by Toni Aleo
“We’ll have to check his schedule, and future events will have different rates.”
“More money.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And no golden cock.”
“No, ma’am.”
This was not her life. She was not on the phone with an escort company, trying to get a husband. This was ludicrous. Was she really this desperate?
Yep. She was.
Squeezing her eyes shut tightly, she asked, “And when do I need to book?”
“As soon as possible since the date is so close. He actually just had a cancellation.”
“She found out she had to pay extra for the golden cock?”
“Ms. Lemiere, his penis is not golden.”
“For over a hundred grand, it better be,” Wren muttered as she ran her hand down her face, leaning on her elbows. Looking down at her desk, a picture of Wells, Jensen, Vaughn, and her at her graduation stared back at her. She hadn’t been honest with two of the three, and she’d really thought that maybe Vaughn would go for it. Act like her husband. But that was dumb of her. He loved Brie, and he wouldn’t break their trust to help Wren out. No matter that she’d known him before he even knew how to use that cock of his. And she couldn’t tell her brother. He had such a mouth on him, he’d let it slip on accident. But then…there was Jensen.
Clearing her throat, she shook her head. No. She couldn’t ask him. But could she spend a hundred grand for a fake husband to get more money? What if the investment didn’t pay off? God, this was insane! “I’ll call you back.”
“Sounds good, Ms. Lemiere.”
Hanging up, Wren let out a sound of distress as she let her head fall to her desk once more. Man, she was in a mess, and she really needed to talk to someone.
Sitting up, she hit Brie’s number. “Hey.”
“Hey, got a minute?”
“Yeah, I mean we’re waiting for our food. What’s up?”
Shit, that was right.
“Crap. I forgot you were out.”
“It’s fine. It’s Vaughn and Jensen. They’re fighting over who would look better naked by the Cup. You’re actually saving me.”
“It would so be me,” Wren heard Vaughn yell, and she wanted to laugh, she did, they were idiots. But she felt a panic attack coming.
“I have abs. You have fluff,” Jensen spat back.
“Lies!”
“Can you walk away for a minute?”
“Oh, yeah,” Brie said as Vaughn’s and Jensen’s voices started to fade into the distance. “What’s up?”
“So, hypothetically—”
“Okay, hypothetically.”
“So, if you were going home to your family for a wedding and you were pregnant and had no husband, would you hire a husband for over a hundred grand, or would you ask a friend?”
Brie paused, and Wren held her breath. “Why am I hiring a husband?”
“Because you can’t go home without one.”
“Why?”
“’Cause you’re pregnant.”
“So?”
“So, if you’re pregnant and have no husband, you won’t get your inheritance.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Wren shut her eyes. She prayed that Brie had been really drunk the night they went out and talked about this, but knowing her luck, she hadn’t been.
“Hypothetically.”
“Yes.”
“And this isn’t you?”
“No. God, no.” The lies just kept piling up. “It’s a client.”
“Oh, are you allowed to tell me that?”
“Hypothetically, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Okay, I don’t know.”
“Brie, that’s not helping me.”
“Yeah, hmm. I think I’d ask a friend. Babies are expensive.”
“This is true,” she agreed, thinking of that one time she went to the baby store and ran out because it was too overwhelming. The prices, the amount of stuff… Yeah, it was tough.
“Yeah, I’d ask a really good friend.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah, like Jensen.”
Wren paused. “I can’t tell my client to ask Jensen.”
“I know, but if this client who apparently has a wedding to go to and is pregnant, which is kind of mind-blowing since I’ve been hanging out with the client almost every day and the client never said anything, Jensen would be the best.”
“You don’t know the clien—”
“Wren, you can’t lie to me,” Brie said, her voice full of compassion.
The jig was up.
“It all makes sense now. The sickness, the moodiness, your weight gain.”
Biting her lip, she gasped. “Are you calling me fat?”
“I’m calling you pregnant. I don’t know what’s going on and I’d love to know, but since we’re probably going to play this little game until you’re ready, just know that you should ask Jensen. He’d lay down everything to help you.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Wren closed her eyes, her heart jackhammering in her chest. “Is he single?”
“Yes.”
Wren bit her lip so hard that she tasted the metal of blood before she nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t say anything.”
“I won’t.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime. So, dinner tomorrow, so we can discuss how this happened?”
“Ugh, do I have to?”
“Yes, ma’am. Without wine.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“How far along are you?”
Her face scrunched up as she muttered, “Six months…?”
“Wren!”
“I know!”
“Lord, you’ve waited till the last minute.”
“I know.”
“Goodness gracious, girl.”
“I know.”
Brie clucked her tongue as Wren sat there, feeling like an idiot. “Well, I look forward to our date.”
“I don’t.”
Brie laughed, her voice so carefree and happy. And, if Wren were married to the love of her life who didn’t want to kill their child, she’d be all happy and shit too.
Probably.
Maybe.
Damn it, was she seriously going to ask Jensen?
Crap.
Jensen rolled his eyes as Vaughn laughed from the gut. “No, really, dude. I would look better. My dick is bigger.”
