Waking up in Vegas

by Natasha Preston

  Emma appears at my side, almost like she’s fucking teleporting. “Everything okay?” she asks.

  “Yes.”

  I haven’t had the chance to speak to Brody yet. He’s been at work, and I’ve been at the shelter. Plus, I’m a total chicken, and I’ve been putting it off.

  We need to clear the air. I have to tell him that Niall is still very much in my past. I want to know either way if there is anything more than sex and physical attraction with Brody.

  This back-and-forth thing is driving me insane. He was jealous the other day when he saw me with Niall. He wouldn’t have reacted that way if he wasn’t, right?

  Unless he was standing up for a friend.

  Brody’s eyes cut into me as Mum comes over.

  “How was work, darling?” she asks.

  “Um…” Shit, what did she ask? Oh, work. “Yeah, good.”

  “Great. Did you manage to have a chat about a full-time paid position?”

  “Not today.”

  “Do it soon. You deserve a proper job there.” Her eyes bulge, and she addresses the room. “Oh, did anyone hear about the Andersons? He was made redundant, and she’s left him for a man ten years her junior.”

  Emma gasps. “No way! I thought she was nice.”

  Felicity scoffs. “She’s always been a gold digger.”

  “She comes from money, though, doesn’t she?” Louise asks.

  I can’t concentrate on the conversation, so I zone them out, and my eyes find Brody.

  He raises his eyebrow in greeting, and I smile in return. Walking around the large table in the kitchen, I stop a safe distance in front of him. I would normally go and talk, so not doing so would be more suspicious.

  Luke, standing beside Brody, says, “You don’t look any different than when I saw you at lunch.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’re late. I figured you were doing something to your face. Your face looks the same.”

  “Have you hit your head?”

  Brody and his dad chuckle.

  “I showered, Luke. I’d been cuddling cocker spaniel puppies all day.”

  “Flat out then, were you?” Brody teases.

  Okay, so I’m not part of the rat race, but there’s a lot of sadness and stress working at the shelter. Not every animal that comes to us is a brand-new, untouched puppy. Some have had terrible lives and lived through all kinds of abuse.

  Some days, I hate the job.

  Well, he’s acting like nothing happened on Tuesday. I know we can’t exactly talk right this second, but he doesn’t appear to be struggling. I have a knot in my stomach that tightens every time those midnight-blue eyes land on me.

  “You’re just jealous because your job is boring.”

  “I get paid at my job.”

  I shrug. “Didn’t you hear me? I cuddled puppies all day.”

  “Brody cuddled puppies all night,” Luke jokes, holding his hands out in a boob-grabbing fashion.

  The knot coils even though I know that was Brody’s cover story. That night, he went home alone, like he’d said, but he would have needed to tell Luke something convincing. Unless there’s been another night?

  No, don’t go there.

  “Lucky girl,” I mutter sarcastically.

  Brody cringes and sips his beer.

  “I’m sure he’s not that bad in bed,” Luke says, nudging Brody’s arm.

  I can confirm that he is killer in bed. But I’ll do that silently.

  Turning my nose up, I say, “I’m about to eat.”

  “Ouch.” Brody raises his eyebrow while his dad shakes his head, laughing quietly at us.

  “She’s not very nice, is she?” Luke says, nudging Brody again. “My boy here has been my wingman as long as I can remember. He’s had enough practice to take it up as a professional sport.”

  Brody winces again. “How about we change the subject?”

  I swallow a mouthful of sand. That’s just what I wanted to hear.

  Luke frowns. “You love this subject.”

  Oh my God, just shut up!

  Felicity, hearing how incredibly awkward this is getting, quickly makes her way over. “Luke, I need your help with the emails on my phone. Not all of them are coming through, and I have to keep using the laptop to double-check.”

  Luke, somewhat of a tech geek, shrugs. “All right.”

  She leads him to the table where they sit, and she hands him her phone. He’s not going to find her made-up problem, but at least he’s away from us.

