Oh, God. This wasn’t good.
I took a deep, calming breath. This was Aspen, no one cared about the celebrities that wandered in and out. It wasn’t like the paparazzi lurked around the corner.
“I am,” I said quietly, managing a polite smile.
He pulled out his phone. “I’m a big fan. Could I get a picture with you? My friends won’t believe me.”
“Uh, sure.”
I watched him stumble a little bit before he pulled up the camera on his phone. I leaned back over the counter while he leaned forward. I mustered up a smile and he grinned. He snapped a couple of pictures. I finished my transaction and hurried out of the drugstore.
The worst part was still coming but the drugstore experience left me uneasy. I didn’t like that I had been recognized. It had been a long time since someone had asked for a picture, not including Holly earlier. I was happy to do it for a friend. She couldn’t be sweeter. But picking up an item as private as a pregnancy test and being recognized raised my hackles. I’d spent plenty of time in the limelight to know that those who seemed harmless weren’t always.
I made my way back to the Wright house. Matt came out to meet me as I walked up to the porch.
“Where did you go?”
“I needed a couple of things.” I shook the drugstore bag.
“I would’ve gone with you,” he said.
“I can handle a little shopping on my own.”
Matt’s eyes traveled over my shoulder. I looked back to find a car driving up very slowly. It stopped and slowly backed out of the driveway.
“Wrong driveway?” I asked.
“Uh, probably. Say, when you were at the drugstore, was there a guy behind the counter?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Jerry?”
“I don’t know. He knew who I was. Asked for a picture.”
Matt sighed. “Sounds like Jerry. You have to watch that guy. He has a couple of paparazzi in his pocket that frequent Aspen. They’ve been a thorn in my parents’ sides for a long time. He’ll call them any time he thinks he has anything juicy. They follow up and if it’s worth something, Jerry gets a cut.”
I could feel the terror fill my expression. “You know, you should warn somebody about these things before they go out in town by themselves.”
“I didn’t know you were going to town. You took my keys and snuck off without anyone knowing. And I thought I told you the last time you were here.”
“Seven years ago?”
“Fair point. Why? Did something else happen?”
I shivered. “Can we go to your room and talk?”
“Hayles?”
I reached into the bag and pulled out one of the pregnancy tests.
Matt’s eyes widened. “Please tell me that’s for you and not for one of my other sisters.”
“Matthew, this isn’t funny. I can’t have the paparazzi…”
He took me in his arms and led me toward the door. We slipped up the stairs before anyone spotted us. We were in his bedroom behind closed doors before Matt continued the conversation.
“Do you really think you’re pregnant?”
“Now that I’m standing here, this was all badly planned on my part. I was watching Summer and your family and watching Lance and Rachel and suddenly I felt this pang of desire to have kids. To have your kid, specifically. And then I was counting how many days since my last period. I don’t know. I haven’t taken any birth control since I left Mexico. I forgot it and you and I haven’t been safe. If I wasn’t before, now I could be. And I want to be. And that makes this entire thing even crazier.”
Matt’s mouth slowly curved into a wide grin.
“What are you smiling about, ass?”
“Are you going to take the test now?”
“Oh God, you’re excited about this.”
“Uh, yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. I guess I expected you to freak out, like a normal guy. I’m freaking out. Why aren’t you? And the fact the paparazzi probably know all about it!”
Matt gathered me up in his arms. I laid my forehead against his chest. His warmth was immediately soothing. “Hey, we can take on the stupid paparazzi. If you’re going back to the acting world, it was going to be inevitable anyway. You were always one of their favorites and your life wasn’t even that salacious. But now that you’re engaged and pregnant…”
I jerked my head back. “I am neither of those things, Mister.”
He chuckled. “Right now, no. But you will be one way or another.”
“You’re going to try very hard to try and knock me up, are you?”
“As soon as you’re ready for it.”
“And what if I’m not ready right now?”
“Hayles, you’re not alone.” He rubbed my shoulders, trying to soothe the tension.
I sighed. “I know, but all this is moving really fast.”
He dropped his arms from around me and snagged the bag. I tried to snatch it back, but he held it out of reach. “Then we don’t need to know right now. If it’s going to change all those things for you so dramatically, then wait. At most you’re like four weeks, right? You clearly feel fine. So, let’s put the test away until we need to know.”
“You can just not know?”
“Sure. If it keeps you from flipping out about everything. I understand we’re going to have to take baby steps. It can’t be all or nothing all the time. That’s not good for either of us.”
I let out a slow breath. “Okay, well don’t tell me where they are then.”
“They?”
“I bought three.”
He smirked. “Okay, stay here.”
“And what happens when someone else in the house finds them?” I asked.
“They won’t. I promise. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
And just like that, he was gone. I contemplated spying on him to find where he hid them. But the truth was, I wasn’t ready for such things. I needed to enjoy being with Matt and that still freaked me out from day-to-day.
I was deliriously happy, but I didn’t trust the happily ever after. They didn’t happen for just anyone, and I figured Donna and Richard, and Chuck and Aubrey, had already taken up the Wright family’s quota.
