Becoming Mrs. Lockwood Read online

  “I’ll call him in the next day or two. I have to figure out what to say.”

  “Good. He sounded so sad.” And it was only going to get worse.

  We continued to talk for another hour, about how my life was going to change, about school, about Weston and all that I had learned about him. By the end of the conversation I felt more at ease knowing my mom was just a phone call away. Knowing that she would drop everything to talk to me. Add that to all of the support I was feeling from Julia and Sophie and maybe, just maybe, things would work out. Maybe this Hollywood life wouldn’t be so bad.

  After hanging up with Mom, I stared out into the sky, the sun setting on the horizon. It was beautiful. I still felt like I was on a vacation, though. Perhaps when my stuff arrived it wouldn’t feel like that.

  When the rainbow that was the sky had faded, I decided to head in. Navigating my way around was still a pain, but I was finally getting an understanding of the general layout. Once I discovered all of the rooms, I was certain it would be easier. Which then reminded me that there was still the basement to discover and explore.

  Walking down the main hall toward the kitchen, I smelled the delicious meal that Weston’s chef, Kelly, had prepared. It had my mouth watering and my mind dreaming of roast beef and root vegetables. The smell had me so distracted that I didn’t hear the voices until I was right outside Weston’s office.

  “I just don’t understand why you didn’t get it annulled,” a strange man’s voice said as I approached the door. “You didn’t even get a fucking prenup!”

  Prenup?

  Oh my God. I hadn’t even thought about that, which I was certain only painted our situation in an even worse light.

  “I know, Miles. There wasn’t time, and to be honest, I wasn’t thinking.”

  “At least we both agree on that,” the voice, I assumed was Miles, grumbled.

  The sinking feeling that Miles wasn’t going to like me increased with each word from his mouth, and I began fidgeting with the broken belt loop on my jeans.

  “Stop, Miles. There’s something about her. I can’t describe it,” Weston said.

  Miles. Weston’s brother was in there, talking about me.

  “Something doesn’t save you when she plays you for half of your net worth.”

  “Miles . . .”

  “Never in your life have I ever heard of you doing something so impulsive.”

  Miles didn’t sound happy, and the nervousness kicked in. Winning him over was going to be a fight.

  “Do you believe in love at first sight?” Weston asked.

  There was a silence and then Miles spoke, his voice so low I barely heard him. “Weston, how can you even believe in such a fairy tale after all you’ve been through? And being so reckless. A stranger? Really?”

  “Fairy tale? Absolutely. Reckless? Maybe.” There was the sound of something being thrown down on the desk. “But have you ever seen me with that look?” I could just imagine Weston pointing to the pictures of us in Vegas.

  “Jesus.” Miles’s voice came out in a whisper.

  “She did that. I told you—she’s special. You’ll understand when you meet her.”

  Footsteps headed in my direction, and before I could move Weston was coming out of the door. My eyes grew wide as I stared up at him. Once he registered me, he glanced back into the office and gave me a bashful smile, making me melt.

  “Wren.”

  “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I w-was just walking by,” I stuttered, internally facepalming myself for being that nervous to meet his brother.

  And then he was there, behind Weston; blond hair, same blue eyes, tall like Weston, and he was staring at me. Weston gave a small chuckle and leaned down to kiss my forehead. Slipping his arm around my waist, he turned so that we were both facing his brother.

  “Miles, I’d like you to meet my wife, Wren. Wren, this is my older brother, Miles.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” I said. I held out my left hand as my right was behind Weston’s back, gripping his shirt.

  Miles continued to stare at me, his expression blank. “I’m sorry,” he apologized and took my hand, his face unfreezing and a smile forming. “Miles Lockwood.”

  It was an awkward shake, stiff and jerky. He moved in an almost mechanical way, his shock coming through in his movements. His words might have been fluid, but his body was anything but. Even the smile on his face seemed guarded and disingenuous. It was evident that Miles had not inherited the acting gene.