  Brody’s eyes meet mine, and a bolt of lightning strikes my heart. That look with those deep, smouldering eyes is enough to make my legs feel like they’re made of jelly.

  “Hi,” I say.

  He looks over at Luke and then back to me. The expression in his eyes is an apology.

  I shake my head. It’s fine, really. It’s not like I don’t know he’s put it around a bit. He was—is—single.

  James calls us to get to the table or miss out. There’s a stampede to the table, and I actually bump into Emma as we both rush there. She takes a seat that places me next to Brody, of course, but I don’t mind because I’m about to get my favourite dinner. And he’s not too bad to look at. Or smell. His scent is something else.

  Okay, stop now.

  I make my first soft taco, adding nacho chips, potato wedges, and salad to my plate. Everything but the taco shells are homemade, and it’s all awesome.

  “You should learn to cook like your dad,” I tell Brody, once several conversations settle around the table.

  He side-eyes me. “What makes you think I can’t?”

  “Cook like this?” I say, holding up my taco.

  He tilts his head. “Okay, fine.”

  I can read the unspoken question in his eyes. Why do I want him to learn to cook? What difference does it make to me? Neither of us quite has those answers yet. We’re still figuring this out. Do we like each other, or did the marriage and sex blur lines that had been perfectly sharp before?

  “Did Mila and Indie make it out the other night?”

  I shake my head. Since I didn’t want to stay, I texted them both and explained what was going on. So, I’m going to meet them tomorrow at Mila’s since her parents will be out. They’re going to have a lot to say.

  He nods in understanding. I don’t think either of us wanted to do much after that. Except maybe each other.

  I want to tell him that I received a letter from my lawyer today. I have to sign it and send it back so she can check it over it. Then, we wait one year to submit it and up to one year until the divorce is granted.

  It’s all getting very real. Maybe when we don’t have this hanging over our heads, we will know for sure what we want.

  After dinner, I help Brody and Felicity clean up in the kitchen while everyone else goes into the living room. Felicity observes us like we belong in a cage at the zoo. She’s just waiting for one of us to jump.

  It won’t be me. I need to straighten some things out before he’s allowed inside me again.

  Looking behind at the door to check we’re alone still, I turn to Brody and ask, “Did you get a letter today? I have the divorce papers from my lawyer.”

  He clenches his jaw. “Not ye—”

  “Divorce papers?” Dad stutters. “Did you say divorce papers?”

  My heart stops.

  No.

  Forty-Seven

  Wren

  “Wren?” Dad snaps.

  I turn slowly, Brody following. Felicity doesn’t move. Her eyes are wide, and she’s frozen like it’ll all go away if she’s still enough.

  Dad’s steps forwards and wraps his hand around the top of a chair, and I’m not sure if it’s to steady himself or because he’s about to throw it.

  “I…”

  Oh my God.

  I what?

  My heart, now very much alive, races in the worst way. Blood drains from my face, and a shrill ringing in my ears makes me wince.

  I think I’m going to throw up
.

  I lean back on the counter behind me as my legs threaten to give way.

  Dad looks from me to Brody and back before he roars, “Someone explain what I just heard right now!”

  I jump as his voice booms through the whole house.

  In an instant, Mum, Brody’s parents, Luke, Mase, and Emma bolt through the door.

  “What’s going on?” Mum asks.

  With his face as red as fire, Dad seethes, “That’s what I’m trying to find out. Explain, Wren, now.”

  Understanding crosses Emma’s eyes, and she touches Dad’s arm. “I think we should all sit down.”

  “You know about this?” he accuses.

  “Know about what? What’s going on?” James asks, looking between me and his son.

  “Wren, darling, what is it?” Mum asks.

  Words fail me. Except fuck, but that’s no help here.

  “She asked Brody if he had divorce papers arrive today because she did.”

  I cringe, my body curling to make myself smaller.

  Brody audibly gulps.

