The Arranged Bride

Sophia's POV

"But Mom-"

"No buts. You will handover your phone to me. "Nick lazily walked out of his study when I was busy glaring at Ethan. Evelyn stood by my side angry at her brother. "What happened? Why made both of my girls so upset?" Nick came up and kissed my forehead.

"Your son happened. Evie called me saying how he fought with a guy. "I was really exasperated at this. He was seventeen for God's sake and still gets into fights "And what's the reason for the fight?" Nick looked at Ethan for explanation.

"I didn't fight, Dad. I just scared him away." He said in an offended voice. I saw Nick checking the smile that was threatening to fall on his face while I wanted nothing more than to beat his ass up. Suddenly Evie decided to speak up.

"Dad, do you know what Ethan did? He scared Peter away. He threatened him to stay away from me and now he would never talk to me." She ended with a sad voice. I really felt sorry for my little girl. Whenever she would talk to any guy, Ethan would go into his big brother mode and scare the poor guy away.

"Who is Peter?" Nick raised a brow at Ethan.

A stupid horny boy,Dad. Two days back, I saw him all over Evie. They met at the park or whatever. I had warned him to stay away from her yet today I saw him kiss her. So I just made sure he remembers well not to repeat it ever." He casually shrugged like he wasn't talking about breaking someone's nose.

"Oh God Ethan! Don't exaggerate. It was a peck on the cheek." Evelyn defended.

"Nick, say something." Nick looked up at me and then back at Ethan before a smirk made its way onto his face. Ethan at once understood that his work was appreciated by his Dad because he too smirked in return. Nick walked towards him and patted his back. I looked at him like he had grown two heads.

"Just don't do any damage." As soon as the words left his mouth, Evie's head snapped towards her Dad.

"Sure Dad." Ethan smiled at Nick.

"Dad, you can't say that. He always scares away all the boys who ever talk to me." Evie cried out.

"I don't see a problem in that." Nick nonchalantly shrugged.

"Nick! You can't be serious." I said annoyed at him for encouraging Ethan instead of scolding him.

"But I am." He said almost immediately.

"That means you and your son are going to beat up and chase away any guy who looks at Evie?" I put my hands on my waist in a defensive manner.

"Well if necessary...." Nick and Ethan looked at each other and back at me before shrugging. I was so so pissed at them and their stupid shrugs. I swear if they could, they would lock my girl up in a room and never let her come across any guy.

"Don't shrug! Just don't. You- You - I will go mad talking to you. Evie, come let's go up. "I stomped my way up the stairs, Evie following suite.

Nick's POV

We were having a barbeque night in our garden. Both our families and friends were going to be there. Sophia was still a bit angry with me for supporting Ethan today in the morning. So I was helping Sophia set everything up for the night, in an attempt to cool her down. We were at the end of the arrangements when the doorbell rang.

"I will bring the glasses outside. You go and get the door." I nodded at Sophia and went to open the door.

"Uncle Nick !" Ava, Erica and Ryan's six year old daughter hugged my legs as soon as I opened the door. I picked her up and placed her on my hip.

"How's my munchkin doing?" I flicked her nose to which she giggled. Ryan and Erica got married when Evelyn was about a year old. They have a nine year old son, Liam and Ava.

"Where is Evie?" Alex asked.

"Upstairs." He let me hardly finish before he rushed upstairs. A few months after we had adopted Evie, Char was pregnant with Alex. They got married before they had Alex who is now ten years old. "Come on in." I moved aside gesturing everyone to enter.

"I thought you would never ask." Caleb hugged me and I returned it.

"Hey man!" Ryan and I did a bro hug. Our relationship had improved a lot and I realised that the difference created between was mostly by me and my forever companion, jealousy.

Char and Erica after a quick greeting rushed to Sophia with Ava and his brother.

We watched as Mom and Sophia's Mom played with Ava while Dad and her father laughed their hearts out at something. Although over these years Sophia's father has become bit comfortable with Dad, still his words are a bit measured in front of him. However, anybody would confuse our moms to be bestfriends considering their closeness.

We were sitting around joking while the kids played around. Ethan although elder than all of the kids was very patient and he kept Liam company. At one moment it was completely silent and we were enjoying the peaceful atmosphere when Evie's laughter had our attention. I saw her laughing at something Alex told her. Amongst all the children, these two were the closest, considering their nearly same age.

"See I told you, they look good together. We should definitely have them married once they grow up." Caleb said in an excited voice. "Absolutely not." I said without missing a beat. He keeps on shipping Alex and Evie but I don't find it funny at all.

"Why not? I always dreamt of having my child married to Sophia's and we would really become family." Char seconded Caleb.

"I don't find a problem either." Sophia shrugged smirking at me before grinning at Char.

"Then it's fixed. "I rolled my eyes at Caleb before looking into distance.

I crept behind Sophia into the kitchen when she came to take the icecreams out. I hugged her from behind, startling her in the process.

"Oh God Nick! Stop sneaking like this. " She kept a hand on her chest calming herself down.

I hummed into her hair. So many years into our marriage and I still couldn't get over the sweet smell of her. She was like the drug that kept me sane. I was truely and utterly whipped.

"You know one of the first things that I loved about you was your amazing smell " She turned around in my hold to face me.

"It was your first day here after marriage. When you walked in the dining room, the fragrance hit my nostrils and it was so damn intoxicating."

"We really did come a long way isn't it? From being mere strangers to enemies, becoming friends and finally falling in love with each other." She sighed dreamily.

"Yeah it feels just yesterday that I got married to a jerk like you that I have grown to love so much." She teased to which I chuckled.

"Who thought I would ever get married let alone have an arranged bride and fall so fucking deeply in love with her?" We looked into each other's eyes before we attached our lips in a kiss. A sweet, gentle kiss.