28
Hayley
The Wrights’ house was decorated to the nines for New Year’s Eve. It was their annual party and people came from all over the country for it. They had a valet, caterers, entertainers, and champagne flowing like water.
I’d bought a new dress for the occasion. Matt hadn’t seen it yet. I was getting ready with a handful of the Wright women. Aubrey was wearing a slinky pink dress and her blonde hair curled so the pink popped. I wondered if Alicia’s conservative gray dress was something she wore for work. Bex was dressed in black and Rachel in red. Isabis paired her dress pants with a glittering silver top. I’d chosen a dark purple dress. It had a slit up the thigh and hugged me in all the right places. I knew Matt would appreciate it.
Once we were ready, we headed down the stairs, a line of beauties. We met the rest of the women and a few of the men on the way. We gathered in the main event room, which may as well have been called the ballroom. I’d never been on an inclusive tour of the house, but it was enormous, and the ballroom was beautiful.
Tonight, it was dressed up as much as the rest of us were. There were twinkle lights, chandeliers, and everything seemed to glitter down to the champagne glasses.
I found Matt helping his brother move one of the tables for the caterer. When he spotted me across the room, he dropped the table. Zane barked at him and Matt quickly finished helping and then jogged over to me.
“Holy cow, Hayles, you look beautiful.”
I grinned. “You clean up pretty nice yourself.” I reached out and tweaked his bowtie. “Though, it’s sort of unfair that all you have to do is put on a black suit and voilà, you’re all handsome.”
“You don’t think I’m handsome without the suit?”
My eyes narrowed. “You know what I mean.”
“I may look handsome, but you are fucking distracting in this dress. How far does that slit go up?”
I smirked. “Something for you to find out later, no doubt.”
He leaned down and kissed me.
The doorbell rang, signaling the first guests had arrived. The servers were ready with trays of food and drinks. Donna and Richard went to the ballroom entrance and opened the door. A waft of cold air blew through the room and I cuddled closer to Matt.
Music played loud enough for people to dance, but quiet enough people could still carry on a conversation. Matt kept his arm slung around me most of the night. If we weren’t dancing, we were talking, or sometimes we were off in a dark corner making out.
I’d opted to stay away from alcohol, still unsure if I was pregnant. Though the more time passed, the more I worried I wasn’t. Which was so ridiculous.
I looked over at Rachel and Lance dancing. They were wrapped together tightly as if they were afraid the other would somehow disappear. They were going to have enough struggles over the coming months and years. Lance was shipping out in a couple of days. I worried about the couple. They both deserved happiness and their baby deserved a family.
Matt took my hand and guided me through the house. We stopped in the living room where the Christmas tree was the only light. We could still hear the music from the party. He pulled me into his arms and swayed us to the gentle beat of the music.
“I’ve been thinking…”
“Yeah, about what?”
His hand slid low on my back, his fingers caressing my ass. “I want to marry you.”
“You’ve made that pretty clear.”
“You’ve agreed to move in with me. And you’ve agreed to start trying to have children with me in the next year. All that’s left is you agreeing to marry me.”
“Haven’t I already done that?”
Matt lifted his hand in which he held a small ring between his thumb and forefinger. It was silver with a sapphire stone blinking at me. It reminded me of the ocean.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a shark,” he said dryly.
I sighed. “It’s a ring. But what kind of a ring?”
“A ring to show all the men out there you’re mine and officially off the market,” he said.
“You’re making it all official, huh? Afraid I’ll run off on ya otherwise?”
“No. Should I be?”
I swatted his chest. “Matthew. This is supposed to be a sweet moment and you’re being an ass.”
“What can I say? Sometimes, I’m an ass. But no matter what, I’ll stand by you and our family. I want you to make your comeback as Hayley Wright.”
I shook my head. “Sorry, buddy. Hayley Martin is a household name. Maybe you should consider changing your name to Matthew Martin.”
His nose scrunched up. “I’m not sure about that. Can you hyphenate? Hayley Martin-Wright.”
I laughed. “I would be honored to be Hayley Wright.” I nodded toward the ring. “You gonna put that on my finger, or do I have to do it?”
Matt took a step back and took my left hand and slid the ring onto my finger. My lips curved into a grin that I couldn’t seem to stop. He lifted me into his arms and hugged me tightly before slanting his mouth over mine and kissing me tenderly.
And just like that, our lives were completely sealed together.
Epilogue
Rachel had asked to live with me and Hayley to finish up her pregnancy. She didn’t want to have her baby in Aspen in the small town. She didn’t want to be part of the rumor mill. Her high school life wasn’t so friendly to the idea of a pregnant teen. Bex and Raphael weren’t thrilled she left school for the rest of the year, but she would be back.
She ended up on bed rest.
But that wasn’t the worst of it. Not long after Lance left to report in, Rachel got a phone call from Neil.
Lance had died in the line of duty.