  “Don’t be absurd!” Mum cries. Her gaze falls from Dad to me, and her face drops. “Wren?”

  Brody takes a small step forward, a little closer to me. “Okay.”

  “Emma’s right. We should sit,” Mase says.

  “No, we fucking shouldn’t!” Luke snaps. “What the fuck is he talking about, Brody?”

  “Vegas,” I whisper.

  I watch as our parents and Luke realise what that means. Collective expressions of shock and anger mar their faces.

  “Married?” Dad splutters.

  “You fucking married my sister in Vegas?”

  Brody holds his hands up in surrender. “Luke, I can explain.”

  “Oh my God. This isn’t happening,” Mum cries. Her face is deathly pale. “Tell me this isn’t true. You can’t be married, Wren. You’re eighteen, and you and Brody…”

  Aren’t even together. Yeah, I know.

  “I’m sorry,” I say. “We’re taking care of it.”

  Dad turns around, his breath coming out in pants. Is he having a panic attack?

  Mum puts her hand on his shoulder.

  Luke’s face turns red. “This is bullshit! What the fuck is wrong with you, Brody? Fucking hell, when? You were with us the whole time…”

  Not the whole time.

  Luke paces, agitated, his fists clenching.

  “How did this happen?” Louise asks.

  “You fucker!” Luke rounds the table, launching himself at Brody.

  “No!” I shout, leaping in the way.

  “Fuck you, Brody!”

  Brody acts fast, grabbing me and twisting me around so I’m behind him. Mase acts just as quick and grabs Luke before he reaches us.

  “What the fuck?” Brody growls at me, ignoring everyone else in the room.

  I don’t really have an answer. All I know is that their friendship is going to be strained enough, so no need to add physical violence to it. And I don’t like the idea of Brody getting hurt.

  “Everyone, calm down!” James shouts. “Luke, sit at the table.”

  Luke glares and does as he’s told.

  James blows out a long breath, while my mum and Brody’s wipe tears.

  Shit.

  I look away, my heart dropping to my toes.

  What have we done?

  “Everyone, sit. Emma is right; we need to sit.”

  Brody and I sit at the end of the table, well away from Luke since he looks like he wants to rip Brody’s head off. All eyes are on us.

  “How did this happen?” Mum asks. She looks sad, like she is grieving.

  I avert my eyes and look to Brody. I don’t think I can talk.

  He gets it. “We were out one night and got talking to this couple. They were getting married, and we were going to tag along to witness it. Then, while we were there…”

  James sits straighter. “That’s not legal. You can’t get married without a licence.”

  I bite my lip.

  Nodding once, Brody adds, “We all went there first—to get the licences.”

  “Oh my God,” Dad mutters. He places his hands on the table and breathes. “I can’t believe this. Why? You two have never even shown an interest in each other. You’re not even together now.”

  Brody scratches the back of his neck. “It wasn’t exactly a conscious decision.”

  “You mean you got her drunk first!” Luke snaps.

  I wince, my stomach turning at the venom in his voice.

  This is it. I’ve ruined their friendship.

  Forty-Eight

  Brody

  I got her drunk first. I did.

  What else did I expect? Of course that’s what they assume. That I plied her with alcohol and then marched her to a chapel. Because we all know I’m desperate for fucking wife.

  “It wasn’t like that,” Wren says. “Brody isn’t to blame any more than I am.”

  “I am, though, aren’t I?” I say. “You were too young to drink out there, and I did nothing to stop you.”

  Wren’s eyes narrow as she turns her head towards me. “Don’t. We both drank, we both tagged along to watch a wedding, and we both said I do.”

  I only vaguely remember saying I do. It’s a bit of a blur, like a dream. Or nightmare.

  “What were you thinking?” Dad asks.

  “We weren’t,” I tell him honestly. “We were caught up and didn’t think of the consequences. I don’t think either of us really considered the marriage being legal and final.”

  Luke shakes his head. “You’re fucking unbelievable. She’s eighteen. She’s my little sister.”

