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Taming Ava & Fixing Jax - A Modern Fairytale

Chapter 17 Wedded Bliss

"

Jax showed remarkable restraint by not shoving his tongue down Ava's throat because he had a feeling she hadn't been joking when she told him she would bite him. He had given her a neat respectful no tongues kiss. It was his way of getting the marriage off to a good start and he was still hoping he could persuade her to join him in the bathroom for a quickie.

He did surprise her when Gemma handed him the wedding rings. Ava hadn't expected them to exchange rings. Jax told Gemma what he wanted the wedding bands to look like and Gemma found the exact rings. They were matching platinum bands with a beaded border around the top and bottom. Ava kept looking at the ring on her finger, but he couldn't tell what she was feeling.

He'd never given much thought to getting married because he'd never been in love and that was just fine with him. He had definitely thought about being a father which was why he never trusted girls who claimed they were using birth control. He always used a condom to stay fatherhood and disease free.

They were standing away from the guests and grooms having a few quiet words after being joined in matrimony.

"I know this isn't the sort of wedding any sane girl dreams about, but you better suck it up and make it look good for your father. It wouldn't be good if he thought you just married me because I'm in prison."

"I never wanted to get married. It's not personal," Ava said with a sigh. "Marriage is stupid and archaic."

"It also promotes and encourages toxic masculinity," Jax said with mock seriousness.

"Now you're starting to understand," Ava said earnestly.

The brides, grooms and guests were escorted to a room with tables, chairs and a wall of vending machines. This room was used by visitors and the ones they had come to see, but most preferred sitting outside which was why the room only had a single couple in it.

They selected a table off to the side for a little privacy.

"You two just have a few moments together while TB and I put together a wedding feast," Gemma said brightly.

Ava again thought she was going to throw up. She looked down at her ring. As long as she had this on, she would never be able to forget she was married as much as she might try.

"You like your ring?" Jax asked.

"I wasn't expecting a ring. It never even occurred to me."

"Do you like the ring?" Jax asked again.

"I do," Ava admitted reluctantly. "I like white metals better than gold colored ones. I look better in them."

For whatever reason, Jax was making an effort to make this day not be completely horrible for her. He did seem to care that she liked the ring.

"That was exactly my thought."

"You're making fun of me," Ava said suspiciously.

"I am," Jax said with a grin. "Don't look so sad. You've just married the man of your dreams. Cheer up. Marriage isn't forever. It always ends in either death or divorce."

"Marriage always ends," Ava said thoughtfully. "That does cheer me up."

"Why don't we get to know each other better in the bathroom?" Jax suggested. "We don't have to have sex." He flashed her one of his most charming smiles.

"Hell no!" Ava shuddered at the thought. "Did you really think you had a chance in holy hell of that working?"

"Not really," Jax confessed rubbing his beard thoughtfully. "I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. Can't blame me for wanting to get with my hot as hell wife."

"Flattery isn't going to work either," Ava said tartly.

Gemma and TB returned with the wedding feast. Gemma had gotten every type of soft drink from the vending machines Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Orange Fanta and Barq's Root Beer. TB's arms were full of chips, crackers, trail mix and pretzels.

"We should toast," Gemma said. She passed out the different soft drinks a Coke for Jax, Dr. Pepper for Ava, Sprite for TB and root beer for her.

"To a long and happy marriage," TB said.

They all clinked cans and drank.

"I thought we'd eat this now and then do desserts after. They have those little Hostess cupcakes we can use as a wedding cake," Gemma said still ruthlessly cheerful.

"Cheer up, Ava," her father chided her. "You married the love of your life."

Jax smiled at Ava and patted her hand.

"It still feels like a dream that this wonderful angel would actually marry me," Jax said.

Ava stretched her lips into a smile. This was a fucking nightmare. She didn't know what the hell was wrong with her father, Gemma and Jax. They were acting like this was the greatest thing ever. Maybe they were all on drugs. She wished they had shared them with her. A little LSD or some magic mushrooms might have made this nightmare wedding tolerable.

"I know this isn't the kind of wedding you dreamed of," TB said to Ava, "but when Jax gets out of prison you can have the wedding of your dreams including a honeymoon."

"I can hardly wait," Ava said trying to sound enthusiastic.

"As long as you bring love to a wedding, that's all you really need," Gemma said.

Ava wished Gemma would choke to death on her fake sweet words. Before she could give Gemma anymore thought, there was a fight at one of the tables.

The groom had shoved a Twinkie into his bride's face. She threw a punch at him striking him in the nose. The inmate groom counterpunched connecting with her jaw. The guest took a swing at the groom missing completely. The guards broke up the fight and took the prisoner away.

"Can't have a prison wedding without a fight," Jax said.

Ava just wanted the nightmare to end. It felt like time had stopped and the visit would never end.

Gemma got chocolate Hostess cupcakes and arranged them in tiers like a wedding cake. Jax and Ava fed each other a bite of cupcake without any cake smashing issues.

After they finished the cupcakes, Gemma and TB left Jax and Ava alone so the happy bride and groom could have a few moments alone.

"I hate being married," Ava said sullenly.

Jax laughed. If she hated being married now, wait until he got out of prison. There were going to be some good times ahead—maybe not so much for Ava.