“Sweetheart, you fit anywhere you want to be.”
“No, I don’t. You didn’t raise me to be…” She looked toward the women who were in their own private circle. She’d never been part of the in crowd, never cared to be. This was no different. “This.”
“Alex,” he said, and she held her hand up, stopping him.
“Please, don’t. I don’t need my dad trying to deal with my husband.” Even saying the word husband was difficult. She had never intended to get married. Never wanted to be married. Her parents had never married. According to her father, her mother hadn’t wanted to tie the knot, didn’t feel it was necessary.
“I didn’t want you to be put in this kind of situation.”
“You arranged this for us, Dad. How could you not have wanted it?” Alex and Roman were two people who’d never met before their wedding.
Liam had always kept her far away from his other business dealings. She was aware of it, and he never lied to her about what he was, but that didn’t mean he exposed her unnecessarily.
The first time she actually met Roman was when she walked down the aisle to him. There had been other opportunities for them to meet, but they had never happened. Mainly because he was busy, like, all the time. Even when she refused to have the virgin test, he hadn’t been present for any of it. His father had.
“Bringing our families together was necessary,” Liam said. “But that doesn’t mean I wanted you to be miserable. I can fix this.”
“Dad there’s nothing to fix. I think we’re just strangers, you know. Trying to get used to each other and all of that.” She forced a smile to her lips, which was again difficult.
She’d never been a good liar. Liam had told her many times that she was terrible at it. The worst person, and he’d even advised her not to attempt it when she was older either. He probably had the nicest, easiest kid to hang out with. She had never rebelled against him. They had an amazing relationship, father and daughter.
Liam’s nostrils flared as he looked toward Roman.
Her husband was looking back at her, and she couldn’t exactly read the look on his face, but she could imagine he was … pissed. Maybe something more, she wasn’t sure. Either way, he wasn’t happy.
What more could she do?
Did he not like her talking to her father?
“You promise not to make waves?” she asked.
“I promise not to meddle, but if he does anything, or if in any way you’re scared, you come to me.”
“Promise.”
Roman didn’t scare her, not really. Okay, there were a few times he might have made her a little afraid, but at those times, he was angry with someone else, and he just told her to fuck off or to get out of his face.
They didn’t have the best communication, and what also didn’t help was that she hated confrontation. Rather than call him out on the crap he said, she left it.
Liam pulled her in for another hug, and she saw everyone’s disapproval. What kind of family was this?
“Mr. Smith, I heard you’d joined us,” Lucas Greco, Roman’s father, said.
She pulled away from her father in an attempt to create a little space. The two men shook hands, and Roman made that his cue to join them.
Alex stayed perfectly still, not saying anything.
Lucas glanced at her, and she saw the disapproval on his face. He hadn’t liked that she refused to be part of the virgin test. The man didn’t believe in trust. It was completely clear to see with the way he treated her.
As far as he was concerned, she was a hussy, or whatever word he used to describe her.
“It’s a nice gathering,” Liam said. “How could I turn down a personal invite from you. Roman?” He nodded at her husband.
She stared at her father, who looked at the distance between them. Alex wasn’t going to step closer to the man she couldn’t stand.
Silence descended upon the group. It was because of her.
“I think I would like some fresh air,” she said. “Lovely party.”