  My grip on Weston’s shirt did not lessen as we headed into the kitchen. He ran his hand up and down my arm soothingly, but I wasn’t sure if it was me or himself he was trying to soothe. Upon entering the dining room, Julia’s face lit up in a smile from the table but quickly faded when she saw our expressions. Her gaze lingered on Miles, who I could see had clenched his jaw.

  We sat down at the table opposite Miles and Julia, and the tension began to crawl in like a thick cloud. At that moment Kelly entered and began setting dishes full of spinach salad down in front of us.

  “Oh, Kelly, you should have called me. I would have been happy to help you set the table,” I said, smiling up at her as I thanked her.

  Kelly smiled at me. “So sweet of you to offer. Don’t worry about it, Wren, it’s part of my job.”

  I nodded. “Sorry. I’m just used to doing the serving, and not being served.”

  That simple comment seemed to catch Miles’s attention, and he began staring at me once again.

  Silence descended again. Forced conversation, started by Julia and Weston, to lighten the mood did not help. Miles was stewing, and we could all feel it. The tension was palpable.

  After our salads were finished, the main course was delivered. I couldn’t believe how good everything was. Kelly was a truly gifted cook. Maybe she could teach me some tricks.

  “So, Wren, how old are you?” Miles asked about halfway through the meal.

  There was a pregnant pause, everyone halting what they were doing, holding their breath for my response and his reaction.

  “I’m eighteen,” I said.

  Weston and Julia’s eyes flickered to Miles to see his reaction.

  Hadn’t Weston already told him? He knew I was young, but perhaps, like Weston, had guesstimated very early twenties. I glanced over to Weston to see him give Miles an almost pleading look. It didn’t help. Miles’s fork became lax, tapping down on the ceramic of his plate with a loud clang.

  “W-what?” he asked in shock, and I knew he was hoping he’d heard me wrong.

  It was a naïve thought that everyone would be as accepting as Julia and Sophie, but I suppose I was not expecting the first negative reaction to come from Weston’s best friend and brother. Therefore, I was not prepared for the maelstrom that was Miles Lockwood.

  “Eighteen? Are you fucking kidding me?” Miles asked Weston, ignoring me. “You said she was young, not a teenager!”

  “She’s perfectly legal,” Weston said in a calm voice.

  “And that means what, exactly? She can vote? Buy cigarettes? Is she even in college?” Miles’s voice rose as he vented.

  Weston tensed beside me, the calm slipping away. “What’s the problem?”

  “It’s a fucking scandal! You’ve worked so hard to get out of the public eye, to be able to live a semi-normal life.”

  Weston gritted his teeth, his jaw jutting as they clenched. “It’s my life, Miles.”

  “And I’m not disagreeing on that.” Miles held up his hands. “God knows I’ve heard that enough with Mom and Dad, but the fact here is that you’ve essentially married a child. You know that’s how the media will see it.”

  A child. I supposed he was right, being that Weston was in his thirties.

  “And for right now, we plan to keep it quiet.”

  “If you wanted to do that, you shouldn’t have changed her name yet,” Miles argued. “Where was your brain? I’m just astounded that you would make that kind of decision. Fuck, Wes, how d
o you know she isn’t playing you?”

  I’d taken the beating, because they were all points I’d also thought of. However, the last comment was a direct hit at me, calling into question my character.

  Before I could even defend myself, Weston leaned forward, his words laced with venom. “Shut the hell up! You don’t know her. You don’t know anything about her.”

  “Neither do you! That’s what I’m getting at. You’re risking your career, your reputation, and your finances. To throw it all away for some girl.”

  “She’s . . .”

  “Special. Or so you say.” Miles’s lip curled up. “Tell me, what is so damn special? Is her pussy that good?”

  Julia gasped, and I turned to find her mouth agape and a horrified expression on her face as she looked at her fiancé.

