the tree, their agreed meeting place.
His only option now is to try to go to wherever Alhaitham is. That or the information office or the lost and found place or wherever his luck will land him first. His smartphone feels useless. Alhaitham is not answering his call, it’s too bright out that he could barely see the screen, and his messages are not going through.
It’s hell, amusement parks on big holidays might just be some hell on earth.
“Hey!” In the middle of the crowd, Cyno feels his arm being grabbed, and he turns around in panic, ready to jab whoever is trying to do something to him.
Instead, he was stunned, there's Alhaitham with a red face and sweat wetting the tips of his hair. What a pity, it was styled nicely, Cyno thought to himself.
“Hey Cyno!” Alhaitham calls out again and that breaks Cyno from his trance.
“H-Huh… Alhaitham! Where were you?!” Cyno regained his composure and went straight to scold the man in front of him. As he said that he just realized Alhaitham came back empty-handed.
“Where are our drinks??” Cyno questions Alhaitham who looks just as confused as him by the emptiness of his hand.
Alhaitham releases Cyno’s wrist (he didn’t even notice he was still holding him) and awkwardly casts his gaze to the side. “I didn’t see you at the tree and I guess I panicked, sorry. Are you still thirsty? Let’s go together this time.”
“Forget it,” Cyno sighs as he takes out a medium thermos from his bag. “I knew this would happen,” carefully, he pours the contents into the cap and hands it to Alhaitham. The other man takes it, “It’s just water,” Cyno says before Alhaitham can even ask.
Gingerly, Alhaitham takes a sip and returns the cap that doubles as a cup (no pun intended) back to Cyno. It really is just water, cold water, he figures.
Realizing Cyno has not been moving since he took the cup, Alhaitham clears his throat. Sure enough, the sound got his attention, “What’s wrong?”
“Ah- it’s nothing,” Cyno stammers. Alhaitham squints wondering what’s gotten into the other man, until it clicks.
“It's round,” Alhaitham sighs, his lips twitching into a small barely noticeable smile.
“What?”
“The cup. It’s round,” Alhaitham pointed out and Cyno stares at him with question mark dancing on his pupils.
“I mean it’s round, the whole surface can be used. You don’t have to worry about an indirect kiss or anything,” Alhaitham shrugs and after registering his words, Cyno transformed into a full-blown red spluttering mess.
“I- WHAT! I’m not embarrassed? Excuse you?”
“I didn’t say you are,” Said Alhaitham calmly, fighting back a grin.
“Well you insinuate it!” Accuse Cyno, cheeks red from both the heat and the tease.
“Insinue-what? I only say the cup is round,” Alhaitham smiled smugly, no doubt enjoying the sight of a flustered Cyno.
While Cyno, on the other hand, would rather die than to ever admit the thought of an indirect kiss–not even a real one oh Archons–with Alhaitham makes his cheeks burn and his head spin.
“By the way, the line to the merry-go-round is way shorter than other rides. You wanna go there?” Alhaitham offers and Cyno frowns. “Those kinds of rides are for kids,” he said.
“To be fair the whole amusement park is kinda for kids?” Alhaitham makes a point that can’t be disputed. Seeing how they’re running out of options here Cyno decided to agree.
“Okay merry-go-round it is.”
Well what do they know, Cyno was right. It’s almost comical how Alhaitham and Cyno, standing side by side, tower over more than half of the people lining up. There are adults too but most of them have children to accompany, and the rest that don't are couples but here’s the thing, Cyno and Alhaitham are not a couple.
In Cyno’s mind they’re the odd one out but from other people’s perspective he knows very well they’re being perceived as a couple which shouldn’t matter really because nobody cares about strangers in amusement parks like that, not even the staff who are required to be friendly and interact with them.
Cyno shakes his head, his mind wanders to some strange place again. This nagging feeling he would rather not have just won’t leave him alone. He only wishes to enjoy his day today, regardless of whether it's a date or not.
“Come on,” in the middle of his pathetic wrestle with his mind, Alhaitham offers him a hand. It’s their turn to hop on the slowly rotating ride.
There are two ‘seats’ left. One is a big teacup thing that spins and can fit 2-3 people and one is a lone horse that goes up and down. The choice is obvious.
Yet before they can make their way to the teacup, a family of three swoops in and sits there so now they’re left with the horse.
Cyno glances at Alhaitham, who stares back at him. Then a giggle broke from both of them that gradually turned into laughter.
“Okay let me help you up,” Alhaitham says, taking out his hand after they calm down.
“What? No!” Cyno refuses immediately.
“Come on, it would look weirder if I’m the one who rides it…” Alhaitham pleads and Cyno cringes, well he’s right but both options are embarrassing really… It’s just that Cyno happens to be shorter and smaller.
