by Anne Eliot
“If that comes up, we shall figure it out, but we must make a pact that neither of you will jeopardize the reputations we’re trying to save should that occur.” Mrs. Felix frowns darkly at Royce. “Nor will you engage anyone else in any—activities—and you know what I mean, Royce Devlin. Not without notifying all of us. Without some sort of vote.”
“Christ, no,” Royce almost yells. “Zero engaging? You want us to vote? Grandmother, you should hear yourself. I’ve played along this whole time and so has Robin, but there’s no way that plan will fly.” His sigh sounds completely frustrated as he lowers his voice back to calm, and adds, “Robin, we don’t have to decide about any of that now. If it comes up, and you’ve made a very good point that it might, we will discuss it as friends. And grandmother, to appease you, we will promise to discuss that between each other well before taking any sort of…real…personal…action with anyone else. Can you live with that, Robin?”
I manage a small nod and stare down at my shoes. My head’s suddenly too heavy to move, because it’s throbbing with this—this plan, and the next plan, and the plan for two years from now. I want to protest, scream, cry, and I want to run; but the adult who came all the way to Orlando to save her little brother won’t let me move, because that person is exactly who I am now.
Realizing that I’m now unwavering in my ‘failure is not an option’ mantra that Sage and I started out with when we first ran away, even if it means getting married tonight, makes all of the fear rush out of my body.
These wonderful people have even considered the unthinkable. They’re right. This marriage is a solution that seems like it’s going to work. Despite the mountains of awkward and uncomfortable situations Royce and I are going to have to climb through, and even if it takes almost two years to climb ourselves out, it should work. If I handle myself correctly this time. If I don’t crumble and mess it up. If I can trust others to help.
Mrs. Perino has stepped up to me, but when I don’t react or look up she squats down and places her face close to mine and snaps me out of my thoughts. She has unshed tears in her eyes as she tells me what I already know: “These are good people here, Robin. I wouldn’t let you or Sage go one inch from this house if I didn’t believe Mrs. Felix’s lawyers could pull it off. You will save everyone’s future. Yours, theirs and ours.”
Quietly, I ask, “I know Sage is why I’m agreeing to this, but is taking me and my brother, and all of our problems on, too much to ask of everyone else?” My eyes finally lock with Royce’s again. He looks so concerned for me, that I feel guilty. “What about Royce?” I blurt out. “What about all that he’s going to go through because of this? Wait. What about you, Royce?”
His arm tightens around me. “I want to make this right, Robin. This plan does not phase me. Okay? I could do this fake marriage in my sleep. Only good will come of this. I swear.”
“Our album sales will probably soar,” Adam calls out. “They always do when we create spectacles and this will be our biggest yet!”
I glance steadily at each person circling me, letting the remaining doubts fade away and replace it with sheer gratitude. “You’ve all thought this through so thoroughly. Thank you.”
“We’re really good at this stuff,” Hunter adds. “Believe in us. Once the shock wears off it might even be fun.”
I shake my head, watching Royce through my lashes again, as he leaves my side to intercept Sage who’s coming back out from checking on Anna and Julia. The smile he gives Royce is so excited and genuine I become afraid all over again. Not for me, but for Sage, and for what my brother might think of me when it’s all over?
I nod in Sage’s direction. “What will we tell Sage about all this? He thinks this love is for real right now.”
Mrs. Perino sighs. “We fought over how and what he should be told, but it was Royce who came up with the best plan. He knows you well enough to know that you wouldn’t want Sage to be forced to lie anymore. We also know Sage well enough to understand he’d blow anyone’s cover within an hour because he’s too excitable and a terrible liar anyhow.” She points at Royce. “Royce is telling Sage the same story he’s going to tell the fans.”
“Which is?”
Mrs. Felix says, “Currently he’s telling him how the wedding is going to go. Sage’s pure excitement and happy perspective is bound to create a sense of reality to anyone ho talks to him. The press will love him, and when you can’t answer questions, as I’m sure will happen, Sage will be there with you to fill up all of the holes by simply being himself.”
