Page 126 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

Perhaps I underestimated how much my dad dislikes Van.

“What were you thinking?” Dad demands.

I know I wasn’t thinking about Dad or his reaction when I tugged Van toward the wedding reception, managing to find the officiant as well as a pair of very drunk wedding guests who acted as our witnesses.

I was thinking about how Van, more than anyone in my life including my dad, made me feel more like myself. That it was okay to be myself, whoevermyselfhappened to be. And it only took a few days for him to do it.

I was also thinking about his lips on mine and how he made me laugh and how much fun we had.

How being with Van felt different than iteverhad with Drew. Or with anyone. I’m not sure anyone has ever allowed me that kind of freedom to just unapologetically … be.

Van reminded me of Mom in some strange way. Being around him made me think of how Dad always said when I found the person I want to spend my life with, I shouldn’t waste a second. There was an urgency on that beach—the sense that Van was that person, and I really didn’t want another second to go by without making it official.

Apparently, this adage of Dad’s only applies when it’snothis least favorite player.

“I guess you realized your mistake and that’s why you came back without him. And why you didn’t tell me. Milly, the man is arrogant. A hothead. And the mouth on him.” Dad shakes his head, the disappointment on his face growing with every word he says. “Let’s not get started about his reputation.”

“Yes. Let’s not,” I mutter. Alec’s comments from the day before are still stuck in my head.

The idea of Van and anyone else fills me with hot, hot rage.

“If you were looking for a way to hurt me—” Dad starts.

I interrupt, but quietly. “My decision had nothing to do with you. Or at least, not hurting you. And you don’t know Van as well as you think.”

Dad leans back in his chair, eyes narrowed. “You really believe after a few days at the beach, you know one of my players better than I do?”

“Yes. Because if you’ve reduced Van to things you just said, you don’t know him at all.”

“Do you hear yourself?” he asks.

“I could say the same to you.”

Dad stands, the bag of ice falling from his hands as he places his palms flat on the desk and leans toward me. I’ve seen the look in his eyes before, but never directed toward me. I do my best not to wither under it, though that’s exactly what I want to do. Wither, cower, apologize. Back down.

As uncomfortable as it is not to do any of those things, I sit up tall under Dad’s gaze.

I can’t make choices based on what he wants for me. Or on what keeps the peace. I won’t. Not anymore.

“You married a man I can barely tolerate after knowing him only a few days.”

“Let’s not forget—you sent him to Florida with me.”

“Not for this! I thought you’d be crying in your hotel room all week. I couldn’t stand the thought of you alone and hurt. I expected Van to keep an eye on you—from a distance. Not to have his bad influence impact you like this.”

“He wasn’t a bad influence. The opposite, actually.”

Dad shakes his head. “I don’t believe that. You made maybe the biggest decision of your life, done on a whim. In some ways, I get it—Drew hurt you and you reacted.”

“That’s not why either. This wasn’t about youorDrew.”

“Then make it make sense, Milly.”

I’m still not sure I can articulate all the reasons an impromptu wedding with Van on the beach seemed like the right choice at the time. But Idoknow it wasn’t just a reaction to Drew. It wasn’t me lashing out or acting out because I was hurt.

Dad pauses, and it feels like he’s winding up for a big explosion. Instead, his next words are whispered. “You got married, and I wasn’t there.”

He blinks, and something in me twists up tight. The hurt is clear in his voice. Is this really the crux of it—he’s hurt because I got married without him? Dad had been so excited to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day, and he wasn’t even there. He didn’t even know about the wedding at all until I blurted it out in the locker room.

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