  Weston choked on his wine, and I could tell by the immediate shift in his demeanor that he couldn’t believe what his brother had just said. He narrowed his eyes, and in a low, ominous voice that made me shiver, he said, “Miles, don’t you ever fucking say something so crass about my wife again, or you and I are going to have a serious fucking problem.”

  I had reached my boiling point. I was completely insulted, and Weston was shaking with fury. Slamming my hands down on the table, I stood from my chair. The wooden legs screeched against the floor, and all heads turned to look at me.

  “Can’t you just be the least bit supportive of your brother?” I glared at Miles. “Yes, what we did was reckless. We were going to get an annulment, thus negating all of your complaints about me, but we changed our minds.” I wasn’t going to bring my mom into it. He didn’t need a new target to spew his hate at. “There’s something strong between us. It may be new, but it is too strong to be denied. Scandalous? For this day and age, yes. Hence, why we are keeping it on the down-low for now, but the bottom line is that Weston is being a decent man and taking responsibility for his actions, as am I. Is it too much to ask for the person he is closest to, the person he respects the most, to stand by him? Is your prejudice that blind?”

  Fingers touching my hand caught my attention, and I flinched involuntarily until I realized it was Weston. I relaxed as our fingers intertwined, his lips placing a soft kiss on the back of my hand. My glare moved from Miles, softening as I turned to Weston, a small smile spreading.

  “Thank you, baby girl,” he said, smiling up at me and pulling me onto his lap, his arms wrapping around me before placing a kiss on my neck.

  I looked back up at Miles, who was now slumped against the back of his chair, staring at me with his mouth open.

  “You’re my brother, and I love you, but stop being such as asshole to Wren and about our situation,” Weston said as he stared directly at Miles. “She’s your sister now. A Lockwood. Part of our family, so you’re going to be seeing her a lot. Get over it. We’re married, staying married, and I don’t need your approval, but I’d like your support.”

  Miles shook his head. “I just can’t help but think what a huge mistake you are making. And while I may have some respect for you after your speech, Wren, I just don’t trust you with him.”

  With that, Miles stood, threw his napkin down on the table, and walked out of the room. The hurt was evident on Weston’s face as he watched his closest confidant walk out. I pulled him closer, and he buried his head into my neck, his arms wrapping tightly around my waist.

  Upon hearing a chair move, I looked up to find Julia standing. With everything going on, I’d forgotten she was there. She looked so sad and despondent as she gazed at us.

  “I’ll talk to him. You know he won’t be the last to be opposed. I’m just sad and disappointed that he was the first.”

  “He’s my brother, Julia. He of all people should support me, even if he doesn’t agree with it,” Weston replied, standing as well and putting me back on my feet. Leaning forward, he kissed my forehead. “I have a lot of work to do tonight, baby girl, so I may be up late.”

  He was distant, lost in his own mind as he turned to leave, his hand slipping from mine. I stared after him, watching as he disappeared around the corner, the door to the office clicking closed behind him, leaving me standing there in silence.

  “It’ll be okay, Wren,” Julia said, squeezing my hand. “Please don’t let Miles upset you. He really is a nice man. I wouldn’t be marrying him otherwise. He just wants what’s best and to look out for Weston. Though, I will be giving him a stern talking to. That’s no way to talk about any woman.”

  “Thank you, Julia,” I said in kind, forcing a small smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

  She squeezed my hand one last time before heading for the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Good night.”

  The house was eerily silent with everyone gone and Weston locked up in his office. I attempted to help Kelly clean up, but she refused, sending me on my way to the great room where I channel surfed. Shortly before she left, Kelly dropped off a chocolate soufflé that she had made for dessert, and I devoured its chocolaty goodness, asking for the recipe between bites.

  I didn’t think I’d be hungry, thanks to what went down at dinner, but the smell alone changed my stomach’s mind.

  Kelly left soon after and I was all alone. After a few hours of the television, bored and a bit tired from the long day, I trudged up the stairs and stared at the two doors—Weston’s room and my room.

