Page 52 of A Marriage of Anything But Convenience

“That is so romantic.” Brielle stuck her fork into a potato. “I love how you guys just eloped. Who cares what everyone else thinks? I don’t want a big wedding, either. I think eloping is economical.”

“It certainly was quick,” Nara said, picking up her glass of water.

Brielle pushed her food around. “It would have been nice to have been there…”

A shot of panic sped up Nara’s heart rate. She reached over and put her hand on Brielle’s arm. “Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry. Things happened so quickly.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I understand.” Brielle looked like she was trying not to frown. “I’m sure you were just trying to get married quickly…not really thinking of family…”

Nara exchanged glances with Derek. This was not good. She hadn’t thought about what Brielle might think, not having been invited to the rushed ceremony.

“We thought of you, Brielle,” he said. “You were just involved in school and we didn’t want to make you feel bad knowing you had classes the day we decided to get married. I think your education is more important.”

Nara worried her bottom lip, nervous that Brielle would be upset. But she just smiled at them. “I knew it was something like that. You guys are just so in love, you couldn’t wait.”

“Yes. Exactly.” Nara reached over and took Derek’s hand. She ignored the tingles that shot through her. She was getting used to it every time they touched. “We’re too in love.”

“I can totally tell. You guys look so cute together.”

Derek’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. He looked at the screen, mouthed, “It’s your dad,” then he stood and left the room.

Nara grunted and dropped her fork on her plate with a clang. What was her father calling Derek for now?

Brielle’s gaze traveled over her. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

Brielle gave her a look that signified she didn’t believe her.

“Okay, maybe I’m upset that my father keeps calling Derek instead of me. Like, when he went into the hospital. He calls Derek. I’m his daughter. Why didn’t he call me?”

Sympathy filled Brielle’s eyes. “That does suck. But you know, Derek talks to your dad all the time about stuff. I mean, he’s practically a father to him, too.”

Nara knew Derek was with her father all the time. They worked together. A lot. But she didn’t realize they had more of a personal relationship as well. “How so?”

“Well, whenever Derek needed anything, which was a lot after mom and dad died, your father was the one he called. And when I decided that roller skating in the house was a great idea and tripped on the threshold, your dad was the one that came over to check my leg. He took me to the hospital to get the x-ray, and even stayed with Derek until the cast was on.”

“I kind of remember that. I was in high school, I think.”

“Yeah. You were.” Brielle nodded. “Derek just started relying on him for all kinds of stuff. He probably calls your dad three or four times a week just to talk.”

Her throat grew tight as guilt surfaced in Nara. How often did she call her dad? She didn’t remember the last time she’d picked up the phone to talk to him. He was always the one who called her. And she had no idea her father and Derek had that kind of a relationship. She picked up her fork and stabbed a slice of sausage. “Oh.”

Brielle leaned forward, her elbows on the table. “I honestly think your father is who saved Derek from going crazy when I was in high school.”

“Going crazy?”

A smile broke out on her face. “Yeah. I was a super hormonal mess. Talk about drama queen. And poor Derek didn’t know how to handle it. Your dad talked him down from many ledges. Probably saved my life a few times, too.” Her cheeks grew pink. “I’ve settled down a lot since then, I promise.”

Nara laughed. “I was a crazy hormonal mess growing up, too. I think all teen girls are.”

Derek walked into the room, his phone in his hand. “All teen girls are what?”

“Hormonal,” Nara and Brielle said at once. Nara laughed.

“Why are you talking about teenage girls?”

“No reason,” Nara said. “What did my father want?”

---