Page 18 of Just Try, Again and Again

I scoff. That is the most offensive thing I have ever heard come out of her mouth. A green card marriage would imply we have no feelings for one another. “As of now, you’re still an American. And we’re actually in love.”

“Your father will not let this fly.” Considering the fact my dad is marrying Astrid, he’s not allowed to judge me for this. Haruki is not wrong. If Astrid finds out, she might make a big deal out of this. In her twisted mind, her future stepson marrying someone without a prenup might mean that she’d have to share the pot of gold with one extra person.

“We won’t tell him,” I say. “It’ll just be between us. If you’re not sick of me in a few years, we can get married again.”

“When do you want to do this?” Her tone is starting to change, telling me Haruki is warming up to the idea.We’re both insane.

“Do you want to go to Vegas before I start class? We can fly in coach, I promise,” I joke. She rolls her eyes and my heart flutters at how cute she is.

She takes another bite of her taco before speaking again. “That’s such a cliché. I wonder how many eighteen-year-olds get married in Vegas and have their marriages last.”

Suddenly, a light bulb goes on inside my head.Holy shit, fate has spoken.“Or we can get married here in Hawaii. I know this guy. He’s going to go to RadTech, too, in the fall. The last time I heard, one of his brothers owns a bunch of resorts here andhas a lot of sway with the authorities. I don’t know him that well since he went to boarding school, but I have his number.” Maybe being Arthur Simmons’ son does have its benefits, after all.

Vegas marriages end in bitter, embarrassing divorces. Hawaiian marriages have better chances.

Hey, man, do you have time for a phone call? Does your brother know anyone who can speed up marriage licenses in Hawaii? I kind of need a favor.

Logan

Sure, whatever you need.

15

Haruki - 18 years old

One week later

This feels a lot like déjà vu. Bryce’s father greeting us, people who are too fancy for my taste chit-chatting, Lily’s mother being mad at her for something unwarranted. But instead of Bryce’s house—not that it isn’t a mansion in its own right—we are at a manor, and the twenty-something guests from last time have been replaced with two-hundred-something guests. I feel relieved that Bryce managed to convince me to let him pay for a proper dress back in Honolulu. I take it they’re not big fans of Urban Outfitters.

It’s intoxicating to have this dirty secret. A week ago, I became the wife of Bryce Randall Simmons. We never got a ring; I said no and Bryce didn’t push it. He said he would get me one when the real thing happens in the future, so sure of himself. I guess he has to be, right? I guess I am, too.

Bryce doesn’t have to understand my struggles, and he might not get why I’m not willing to let go of my Japanese nationality,since I have nothing to come back home to anyway, but he respects it. He respected it so much he decided to give me the best of both worlds. Something that no one has ever cared to offer me. It was always their way or the highway with everyone else, but not with him. Never with him. He compromises, he finds solutions. Granted, his solutions might be stupid, like us getting married, but I can’t help but feel like it was the right thing to do. It definitely felt more right than whatever Lily’s mom and Bryce’s dad just did.

“Why is Astrid wearing a floor-length ball gown with diamond studs? Why was she wearing a veil like she’s some forty-year-old virgin getting married for the first time?” Bryce whispers with a smirk. I feel my cheeks heating. My hands can’t focus on cutting up the salmon on my plate anymore as I try to hold back a giggle.

“For the record,” Lily whispers casually to us from across the table, “I tried to tell her it was the most ridiculous thing on Earth.” Regret is filling me up.It’s still her mother we’re talking about.

As if she has an antenna on top of her head, the woman of the hour starts walking toward our table. “Are you kids having fun?” she asks in her faux nice tone she reserves when other people are there. She used it on me once, during the luncheon when we made small talk, before she realized I was a nobody and came to the event with Bryce.

“Are you afraid we’re plotting something against you?” Bryce asks her. The question startles Astrid because her face turns a shade whiter, but she quickly recollects herself and smiles.

“On the contrary,son. I’m not afraid, I’m excited. I have a surprise for you and Haruki. I think you’re going to like this one.” Bryce quirks his eyebrows, and so do I. We barely have a relationship with her, besides, it’s her wedding. What surprise would she have for us? When neither of us reacts to her, Astridshoots us a smile as fake as the nice tone. “I have it on good authority that the surprise just arrived. Consider it a present from me, Bryce. To mark our new chapter together. I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

We both follow Astrid out the door and into the empty hall on the other side of the building, with Bryce’s arm around my waist. I’m about to ask this woman why the hell she is being so vague, when the pieces come together the moment I see a familiar figure in front of me.Astrid is playing a game. She’s playing a game with Bryce. This is payback for when he threatened her before we left for Hawaii.

The back of my eyes burn once Astrid’s footsteps come to a halt and we finally come face to face with a man she clearly invited to the reception. Bryce looks at me confused, and I want to explain to him what’s happening, but my mouth just won’t open. So Astrid does it for me.

“Bryce,” she says with a pleased tone. “This is Mr. Sano.” Bryce’s body stiffens. He’s glaring at her as his grip on my waist tightens. Astrid is now looking at me, but I’m too focused trying to decipher the expression on my father’s face.

“We still had a few seats left, so I spoke to Arthur and we agreed to invite your parents to the wedding. You are Bryce’s girlfriend, after all. Because Bryce never picked up my calls, and I don’t have your number, I took the liberty of contacting them myself. I remember you telling me when we first met that you came from Osaka and that your family owns a real estate company. Since I had your full name for the place card, it wasn’t that hard to figure out that Sano Real Estate was the one.”

This can’t be happening.

Astrid continues speaking, using her fake-concerned voice. Every word sounds more insincere than the last. “I must apologize, Haruki, dear. I didn’t know you ran away from home. If I had known, I wouldn’t have meddled.” She turns to my dadand gives him a smile before clutching one hand in front of her chest. “But as a mother,” she says, holding her fist in front of her chest, “I thought it was my responsibility to inform him of your whereabouts. Let this wedding be a healing space for both of you.” And with that, she taps my shoulder and leaves the hall.

“Bryce, can you please leave us alone?” I manage to curve my mouth into a smile. By the way his jaw is clenching, he looks unsure. When I mouthit’s okay, he gives me a small nod and walks away.

I don’t dare glance at the man standing in front of me, expecting him to scold me for being such a disgrace to the family. Expecting him to ask me why I can’t just be obedient and docile like my brother. Instead, the man in front of me breaks down in tears, trying his best to sound as coherent as possible. “Haruki-chan, aitakatta yo (Haruki-Chan, I’ve missed you).”

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