Sighing, he takes Alhaitham's hand and climbs to sit on the horse. He hates how he fits perfectly in the seat, height and everything.
“You look like a prince,” Alhaitham laughs as he touches the lead rope sculpted to the horse, “And I’m your knight.”
Cyno blushes at that, he turns his head to look at Alhaitham. From where he’s seated his eyes and nose went above Alhaitham’s head. Looking at him from this angle with all the lights raining down on his face almost makes the other man seem so… cute.
“Stay still,” Alhaitham whispers and quickly snaps a picture of Cyno, “You look so cute right now.”
Cyno has a feeling Alhaitham didn't mean to say that out loud but he doesn't say anything as he grips the bar a little tighter and his cheek blooms a little rosier.
***
The next few dates pass by like a blur. If the main aim for this… arrangement is for them to get to know each other better then Cyno feels like the target is already reached.
Through numerous dates to various cafes and restaurants he has come to know Alhaitham’s favorite food, his coffee preference, and even his subway orders, plural because he did change it a lot.
They also have had a lot more opportunity to converse. Alhaitham told him what he did after graduating from Akademiya, apparently he went off grid for a few months and Kaveh was left worried sick but when he came back Kaveh was engaged to Nilou so Alhaitham told him maybe Kaveh wasn’t that worried after all and Cyno just giggled at the story, knowing full well the blond man was actually worried.
Cyno also told him about himself, about how he was a cop but left the force and is currently not employed and just dabble here and there for a living (Alhaitham summed up he’s a freelancer to which Cyno deny because all he did for now is live off Cyrus’ inheritance and make TCG contents but of course he didn’t told him that). In that same conversation, Cyno also found out that Alhaitham is a writer with 3 books under his name. He refused to tell Cyno his pseudonym because he’s embarrassed, noting that maybe he will tell him later.
Cyno also found out that Cyrus gave Alhaitham the will that threw them into this mess when he visited Cyrus at the hospital. He said that he heard Cyrus was sick and finally got the information about his hospital location after reaching out to Scara. Cyno confirmed this with Sethos, and it turns out to be true, they had apologized for not informing him but Cyno doesn’t really care. He didn’t know who Alhaitham was before he showed up at his front door so he understood if Sethos and Scara saw no need for him to know every visitor Cyrus had. Plus around that time he was still busy with his job (part of the reason why he decided to resign was because Cyrus’ health worsened and he felt bad not being there for him most of the time).
All in all, he thinks Alhaitham is a very nice man. Although he’s a little awkward at understanding social cues and doesn’t know how to express his feelings, most of the time Cyno feels completely at ease around him. Cyno tells himself multiple times that even though he only agreed to the proposal because he felt indebted to Cyrus, he’s still actually doing this. It’s not a contract marriage situation; they will actually bond under the vow to be together in sickness and in health, in good and in bad. Alhaitham will be his husband just like how he, too, will be Alhaitham’s.
Also, in terms of other factors it's not a bad deal too. Alhaitham has a stable income and a job that doesn’t have an office. Plus the both of them have an apartment that they agreed to share in the future. It’s an easy and comfortable arrangement for them both.
At this point, Cyno is completely on board with this wedding. There’s just no logical reason left for him to refuse. If there’s anything left it's the fact that they don’t have the date, yet.
While Cyno was deep in his thoughts, suddenly the door to his apartment cracked open. He didn’t even need to look to know that's Alhaitham. By their 3rd date, Cyno has given him his apartment password, and of course, he has access to Alhaitham’s place too. They had agreed to meet at Cyno’s apartment today and Cyno has been expecting him.
“Hello Cyno,” Alhaitham greeted him and Cyno instinctively smiled.
“Hey.”
“So I settled all the papers and Kaveh told me he found a venue. The wedding will… uh…” Alhaitham hesitates and Cyno tilts his head, silently asking the other to continue.
Alhaitham sighs, a soft smile graces his features, “I’m afraid this would be too fast for us… for you.”
“Two weeks and more than 10 dates. Every other day we went somewhere when Kaveh and Tighnari told us to. I don’t think I’ve ever met up with somebody this often before,” Cyno stands up, handing Alhaitham the coffee he had prepared before. “Everything we did these past two weeks was to prepare for this, Alhaitham. If I don’t want this, I would’ve said so by the 3rd day.”
Alhaitham searches Cyno’s face. He then whispers, “Are you sure?”
Cyno nods, firm and confident, all while returning the other’s gaze, “I am.”
At that answer, Alhaitham's shoulder grew lax. It’s as if he was holding his breath, “That’s great,” he said genuinely pleased. “Because the wedding will be in a week.”
Oh.
It’s actually happening.