Page 69 of Accidentally Falling for My Fake Wife

“Well, you asked me what I said, and I answered?” Why can’t I stop answering a question with a question? I thought I got over this when I became an adult. Apparently not.

“How about you come over here and sit down.” He points to the chair across from him. I slowly walk toward my parents and sit. I look from my mom to my dad. My mom’s eyes twinkle, and my dad’s are perplexed. My stomach is a whirling mess, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to be sick. “Go ahead and start from the beginning.”

And just like that, I spill.

The story falls from my mouth in a cascade of words. I tell him about Chase and the Blitz Brigade, then how I met Adam and our conversations. Then, when I found out Chase was at one of the Mavericks games, I mentioned we should meet up.

“Susie!” My dad yells, shock filling his voice. “He could’ve been a serial killer!”

“That’s exactly what I said!” I exclaim, my eyes wide.

“Then why did you meet up with him?” I almost laugh at the stunned expression on his face. Almost. But I don’t since I’m sure he wouldn’t see the humor like I do.

“Because Brie told me that that was a silly reason not to meet him.” My mother laughs at my reply, only to receive a glare from my dad.

“Since you’re not surprised by this news, I think you were aware that our daughter is married?” He scoffs.

“I found out last night and told her she needed to tell you as soon as possible. She’s here, isn’t she?” She looks at me, and I nod.

“That’s the truth.” I shift my gaze back to my dad. “She was very firm that I needed to let you know.”

“You and I will have a chat later.” He says sternly to my mom who has the decency to look duly chastised. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. My dad looks pointedly at me. “I’m guessing that he wasn’t a serial killer then?”

“Nope,” I say with too much enthusiasm if my dad’s scowl is any indication.

I continue where I left off, telling him how Chase didn’t respond, and then he did. When we met up, Chase was Adam, about the visa issue, the marriage, living at the farmhouse—

“Wait, wait, wait!” My dad’s hand is pushed out in front of him, his eyes are squinted and his head is tilted. “You’re living at the farmhouse? My parents’ old house?”

“Oh yeah, Adam is living in grandma and grandpa’s old house.” My dad’s eyes flair, his face turns red, and my stomach sinks. I am bad at telling my father this story in a way that would make him feel good about all of this.

I write best-selling books; how can I not have this conversation?

Editors! I internally slap my palm to my forehead.

If only Norma were with me, editing my thoughts before they flew out of my mouth.

“Honey.” My mom puts her hand on my father’s arm. He slowly turns to her. Her voice is calm and soothing. “Breathe and let her finish.”

I watch my dad take a deep breath before slowly blowing it out. He then swallows hard and splays one of his hands out in front of me, indicating I should continue.

This time, I swallow against the cotton sticking to the top of my mouth. Who would’ve thought telling my dad about me being secretly married would be so hard? Not Amelia Adams, that’s for sure, but let me tell you, it’s so much harder to do in real life than in a romance novel.

I also have a completely new respect for my editor.

I look at my dad and see a host of emotions running through his eyes. My stomach knots as I realize he’s not angry, so much as he’s hurt.

“Daddy, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t tell anyone.” It’s my turn to take a deep breath and slowly blow it out. “I wanted to make sure that the feelings I felt for Adam were something that could be real. We both acknowledged we had feelings for the other, but we also knew that it was still really early to make a decision to get married. Despite that, Adam needed help, and I decided to help him. So we got married with the understanding that we would try dating first.”

“And now?” My dad’s voice is scratchy, and his eyes are shiny.

“Now, I know I love him,” I say self-consciously. It’s only the third time I’ve said it out loud. “And considering he wants to marry me for real, I’m pretty sure he loves me too.”

My dad turns to my mom, who gives him a soft smile and squeezes his hand. When he looks back at me, I see his eyes filled with tears.

“Daddy.” I get up and move to the couch beside him, grabbing his hand. “What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t get to walk my daughter down the aisle.” His voice is gruff. “I didn’t get to give you away.”

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