  “Yeah, mate, I get that. I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what else you want!”

  His jaw twitches. “Don’t call me mate.”

  “Luke, enough,” Wren snaps. “You’re angry, but don’t say things you don’t mean. At the very least, be mad at me, too.”

  “I am mad at you, for fuck’s sake.” He growls. “But you’re not supposed to be my best mate. You don’t go there. You don’t.”

  I hold my hands up. “I know that. I shouldn’t have, but I can’t change it now.”

  “Stop arguing,” Mum says. “I assume you have lawyer. Is there a reason they’re not going for an annulment?”

  “We tried that in Vegas and were denied. We couldn’t tell them we were drunk because Wren was underage.”

  Wren lowers her head as if it’s her fault she’s not twenty-one.

  “Now, if you can’t get an annulment for being drunk, then surely you can because you haven’t consummated,” Rachel says.

  Bollocks.

  Wren’s eyes widen. She clears her throat. “We can’t get an annulment, Mum.”

  A new silence falls over the room. This one simmering, the calm before the storm.

  “You fucked my sister?” Luke roars.

  He launches himself over the table, only to be stopped by Dad and Mase.

  “Luke!” Rachel shouts. “Stop it now!”

  Mase pulls Luke off of the table and to his feet.

  Seething, Luke glares a hole in my head. “We’re done.” Turning, he walks out of the room. “We’re fucking done! You’re dead to me, Brody!”

  Wren’s shoulders slump, and I take a deep breath as Luke’s words punch a hole in my stomach. He doesn’t really mean it; I know that. But fuck, it hurts.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

  I long to reach for her to wipe that fucking tear from her face.

  “Wren… God, I don’t know what to say,” Rachel mutters, wiping another stray tear. “You’re married.”

  “I know, Mum, but we won’t be for long. It’ll be done soon.”

  “You’ll be a divorcée at eighteen… have an ex-husband.”

  “Okay,” Wren says, placing her hands on the table. “I know all of that, and I’ve come to terms with it. There’s nothing I can do now to prevent myself from being an ex-wife, so I just have to deal with it. I’m tickin
g a different box on forms.”

  “It’s more than that,” Graham snaps at his daughter.

  “She knows,” I say, defending her. “We both know what this means.”

  It doesn’t have to be this way…

  “You have paperwork?” Rachel asks.

  Wren nods. “Yes, all I have to do is sign it, and my lawyer will take care of it in a year.”

  That’s it. All we need to do now is scribble on a bit of paper and our marriage will end.

  I swallow a lump the size of a golf ball. My neck burns.

  Wren will one day soon be my ex-wife.

  The word sounds disgusting, leaving a nasty taste in my mouth even though I’ve not said it out loud.

  I don’t want an ex-wife.

  “Brody? Brody!” Wren nudges my arm.

  I look to my side and the air is knocked from my lungs. “What?” I rasp. I blink and still see her perfect face. No. I can’t do this.

  “Your dad’s talking to you. What’s going on?”

  “I don’t want a divorce,” I say.

  She rolls her eyes. But a fraction of a second later, her face falls. “You… what?” she whispers.

  “What are you saying?” Dad asks.

  Wren’s parents hold hands while Emma and Felicity watch with wide eyes and open mouths.

  I ignore everyone but Wren. “I don’t want a divorce. I can’t sign that paper.”

  “Brody, what the hell? You’re not funny.”

  I shake my head. “I’m not joking. We’re not getting a divorce.”

  Her jaw drops. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t what we planned—”

  “Isn’t what we planned?” she screeches. “You’re telling me, you’re forcing me to stay married to you?”

  “I can’t sign it, Wren. I’m sorry.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on, but this doesn’t feel right anymore.”

  “Brody?” Graham says. “Do you want to be married to my daughter?”

  My heart skips. “More than I want a divorce.”

  Wren stands up, pushing her chair out. “You can’t just do this. You’re not the only one who gets to decide. We have to go through with it, Brody!”