I nod, agreeing with her. “Being himself after his sister is married to the lead singer of Guarderobe, his favorite band, you mean.” I almost laugh, imagining Sage on a red carpet. “He’s going to live his fan-boy dreams, isn’t he?”
“He’ll have a blast.” Mrs. Felix chuckles. “He can’t do that if he’s faking things and worrying about if he’s saying the right stuff or protecting you. Only this small inner circle will know the truth. The entourage won’t know, the stylists won’t know, only us. Do you agree it’s a good layer on the plan?”
“It’s great. Yes. Okay. Why not?”
“It will be hard for you to have to lie to your own brother sometimes, though,” Adam cautions.
“I don’t care. I only want to see him smile how he’s smiling right now. I only want him to be happy, and—look at him. He’s so happy.”
We glance over at Royce again, who’s smiling like my brother has charmed him completely. Sage’s ongoing and ever-widening grin tells me he’s equally thrilled by whatever Royce is telling him. I over hear Sage shout out, “Sure. Yes!” And then, “Dude, that’s the best idea ever. She will love that. You know my sister so well.” Royce leans in and whispers something more, to which Sage responds, “Heck yes, but to do that I’m going to need to borrow a cell phone.”
“Done. This all means we’re going to be real brothers now, right?” Royce adds, walking Sage back over to me.
“Real brothers?” I whisper under my breath, “Anyone else suddenly feel queasy?”
Sage’s eyes get wide as he overhears me. “I know from watching reality shows that brides often do vomit on days like this. Be calm, Robin. Royce has promised to take such good care of us. They have it all set up—and—God. Royce, you’re so lucky to have fallen in love with my sister. She’s so amazing and great.”
“I know I’m lucky. She had my heart on day one. Day two she had my soul. Day three, I knew I couldn’t live without her. I’m happy we have to fast-track this, because now she can’t escape me.” His eyes are boring into mine, and he’s said it so convincingly I momentarily believe him as much as Sage believes him. Royce Devlin is beyond good at all of this lying.
Sage adds, “And Robin, did you know that Royce wants me to—”
“Hey now. No spoilers, Sage.” Royce resettles his arm around my shoulders. A move that still feels too new and possibly wrong with my brother acting like it’s all so very normal; but since I’m having a hard time holding my spine straight, it also feels right. I lean on Royce’s strength and work on keeping my expressions and reactions in check.
“Right. Right.” Sage laughs. “But if she does vomit I reserve the right to hyperventilate some, because,” he puts his hands over his heart. “This is so cool. My brother-in-law will be Royce Devlin. How could you keep this secret from me, Robin?”
I have to smile then. The way Sage is acting so cute is helping to cover my nerves. “It was all such a whirlwind.” I say, truthfully. “I never saw it coming and then…it happened.” I test out how it feels to lie to Sage with a half-fib first. “I was sort of ashamed of my attraction to Royce. Being the nanny and all. And I felt bad about it because I thought the baby was really his baby so I didn’t feel good about that part and then when I found out the baby was Adam’s…well then, how I was feeling for Royce…uh…made sense.”
“I think it’s so romantic.” Mrs. Perino steps up to pull at my veil and fix a few bobby pins while Mrs. Felix adds, “Wai
t until you see the rest of this dress. I hope you’ll like it.”
“Mrs. Felix had the whole thing sent in on her private jet this afternoon along with the veil.” Vere skips up to me, not to be left out of everyone fixing my hair.
Royce crowds in too, holding out a little blue box. “Sorry I messed up giving it to you in the garden.” He glances at a very attentive Sage then back at me, then slowly opens the box to reveal a white-gold ring with a square-cut diamond that ‘s the size of Canada in the center of it.
“The ring is also a gift from me. It was my mothers.”
“Wow.” I gasp, terrified to touch it. “No way. I can’t wear something that valuable. Are you sure?”