“You have a shrimp dick, you cocky shit. Shut up,” he shot back as he leaned back in his chair, letting the sun hit his face. They were at his favorite place, Hattie B’s, on the patio and enjoying the summer air. He was ready for a summer of relaxation and his trip home before he went to his buddy Wells’s wedding. It might seem like he was busy, but he wasn’t. Those were the highlights of his summer. The rest of the time, he’d be lying around. Watching HBO Go. Alone. It was slightly depressing.
“You’re delusional,” Vaughn laughed as Brie sat down, tucking her phone in her purse. “Where’d you go?”
“Phone call.” She looked a little stunned, and Brie never looked stunned. She was usually ready for anything. Except Vaughn. He kept her on her toes.
“Wren? It’s weird you two are buddies. Isn’t it weird?” Vaughn asked Jensen, and he shrugged.
“I don’t think so.”
“Neither do I. You just don’t like that she tells me all your old stories from when you were a kid,” Brie said.
Vaughn glared. “I do not.”
Jensen crossed his legs as the couple held each other’s gaze. It seemed like eons ago that the two of them were at each other’s throats about everything. Now, they were just in love. With a baby on the way. Something no one ever expected from Vaughn. He had always been the playboy. They thought he’d knock some chick up, but never the one he wanted. Or loved. It was nice, seeing his boy grow up, even if Jensen was green with envy.
“Told ya.”
“Whatever. What did she want?
”
“Stalker.”
“I am not. I just want to know.”
“Well, I’m not telling you.”
“Is she okay?” Jensen found himself asking, and they both looked over at him. Vaughn gave him an annoyed look, while a small smile played on Brie’s lips.
“She’s fine.”
“Okay, cool,” he said simply, even though he really wanted to ask more.
Jesus, Wren Lemiere would be the death of him.
His best friend’s little sister had always had him in knots. He’d thought she was beautiful from the moment he met her. When he came into the Lemiere home so many years ago, he remembered his eyes falling right upon her. She was eleven, with dark green eyes, and dark hair that fell along her chin. She wore a tank that only went to her belly button, her little gut poking out from her jeans in almost a Winnie the Pooh sort of way. She looked up at him, a little curve to her lip that he knew would be his downfall—and it was. His whole life with the Lemieres, all she had to do was smile at him like that, and he was putty in her hands. He would do anything. Go against his best friends to keep her safe. He cared for her. More than he should have, but he did.
But he felt like he couldn’t hit on her or try to be with her when he lived with her parents. There were plenty of times when they were growing up, sharing an adjoining bathroom where it would have been way too easy to take her in his arms and press his lips to her thick ones, but he didn’t. That was disrespectful in his eyes, and he respected Elaine and Winston Lemiere like no other. They took him in, and they loved him as their own. So he kept to himself, despite his need for her.
When they got older, he had started dating Ophelia, and then he married her. Like a dumbass. After that, it just didn’t feel right around Wren. The timing, him, her… Instead, he was stuck pining for a girl that, in reality, he wasn’t man enough to be with.
Again, depressing as hell.
Now, he just worried for her. He still spoke to Elaine weekly, and she thought something was up with Wren. Since Wren wasn’t one to reach out to anyone, he wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t acting like her normal self. She basically only spoke to Brie, which he found odd since she had a best friend back home who was her world. Then she had him and Vaughn in Nashville with her, but she never reached out. But that was Wren. She kept him in knots—twenty-four seven. And the sad thing was, he wasn’t even reaping the benefits of her.
Instead, he sat across from his two in-love friends while he stewed in his own self-pity, wallowing about being lonely.
He was pathetic.
When their number was called, Vaughn hopped up to get the order and returned in a flash, laying the scrumptious food in front of all of them, and they dug in. Jensen was halfway through his hot chicken when Vaughn pinned him with a look. “So, bro.”
Jensen rolled his eyes. This was bound to be insightful.
“Yes?”
“I know you don’t think we brought you to lunch for shits and giggles.”
Jensen laughed. “I thought you enjoyed my company.”
Brie smiled as Vaughn shrugged. “Kinda, but we have business to discuss.”
“Oh Lord.”
Still giggling, Brie shook her head. “We also enjoy your company.”
“Thanks, Brie.”
She winked sweetly at him as Vaughn rolled his eyes. “As I was saying,” he said very dramatically, and it was so Vaughn. He had been this way since they were kids. Because of that, you either hated the dude, or you loved him. Jensen was part of the latter group. He’d take a bullet for the idiot. Also for Wells, and especially Wren. “So, I need you to change days with me for the Cup.”
Jensen’s face scrunched up. “I’m going home with mine.”
“I know, I figured, but hear me out,” he said, holding his hands up, probably because Jensen’s face read nothing but annoyance. They had discussed this a thousand times before picking dates. “We can both celebrate the Cup back in Colorado the week before Wells’s wedding.”
“Isn’t that what I said from the jump?”
“He did,” Brie added, and Jensen held his hand out to her.
“No comments needed from the peanut gallery.” She scoffed, and Vaughn grinned back at her before holding a finger up. “Yes, but that was before I got confirmation that I can rent out the rink. Now I can, so please switch me?”