I didn’t think anyone in the family had fully processed his death. There wasn’t even a body. We buried a casket. Lance didn’t have any family besides foster parents he hadn’t talked to since the day he left. The military didn’t have any reason to call Rachel, she wasn’t his wife. They weren’t even aware of Rachel’s pregnancy yet. And Neil didn’t think anyone needed to know. It was a moot point.
Rachel was devastated. She didn’t come out of her room for days. The pregnancy was hard on her and she ended up hospitalized a few times. She’d finally gotten past all the scary stuff, and her due date was just a few days away. She wasn’t looking forward to having the baby. All the excitement of having a child seemed to have died with Lance. We tried to tell her over and over again that she wasn’t alone, but it didn’t matter. She’d lost Lance and her world had changed forever.
Death changed lives all the time. Derrick’s had changed mine. Neil came home for a week and stayed with Rachel. I didn’t know what he said to her, but something had changed between my brother and sister forever. I had a feeling Neil would be the best uncle in the world to that kid. He wouldn’t let his nephew or niece suffer for not having a father.
The entire Wright family was lost for a few weeks in sorrow for our family. It broke all our hearts that Rachel’s child would never know their father.
It felt like a lifetime ago since I’d been in the stadium to watch an Angel’s game. It was Raphael’s dream team, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t be my last. They were retiring Derrick’s number thirteen as a tribute to him. It had been an emotional day, but it felt good to be back.
Hayley had orchestrated getting as many of the Wrights to the stadium as possible. Raphael and Rachel sat next to me. Rachel was about ready to pop.
Holly and Summer were sitting in front of us. My parents were behind us.
They held the ceremony before the game. I was excited for my friend, but it left me a little sad. I wished he was still alive to continue to enjoy his life and his career. I was happy he at least went out on a grand slam in the defining game of the World Series. And while he would miss his daughter growing up, she would be safe with Holly and with me. She would never want for anything.
When they pulled the curtain off his jersey number, I felt a tug of pride. Hayley reached over Raph and squeezed my hand.
Hayley didn’t turn out to be pregnant around Christmas. We did get married, with her parents and my parents at the courthouse ceremony followed by a huge party at The Oak Barrel.
Hayley was six weeks pregnant now. We weren’t going to tell anyone yet, but we were both elated.
And now, standing here in the stadium where Derrick put everything into motion by telling me to get my head out of my ass, it felt right.
My mom and dad put their hands on my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze. I was a lucky man. My family certainly wasn’t perfect, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As the fireworks started, Rachel’s hand slammed down on my leg, her nails digging into my thigh.
“Rachel?”
Her face was contorted in pain, her hand over her rounded belly.
“Matt…”
And then I noticed the water under her seat. Oh, fuck.
“Oh god, ohgodohgod.”
Hayley hit my arm. “Calm down. We need to get her to an exit.”
“Let’s get her down to the ambulance they keep on call,” I said.
The crowd of us encircled my little sister and ushered her as best we could. When she doubled over, I lifted her into my arms and carried her. We headed to an area that only I had access to. When I explained the situation, we were escorted by security guards.
The panic of crawling into another ambulance in this stadium had my heart racing. The last time it didn’t end so well. Mom and I got in the ambulance with Rachel while everyone else headed out to the cars to get to the hospital.
Rachel gripped my hand so hard I thought for sure it was broken.
When her big blue eyes met mine, they we
re full of tears. “I don’t want to do this without Lance.”
I cupped her little hand in mine. “You’re not alone, Rachel. We’re all here for you.”
“But she is his daughter. He should be here to see his daughter.”
I heard my mom sniffle and she put her hand on my back. “I know, sweetie. He should be. It isn’t fair.”
Rachel let out a wail, but then the pain of another contraction distracted her. I was grateful; my heart was breaking all over again.
We got to the hospital and they wheeled her off. Mom went with them while I waited for everyone else to show up.
Hayley looked pale with worry. “Is she okay?”
I nodded. I was still choked up from the ride to the hospital. She took my hand and squeezed it as if she knew something was wrong.
“Mom’s with her,” I said.
“I’m going to email Neil,” Raphael said.
I nodded and gave him a grateful pat on the shoulder.
And then the waiting began.
“She looked like she was in so much pain,” Hayley said. She still looked flushed and a little lost.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t want to be in that kind of pain,” she said.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “You won’t be.”
“Oh yeah? How are you going to manage that one?” she asked.
I chuckled. “I suppose I can’t. But I wish I could. I don’t want to see you in that much pain. Or my little sister, for that matter. Though, I feel like she’s been in one kind of pain or another since Lance died.”
Hayley laid her head on my shoulder. “I don’t want you to die either.”
“Hey…I’m not going anywhere. I’m not some hero like Lance. And my brain has been fully checked along with every other vital organ and all my bones. I’m healthy as a horse. You can’t get rid of me so easily. Keep that in mind when you try and cash in on the life insurance.”
She laughed. “I guess I’ll have to be crafty. I could always take you back to that tiger shark.”
I kissed the top of her head. “But as long as we’re on the subject, you’re not allowed to die either.”
Seducing My Best Friend (The Wrights Book 2) Page 22