  I wasn’t certain what to do. Yes, I’d slept with Weston the night before, but I had no clue what that meant. He hadn’t said anything about me not keeping my own room now. He had just said he’d be up late, and I was really tired, confused, and emotionally drained. Listening down the stairs, I found no indication that he was headed up any time soon. I didn’t feel right climbing into his empty bed, so I opened the door to my room and walked in. After changing my clothes and brushing my teeth, I pulled back the covers and settled in, turning the TV on for some noise and a bit of entertainment to help me drift off as I snuggled in. A while later my eyes began to flutter shut, and I soon began walking in dream land.

  Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of rainbows and sunshine, but of families breaking apart.

  It was so warm and comfy all snuggled down in my bed the next morning that I didn’t want to wake up. I was dreaming of Weston: his warmth, his scent, his touch, his body. And I didn’t want to leave it. I wanted to indulge in every heavenly ounce of it. The comfort of his body pressed against mine was all I needed.

  It was when I felt the hairs tickle the back of my neck that I realized the warmth wasn’t solely from my covers. As I surfaced into consciousness, I felt the weight of Weston’s arms across my waist, legs tangled in mine, the warmth of his body pressed behind me, and his breath as it swept across my neck. Turning to look back at him, he groaned, his grip tightening on my waist, his face nuzzling into my neck.

  The feeling that coursed through me from such a small, simple action was indescribable. Warmth, need, want . . . love.

  I tried to turn around again, and a frown formed on his face. He reminded me of a little kid who didn’t want to wake up. A giggle escaped me, and that seemed to rouse him. His eyes fluttered open, a smile lighting his face upon seeing me before nuzzling my neck again.

  “Baby girl,” he murmured.

  “Good morning, sleepy boy.”

  “Good morning, beautiful,” he responded, placing a kiss on my neck.

  “Honey pie.”

  He smirked. “Sugar bear.”

  “Snuggle muffin.”

  “Mmm, snuggle bunny,” he said with a smile that quickly turned into another frown, and I knew this time he was finally awake. “Why did you sleep in here? I was worried when I came up to bed last night and couldn’t find you.”

  “Well, you never said anything about moving into your room . . .” I trailed off. He nodded in understanding. “And then after the dinner fiasco, you disappeared.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right. I guess I just thought . . . but then with all that crap last night, I fo
rgot to talk to you about it,” he said, his hand brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I loved when he did that. “I’m sorry about Miles and for not staying with you. I just couldn’t believe . . . I still can’t believe he said that. I was in shock. Complete shock. I’ve never heard him say something like that before. It’s just not his style.” His voice dropped to just above a whisper, body slumping back down into the bed as sadness took over. “I knew he didn’t take it well, but I never had an inkling that was what he really thought. He’s been with me through thick and thin, so his rejection of you, of us, hit me really hard.”

  He drew in a shuddered breath, sighed, and closed his eyes. I reached out to smooth the lines from his face that his sadness had created. He leaned into my hand, kissing my palm before opening his eyes to gaze into mine.

  “He really was an ass. I mean, a lot of what he said made sense and I agreed with him on many of the points, but then he just became downright crude. He really didn’t like me, and the only reason I can come up with is because I’m young and unknown to him.”

  Weston nodded. “He’s not very trusting of new people in my life. He’s also very unhappy with me and took it out on you. Not to excuse his behavior, because I’m still angry that he would say that, but it was really directed at me. It’s not easy being who I am and doing what I do . . . or used to do. Everyone wants a piece of you. I’ve had women claim that their kids were mine, men tell me how much they wanted to beat the crap out of me, and a few saying how I should just die for no reason, just because of who I was. People want a piece of the money and the fame and will stop at nothing to accomplish it, including making outrageously false accusations. All of it beats you down over time, and becomes a huge scandal when there are no grounds for it.”

  “All of that just means he has become closed-minded when it comes to you, and we are very much an open-minded situation in this day and age.”