And then the bridal march was playing. Nola wasn’t one to shirk tradition. I was a little surprised she’d opted for such a small backyard wedding, but it felt cozy and real. Less production-oriented and more relationship-focused. And when Bane’s eyes landed on her, I knew he’d be a perfect fit. He stared at her like she hung the stars.
This was not how I’d envisioned finally welcoming a new brother to the family.
I’d expected to get to ask him exactly four-hundred million questions. If he passed those, then I would move on to telling him every possible embarrassing story about Nola.
But apparently, Dad was the only one who had gotten to know him before they decided to get married.
I was told I should pretend like I knew Bane well. This was supposed to be a vow renewal ceremony. Only Bane and our family knew they were getting married for the first time.
What kinds of friends were these that they didn’t realize what was going on?
The wedding ended, and I found myself walking Mom back up the aisle, Dad trailing behind us.
Bane and Nola waited for us inside Dad and Mom’s house. It was Dad’s semi-retirement present to my mother. (Because honestly that man would never completely retire.)
Nola reached up and wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. I was so worried with it being such short notice. I just wanted you here so badly.”
She rocked me back and forth as if I were a small child, not her brother who was a good four inches taller.
“I missed you, Nols. You didn’t come visit me like you said you would.”
She let me go and glanced over her shoulder at Bane. “I was a little busy.”
“Don’t look at me.” Bane shook his head. “I didn’t know your brother lived so close.”
I leaned around Nola and held my hand out to Bane. “Since my sister will probably never introduce us, I’m Nate.”
“Bane.” He shook my hand. It was a good handshake, and it made me immediately like him.
Nola pinched my arm. “Did you bring a date?”
“Hey, this is your day. This is about you guys, not me.”
The door burst open, and the wedding guests filtered in. Could fifty people fit in a house? We were about to find out.
Nola and Bane got pulled away by friends and family, and I stepped out of the way of the stampede out of pure self-preservation.
I found Dad in the corner, a cold beer in his hand. He handed me one. He must have had it stashed in his pocket for a rainy day.
“What do you think of Bane?” I asked him as I cracked the lid off.
“Honestly...I couldn’t have picked better if I’d done it myself.”
I could feel my eyebrows competing against each other for the highest perch on my forehead. My dad rarely approved wholeheartedly of anyone. “Come again?”
“He values your sister. He protects her over and over again. Oh, remind me to tell you about the dog burglar. He’s a real estate agent. He’s a budgeter. He cleans up after your sister. He brings out a lighter side to her. He loves her kids. What more could I ask for?”
“Where can I find one?” I joked.
Dad smirked. “I think you’ve already found yours.”
I took a long sip, hoping he’d let it go. He didn’t.
“You’ve found her, haven’t you?”
“How do you always do that?”
“Because your mother told me you had a special someone in your life. And you’ve been texting me more, asking questions.”
“This world is full of people! It could have been literally anyone else.”
Dad shook his head. “But not for you. You’ve loved Riley for as long as I can remember.”
“How come you never said anything?”
“And embarrass my high-school-aged son? Yeah, no thanks. I might be dumb, but I’m not stupid.”
“Well, when you put it that way...”
We stood there quietly, watching the people milling around Dad’s living room.
“She’s something, Dad. She’s—she’s only gotten better.”
“That’s called maturing.”
“She’s still just as funny, smart. But there’s something else. She’s softer and harder at the same time. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like the years have only refined her to perfection. She’s soft and kind to the people who deserve it, and fiercely protective of them.”
“What happened to her temper?” Dad asked.
“It’s still there. I had to dig a little to find it, but it came out. She tried to throw me out of my house.”
Dad grinned ear to ear. “She probably was a little surprised to see how much you’ve grown.”
“She—I think she was surprised. Surprised to like me.”
“What does she think now?”
“She wants to be with me but is scared of it at the same time.”
“You’re not going to be able to fix her.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I set my beer bottle down on the counter a little too loudly. “She’s perfect.”
Dad just shook his head. “Her fears. Those aren’t going to go away, son. Those are a part of her. Don’t try to fix her. It will only make her run farther and faster. The best thing you can do is listen to those fears. Reassure her that you won’t leave. Again and again. Where some people might be fine hearing it once from their partner, Riley is going to need that reassurance verbally, physically, and emotionally for the rest of her life.”
“Are you saying I shouldn’t date her?”
“No. You know we love Riley. I’m only telling you the things I’ve learned over a long life. Some things people deal with aren’t things that go away. She had a tough start in life. That will affect her for the rest of her life. I’m only warning you to tread lightly. Don’t make her feel like her fears are her fault.”
I picked up my beer and drained the last of it. “You know, Dad, every once in a while, you come up with some pretty good stuff.”
Dad grinned. “Don’t tell
