I rubbed my left collarbone and looked at his leather work bag sitting by the door.

“I’m afraid someone else might read them or misplace them before the ceremony,” I said.

Ryan studied my face for a long ten seconds.

He didn’t tell me I was making a big deal out of nothing this time.

He didn’t defend Ethan or my friends.

“Don’t tell anyone else I have this,” Ryan said.

I walked over to his briefcase and opened the heavy brass clasps.

I placed my handwritten vows deep in the zippered pocket and zipped it shut.