Page 40 of Father of the Bride
“Time for two truths and a lie!”
Everyone settled back into their seats, eager to play the game now that the ice had been broken.
“We’ll start with our bride,” Daisy said.
With a silly smile, Brooklyn read from her card. “I got banned from Starbucks. I’ve never been in trouble with the law. And I was valedictorian of my high school class.”
Mark frowned at that. “I know number three is true. Twobetterbe true. So number one is the lie.”
Dav and Brooklyn looked at each other.
“I told you not to put that one,” he said, laughing. “Now you gotta confess.”
“Hold up.” Mark took a sip, feeling loose. “I know my baby girl ain’t been in trouble with the law.”
“Oh, snap,” Vince blurted. “I remember when you got arrested.”
Sunny’s mouth dropped open at the very idea that prissy, bougie little Brooklyn had done anything to warrant an arrest.
Dav shook his head as Brooklyn shifted in her seat.
“I got arrested for trespassing,” she finally said.
“Trespassing where?”
“Me and my girls wanted to do an impromptu photo shoot for Carmen’s Instagram, and we couldn’t think of anywhere to go. Samara suggested we get all dressed up and go to the grand ballroom at the Elysian. It was locked, so we kinda…broke in.”
Everyone’s watchful eyes stayed trained on Mark as he took a large gulp of his drink.
“Well,” he said quietly. “I’m learning a lot aboutyoutoday, young lady.”
“Daddy, don’t be mad.”
He smiled. “I ain’t even mad, Brookie. I’m amused. I always thought you didn’t know how to have fun.”
Brooklyn’s eyes narrowed. “How many drinks have you had?”
“Stay outta grown folks’ business,” he said with a wink. “As for your prison stint, I guess as long as no damage was done, it’s cool.”
Brooklyn looked at Davion, who shrugged.
“Father of the bride,” Daisy called. “Let’s hear from you.”
Mark picked up his card. “Alright. Let’s see. I’ve operated on a celebrity. I broke my leg playing football. And I’ve only been in love once.”
Brooklyn frowned. “Daddy…you’ve been in love more than once?”
“Does that bother you?”
“Not at all. It makes me curious. Who was it?”
The alcohol had dulled his senses so much, he’d lost the wherewithal to be discreet. His eyes moved immediately to Sunny, only in his mind, she was Cici, and they were alone in this room, young and carefree and still hopeful for a future that felt like happily ever after. But he wasn’t so drunk he forgot where he was, so he averted his eyes quickly before it became obvious.
“I met her in college,” he said quietly. “I thought she was the one, but…circumstances transpired.”
Brooklyn’s eyes grew wide. “What circumstances?”
“We don’t need to get into it—“