“I’ll have to move my flight.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
“And my flight to Colorado?”
“That too. Please.”
Rolling his eyes, Jensen was aware they both knew he would say yes. That was what he did. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
Doing a fist pump, Vaughn let out a whoop. “You rock.”
“And you’re a three-year-old.”
“He is,” Brie agreed, to which Vaughn bit her exposed shoulder. Crying out, she smacked him as she laughed. “Stop.”
“You like it,” he challenged, and Brie grinned.
“I do.”
“Get a room.”
When Vaughn beamed back at him, Jensen almost regretted the words. “On to my next thing.”
“Jesus.”
Brie snickered as Vaughn went on. “I know this is going to be hard. Like, really hard on you. But, buddy, I’m sorry to say, we bought a house.”
Jensen just stared back at him. “Okay? Why is this hard?”
“Because you’re not moving with us.”
He rolled his eyes. “Jo, we haven’t lived together for six months since you moved in with Brie.”
“I know, but we were across the hall.”
Jensen laughed. “I’ll be fine without you guys—”
“Now, I know this comes as a shock, but we’re having a baby, and we need space for us and the baby.”
“I know—”
“Now, Jenny, I know this is going to be difficult, putting space between us—”
“You know we lived apart for years, right?”
But Vaughn went on. “Just know I will always and forever love you as my brother, and nothing will change. Not the space, the new ball and chain, or the baby.”
“Are you done?”
Brie apparently thought this was hilarious since she was basically choking she was laughing so hard. Which wasn’t anything new. Vaughn might be an idiot, but he was a funny one. As always, Vaughn was unaffected as he said, “We’ll never be done, Jenny, never.”
“Okay,” Jensen said, rolling his eyes again. “Listen, this is awesome. I’m happy for you guys, and let me know when we need to start moving stuff.”
“You’re such a good man,” Vaughn proclaimed before clapping his hands together. “This weekend good for you?”
Laughing, he just shook his head at Vaughn’s antics. “Yeah, man.”
“Thanks, Jensen.”
He smiled over at Brie. “Anytime.”
Rolling his eyes, he went back to eating as a grin played on his lips. He wanted nothing more than for his friend to grow and be in love. Brie was that for Vaughn. They were moving and having a kid, and it was great. Vaughn needed that. So did Wells, who was getting married the following month. Both his best friends were living life, happily and to its fullest. Meanwhile, Jensen was stuck.
He didn’t know how it happened, or even why, but it had. He wasn’t interested in anyone he met, and he didn’t just want to fuck around. He wanted someone to love him for him. The quiet, weird guy in the corner. The one who would lay down his life for anyone he loved. He had redeemable qualities, but for some reason, no one wanted them. They just wanted to have sex.
He didn’t want Netflix and chill; he wanted Netflix and breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and more.
Hmm, he should copyright that.
Taking a huge bite of his chicken, he felt his phone start to vibrate. He pulled it out, seeing that it was a text from Wren, as he chewed. Like always when she texted him, his heart sped up, and his palms went clammy as a lump formed in his throat. Or maybe that was the chicken, he wasn’t sure.
Either way, he slid the notification over so that his text thread with her opened up before he read her message.
Wren: Are you free anytime this week?
His brows pulled in. This had never happened before. The girl was seriously radio silent unless you were in her face or you texted her first.
Jensen: For you, always. What’s up?
Wren: I need to ask a favor. But I want to discuss it in person.
Jensen: Just let me know when.
Wren: What if it’s a lot to ask?
Jensen: Let me be the judge of that.
Wren: Okay, tomorrow? Lunch at the Southern?
Jensen: 12?
Wren: Perfect. It’s a date.
A date. No. Wait. It was right there. The word. And then she sent a kissy face emoji.
Holy shit, he was going on a date with Wren.
Was he overthinking this?
No. She said it.
But, wait.
Crap, he was reading into this. She was being playful.
But Wren wasn’t playful.
Shit.
“Why do you look like you just shit your pants?”
Looking up to his best friend, Jensen just stared at Vaughn. “I think I just did.”
Vaughn: You told Brie.
Wren: Yes.
Vaughn: Why do you get to tell her, but I had to keep it a secret for the last million years?
Wren: Okay, dramatic Dallas, it’s been six months, relax, and it’s my place to tell, not yours.
Vaughn: But I’ve had to lie. To everyone, mind you. Mom, Dad, Wells, Jensen, Brie, all for you.
Wren: And it didn’t kill you. Btw, I love you for it. Thank you. You’re the best other brother ever.
Vaughn: Don’t suck up to me.
Wren: LOL, but, wait, when did she tell you?
Vaughn: Today. She came home and told me because that’s what couples do. They talk a lot and have sex, lots of sex.
Wren: I hate you so much right now, but what did you say?
Vaughn: Ooh, that’s cool.
Vaughn: What was I supposed to say?!
Wren: That you already knew? Now you look like a liar when this comes out.
Vaughn: I know! That’s what I’m saying!
Wren: Sucks to be you.
Vaughn: I hate you.
Vaughn: And you’re not hiring a male gigolo.
Wren: I think the proper title is male escort.