Page 20 of Brazen
Heat rose to my face, and I wrung my hands. “Oh no, you saw that?”
Kerry sucked in her lip but then whispered as the music began, “We weren’t quite so exposed as you, but that site almost ruined my life too.”
We stood as I asked, “Did Charlie’s parents see those pictures?”
“We all did,” Kerry said. “Don’t worry about it, though. That blog almost had me sent to a mental health clinic that could have stopped my divorce, so we know it’s run by someone completely mean-spirited.”
The groom was on the stage next to the minister. We turned to watch for the bride’s entrance as Kerry said, “Being in the Norouzi family has more benefits than problems.”
Charlie smiled like Kerry was right.
“Good to know,” I said, but I wasn’t so sure. I hated the idea that everyone here had seen such intimate pictures of me. At least now I knew everyone here had already seen me at my worst.
Then the dark-haired woman in a mermaid dress turned the corner. She walked alone. My heart thundered—if I ever did get married, I would be the same, not that I would ever get so lucky.
We took our seats, and the minister spoke in a language I didn’t understand for part of it. I gazed around and saw Charlie's family was beaming with happiness.
Then the minister said, "You may kiss the bride," and they both were lost in each other. I sighed, and tears formed in my eyes.
The bride and groom walked back into the house, and we all followed. The small group of twenty still felt like a crowd, but then Charlie placed his hand around my waist, making me forget where I was. “So, you were getting along with my sister-in-law.”
I gazed up at him. “She’s nice.”
“Not as nice as you and your friends.”
We were directed to the formal room and offered appetizers and champagne. He laughed, and we took our flutes. Then Ali and Gerard made their entrance, and everyone cheered.
I grabbed Charlie’s arm. “That dress is gorgeous.”
He smiled. “How come you chose one of the older-lady dresses and not something backless?”
His little dares in Paris were naughty but fun to act out when I understood no one was around, but I shook my head. “Because I’m trying to be classy now.”
He shrugged. “You don’t need to try to be anything.”
I pressed my hand to my heart then calmed down and sipped my wine. I needed to remember to not take his words to heart. I held his arm and scanned the room. “You don’t either. It seems to me your family loves you, no matter what, and your mom clearly knows you. You really don’t need a fake date.”
We saluted her from across the room, and she laughed as Charlie said, “They do. She does. And I do. We’ll talk about it at home.”
“Fine.”
He took me to the center of the room, where couples were starting to sway. We placed our champagne glasses on a tray and stayed close. For a few minutes, I let myself feel like I was entirely his, but then I asked, “So why are you stressing about Kir and your job?”
He looked down, and it was like our hearts beat as one. He smiled. “Because I want to make them proud.”
I went on my tiptoes. “I understand. My grandfather would have liked you.”
He spun me around. “What was he like?”
Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned my family. I swallowed and realized I wanted to talk about him. “He was old-school about a lot of things and couldn’t talk to me about growing up to be a girl. I learned most things secondhand.”
He held me tightly. “If I had a daughter?—"
“You want to have children?” I asked with my eyes wide open. I had no memory of any guy ever mentioning children to me.
He shrugged. “I am blessed, so I suppose I do. You?”
My life had no real room for family or a husband, even. Most married people I knew were high-up management types juggling family and work, so they were usually super focused on tasks. I knew nothing about their lives beyond that. I tilted my head. “I… never thought about it. I never had anything like you did.”