My question was for Mrs. Felix, but Royce, probably because Sage is soaking up every word passing between us, answers in that sexy-gravelly voice, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. You deserve valuable and it will look beautiful on your hand.” He pulls out the ring and slides it onto my left middle finger.
“Robin. He’s right. It’s perfect. And, I’m going to give you away. If you want me to?” Sage asks. “Do you think Dad would like it if I did that in his place?”
I can’t answer because his question has slammed me with reality of what we’re going to do so hard that it’s taken my breath away. This is not any sort of wedding our dad would participate in, is it? Sage is so right. If he were here, Dad would be going ape-shit right now.
Mrs. Felix quickly speaks up like she senses I’m choking. “It’s very appropriate for a brother to represent a father at a wedding in which a father can’t be present. I know Robin will love that you are stepping in, won’t you, Robin?”
“I will. I really will love that, Sage,” I manage, reaching out to squeeze his hand.
He grips onto mine and squeezes back, pausing to straighten the ring that’s slipped a little to the side already. “Adam and Hunter are going to be Royce’s best men. But, like, you only have Vere, and she’s going to be the only bridesmaid. We thought, Royce thought of it actually, that to balance the photos, and because Angel can’t be there so the press won’t bother him, that you’d like it if I could be sort of, your best man. Can I? Stand beside you?”
I glance at Royce, truly grateful that he’s handled telling Sage everything and then included him in such a sweet way. I’m even more humbled that he’s kindly spared my brother the truth, because it’s really nice that Sage thinks this is all real. Sage would carry too much guilt if he found out I was faking something as huge as a wedding just to save him from foster care.
Running away we could do together, but this, I’ll have to do alone.
Sage snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Robin, what do you say? Can I be your best man?”
I’m answering Sage, but my response is only for Royce. “You knew. You knew I’d love that, didn’t you?”
Royce nods, but Sage has assumed my answer was to him. “Heck yes, I knew, sis. Because it’s always you and me, side by side, one moment at a time, right?”
“Exactly right.” I pull him close, sparing a quick glance for each and every one of the amazing people who worked so hard on our behalf. I’m wondering if my heart is going to explode as I take in the worry, their concern, and the genuine love that’s being directed at me from all directions.
“Again. Thank you. Everyone, thank you,” I whisper.
Sage tugs at my arm. “They say I can tell people we ran away, and that I’m not to lie to anyone anymore about how Dad is missing. Is it true, Robin?”
“Yes. It’s true.”
Sage smiles. “That will be a relief.”
Gregory steps up and places a hand on Sage’s shoulder. “No more secrets for you two. We want you and Robin to tell your whole story. How you ran away to stick together, how you’re worried about your missing dad, and how your sister fell in love with a rockstar who’s promised to help you both search for him. If anyone asks, you just say what’s in your heart. Tell people what you’ve been through.”
Royce nods, agreeing. “We’re not going to be ashamed of how your sister and I agreed to a fast-track wedding to keep you two together. We’re only going to be proud of ourselves for trying everything we can, right?” Royce adds. “I have no problem letting our fans know that I fell for her fast, and that all of this is real, and how she and I will be dating while married. I think they’ll love it.”
“Yeah. Proud of ourselves,” Sage repeats, nodding. “I like that. And I sure love the idea, that’s for sure. As long as Robin does, too.”
I nod, and my heart twists with a combination of hope and guilt as Sage’s smile grows his expression switches to truly happy, as Royce goes on, “And who knows?” Royce’s grin suddenly matches my brother’s. “The extra exposure might even help locate your father. We will make it clear that the band will help pay any price that’s put out there to get him home, too. Gregory says we can hire a company to help search for him.”
Sage’s eyes have now widened with such gratitude and relief it hurts my chest as I say, “Thank you for just saying those words. I hope you won’t be sorry tomorrow that you’ve agreed to this.”
His hand tightens in mine and he whispers so only I can hear, “Beautiful girl. I can only hope the same for you. I mean every word I’ve said here today.”
