A Marriage of His Convenience

knew it wothout opening her eyes. The scent. The beeping of the monitor. It was increasing as she roused. Suddenly her ears started working more properly and it was loud. Even behind her eyeli

r body refused to respond. She l

es flashed on the screen. Her mother, Judy, desperately tried to turn it off.

ckedly smart. Instead Genny threw the remote and turned to Anna desp

hear but we are here okay?" Genny snapped a bit louder, directed toward Judy and Dylan, "An

bbing. Clutching to her sister, Anna shook with sobs. Genny was right. Even if this upset Anna now, she knew her sister well. Anna only could nod in thanks as s

tared at the screen over, frozen on the image of herself at the worst possible moment. Repulsed Anna turned away humiliated. The urg

ll crossed his chest after saying it and marched to get the remote and shove back in the batt

rld had in store. After wrangling the batteries in he pushed back his blonde hair. He aimed the remote at the TV as it if personally offended him and slammed his thumbs on the buttons. Anna kept her gaz

Anna flailed her hands, tears still pouring down her cheeks against her will. She saw something.

o looked devastated. Marissa and Erica were seen rushing toward Anna and Maddie. Anna was already on the floor with Jaxon kneeling still poised as liquid dripped off of him. Dylan and Cesar were moving from their cha

uminated. Those same lips were curved in a subtle, yet unmistakable smile. Chaos erupted like a halo around her while she sat

and managed to ask th

sking if SHE is okay? Yeah. At least her fia

an knew Jaxon was dating down, and no amount of "being a nice person" from Anna was going to change that. Now it seemed Anna didn't even try. Jaxon wasn't just out of Anna's league, they weren't even playing the same game. And of course al

She asked, "I.

chair. Anna noticed for the first time he was stil

eally cared about Jaxon, hm? You're

lebee's. It wasn't fancy. In fact he drove one of his father's company loaner vehicles. It was still nicer t

her. She encouraged him, she supported him. She cooked for him, cared for him. Anna was smart, not nearly as smart as Genny, but she did graduate and did get her degrees f

lazy. That he could pop by at 2 am and watch a movie and forget the world. If they had ever been intimate Anna would have thought there was an ulterior motive. But n

ead. She inhaled, shaken still. She drew in her bre

about Jaxon, not since. Jaxon never explained and it infuriated Dylan. Dylan was confident Jaxon hadn't cheated on An

I'm not. He's see

na. For once he actually isn't. So if you're t

Stop." She turned to her daughter with concern, "An

ained how he hid it. How he had been acting distant in the last few weeks. How he was always on his phone, or not answering calls. Dylan stil

new, it wasn't Jaxon's idea to propose, but Brent had been strongly pressuring Jaxon. That they got into a huge fight about it, but whatever Brent ha

fted and kissed his fist. He knew he ha

was puffier than usual and her eyes were red. She l

, "I know what yo

o try to convince my sister that she didn't see

it, but okay. Listen. Have you

Does she have to walk in on hi

ut of Anna's room this

ward the door, "I'm many things but ask Anna if she's ever known me

Dylan, "He's right. I've never known

a date for my best friend's engagement right? I asked him to help me. I never can keep them, and he has you. I asked him to scout some g

Genny retort

No. L

Anna, that's his best friend. Dy

"True, but. I asked him to help me. Like that movi

this man's mouth. It was obvious Genny felt the same but

s all the words and the other guy is all lik

the Cyrano de Bergerac defense?" Genn

ll him to show you his phone the second he

his to be true. She wanted to think that it was a misunderstanding. Anna thought about this, what if it was? If it was a misunderst

h. He was sitting here for awhile until we kinda forced

n disbelief but assert

the hall. Anna returned her sore eyes to the screen where Faith's smile was all she could focus on. Judy wa

ried out and just shook lightly with tremors of anguish. Judy rubbed h

went through. Marissa and Mr. Mishra were greeted by Judy, "Mariss

gone home to change. Marissa was now in a less formal sari with a few dozen less gold bangles and neck