I don’t call him about the lies he’s just said about ‘loving me’ because I guess I’m going to need to get used to him saying that kind of stuff so easily. “When we leave here, I’m not going to know what to do, how to act.”
He quirks a brow, taking my hand into his. “And you think I will?” He shakes his head. “If we take it one minute, one day at a time, we got this.”
Choked up that he chose my dad’s exact words, I can only nod.
Gregory’s checking something on his cell phone then says, “Perinos, I apologize for our hasty retreat, but the opening bands are getting on stage now. We have a lot to prepare and very little time.” He takes one of Mrs. Perino’s hands, and places a gentle kiss on the back of it. “It might be a while before I can contact you after tonight. I hope that you’ll—wait?”
She responds with a tiny nod and her very, very red cheeks return. “What’s a little more time now that I know who I’ve been waiting for after all of these years? I’ll be here.”
Gregory beams down at her, and like he can’t help himself he brushes a quick kiss on her lips in front of us all. Their expressions confirm it is possible for people to fall in love in just one week. We all saw it happen with them, and it’s so genuine and so sweet it’s making my heart burst with happiness to watch them look into each other’s eyes. Maybe it won’t be so hard to lie to people about my love story with Royce Devlin, after all. I’ll just muster up the adoring, blushing face Mrs. Perino’s using on Gregory and copy it exactly.
Gregory steps away and claps his hands to get our attention. “Everyone without the last name Perino needs to get in one of the vehicles out front. Attorneys and staff will go into the van that brought us here. Adam, Hunter, Vere, and the baby—oh, and the Love family, will follow me and my mother to the stretch limo that just arrived. We have a concert to get to and a honeymoon to plan—so there’s a whole newer plan to formulate that begins after the concert.”
Royce rolls his eyes, giving me this funny sideways, knowing glance as Gregory continues with his orders. “Everyone. Let’s be clear. As the plans execute, if you don’t know what to do or say, smile and at least look ecstatic.”
“Is this the new-new-newer-new plan or the newest new plan?” Hunter jokes, earning a glare from Gregory and an eye twinkle from Vere.
Vere grins at me extra wide and whispers, “This is a sneaky way to keep a best friend forever, but it’s totally working for me. I am so happy right now I’m about to pop.”
Gregory’s frown turns darker as he pushes her ahead of me. “Go. Go! Everyone move!”
While people jump at the command, Sage pauses and looks around the garden. “What about our stuff? What abou
t packing? And saying goodbye?”
“Yeah.” I frown. “And what do they mean there’s a honeymoon to plan?”
Mrs. Perino quickly runs over to hug him, then me. “There’s no goodbye. Why would there be such a thing between us? You’re heading off to expand the family and you’ll be back. And whatever they’re planning, Robin. Like Gregory said, just go with it.”
Angel hugs us both as well, but not before whispering to me, “You can trust him, Robin. He’s good.” He smiles, but it’s tense and worried as usual. “If you change your mind, you know who to call should you need a ride back home.”
I return his hug. “See you soon, too?”
“Sooner than soon. We’ll Facetime, maybe even tonight?”
I nod, He places a gentle hand on mine, those obsidian eyes of his telling me a longer, deeper goodbye, saying that he will appear anytime and anywhere if needed.
“I’ll pack your things during the concert and have it all sent over to the Belle Paris.” Mrs. Perino urges me toward the limo.
“Do you have to pack everything?” I ask. “I mean—like, if you don’t plan to rent it to anyone else, I’d sure love to have some of our things stay in the cottage. You know? For when we come…”
“Home?” Mrs. Perino nods as one tear sneaks out of the corner of her eyes. “A wonderful point. I shall leave firewood ready to light in the fireplace and the beds made as well. You will be home for Thanksgiving. This I know for sure because Gregory’s promised me at minimum, that you would be here, but I’m certain it won’t be as long as he’s saying.”
“Thanksgiving?” My tears are now threatening to flood out again, so I stop trying to talk and fling myself at her to hug her my thanks into her embrace one more time.
