The Price of Fame: A Price Novel (The Price Novels Book 2)

by Craft, Maggi

  “So then you know you don’t need clothes,” I muttered against her lips.

  Once we were in the air and halfway through breakfast, I handed her another box.

  “Something else?” she asked. “No, I don’t even have your gift with me. I don’t want to open anything else.”

  I smiled. “You are my gift.”

  She rolled her eyes and opened the box. Holding up the top of the black bikini, she eyed me suspiciously.

  “OK, that’s all the clothing you will need for the rest of the trip.”

  She laughed, looking a bit uneasy, but said nothing else of it.

  We spent the whole three days in Saint Lucia just relaxing. We went from the pool to the beach to the room, and that was about it. We had a really great time doing nothing but spending time together. It was nice.

  The morning we were getting ready to leave, Arden was sick. I knew where this was going, but I left it alone. I wasn’t stupid enough to bring it up. She was really quiet the whole morning. I knew she was freaking out. When we got on the plane, I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I had a great time. This has been the best year of my life. I love you.” She didn’t say anything for a minute.

  Then she turned to me with tears in her eyes. “I think I’m pregnant.” She laid her head on my shoulder and cried. I didn’t say anything. I just let her cry. No matter what I said, it would have been wrong. So I said nothing. After a few minutes, she looked at me and said, “It’s gonna be OK, right?” Her eyes were pleading for my reassurance.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, baby, it’s gonna be all right. Stop worrying.”

  “I really don’t think I’m sad, I’m just … ” She paused. “Well, I really don’t know what I am. I’m shocked, but that’s OK, right? It’s OK to be shocked?”

  “Yes, baby!” All she wanted was some reassurance from me. “You need to stop being so hard on yourself. I’m sure it’s totally normal not to know how you’re feeling. Hell, it’s probably hormones on top of your own fear. I know this isn’t your scheduled life-plan baby, but I guarantee you that in a year you won’t look back and regret any of this.”

  “I know you’re right. It’s just scary, you know.” She wasn’t looking at me but out the window. Most likely, she was really talking to herself.

  “I know, but you’re not alone.” I squeezed her hand, and she looked back at me and smiled a real smile. “I’m gonna be with you the whole way!”

  She let out a deep breath before drying her eyes with her thumbs. “Well, let’s not say anything to anyone until we go to the doctor, OK?”

  “OK, baby, I won’t tell my mom.” I laughed. Arden thought I told my mom everything, but what she apparently hadn’t figured out yet was that you didn’t have to tell my mom anything. The woman had ESP or something. She knew everything, and she always had.

  Arden was able to get an appointment with her doctor for the next morning, which was good because I had a full schedule for the next two weeks straight. On the way to the doctor, we didn’t say much. I was assuming she was nervous because I knew I was.

  We had the first appointment of the morning, so we didn’t have to wait. I was pretty sure the doctor had made that appointment for us as a favor to Arden.

  The ultrasound tech looked very young, and she recognized me immediately. She was obviously a fan. She wasn’t concentrating on anything she was doing, and Arden was starting to get upset. I finally stepped out of the room for a minute. That was the only thing I could think to do to get that girl back on track. After a minute or two in the hall, I went back in, and she had started the ultrasound.

  I was no expert at reading people, but she definitely looked concerned about what she saw on the screen, which got me a little worried. Finally she smiled at us and said, “Everything’s fine. I’ll be right back,” and she left us in there.

  “Are you OK, A?” I asked.

  Arden looked horrified. “I don’t know. She’s weird, and she’s freaking me out, Slayde. It’s pretty awkward for her to have her hands all up in my vagina and be flirting with my husband at the same time don’tcha think?” I couldn’t help but laugh. She was so prim and proper most of the time, but she could be extremely blunt when she was in the right mood.

  Dr. Wells came back in with the ultrasound tech. “Well, good news, everything looks perfect. You’re at about ten weeks—and looks like you’re having twins.”

  What? I wasn’t prepared for that for sure. I looked at Arden, and she started crying again. I grabbed her hand, trying not to laugh, and said, “Baby, it’s fine. It’s gonna be fine.”

  “I wasn’t even sure I was ready for one. What am I gonna do with two?” she cried.

  “Honey, you will figure it out,” Dr. Wells said, “but you are really going to have to take care of yourself. You have to make sure you’re eating and getting some rest. I know you’re extremely busy right now with your residency, but when you can rest, do! If you can try and eat a little something every two hours, it will help with the nausea. Elizabeth is gonna let you hear your babies’ heartbeats, and I will be back in a minute.”

  As freaked out as I was by this news, I was also excited, and getting to see and hear their little heartbeats was amazing. Arden even seemed to tear up a little, which made me feel much better about her overall mental state.

  As we were leaving the doctor’s office, she looked at me and said, “You aren’t going to love me when I’m fat,” and she started crying again.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her. “You’re crazy. I will always love you. I’m sure you are going to be the cutest little pregnant woman ever.” She gave me an ugly look. “I’m serious.” I kissed her forehead.

  “What if I’m one of those women who get fat and never lose the weight after the babies are born? Then you’re gonna leave me for Shelley Spencer.”

  “What? First of all, that’s the least of my worries. I’m just worried about you taking care of yourself. Hell, your mom had four kids, and she’s still tiny. It’s mostly genetics, baby. But if you stay fat, I promise I will get rid of my six-pack and get fat with you.” I laughed. “Shelley Spencer, geez! You’re crazy!” I shook my head at the thought of dating my vapid colleague.

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever, I’m sure you’ll get fat for me. Plus, I’m sure Mom’s diet of cigarettes, Diet Coke, and stress are the reason for her being so skinny.”

  “Stop worrying about getting fat. You won’t get fat.”

  “I’m really going to have to be careful. Last time I—”

  I had to interrupt her. “Stop. This is different. You’re going to be fine. You’re going to eat every few hours, and you are going to sleep when you’re tired. This isn’t last time. So let’s not even go there.”

  She sighed. “You’re right.”

  I squeezed her hand, and she smiled at me. I thought I might have even seen some tension leave her eyes.

  I really wanted to tell my mom, but I wanted A to be comfortable with it all first. So I would have to wait a few days before I told my mom. It was hard, though.

  She was serious about taking better care of herself. She packed herself a lunchbox with all kinds of vegetables and fruits to take with her to work the next day.

  “I can go to the store if you want anything else to take to work with you. Like, maybe some of that turkey from the market that they cut up fresh. You love that.”

  She put her baggies of food in the refrigerator and turned around and smiled at me. “That’s sweet, but I’m good for a few days. But thank you.”

  Two days later Arden said it was OK to tell my mom, so I called her and asked her to meet me for lunch at her favorite restaurant.

  I beat her there and was already seated and had ordered her favorite wine for her when I saw Mom come in. She looked a little nervous. Maybe it had been mean not to tell her over the phone.

  She hugged me when she got to the table, then sat down across from me and set her sunglasses on the table. “What’s this all
about?” she asked suspiciously.

  “What are you talking about?” I smiled innocently at her.

  “I know you wouldn’t get out and fight the paparazzi just to take your mom to lunch. What gives?” She took a big sip of her wine, so I made sure she swallowed it before I answered her.

  “OK, you got me. Well, you’re going to be a grandmother.”

  She looked shocked. “What? Are you serious?” She put her hands over her mouth. At first I wasn’t sure what kind of reaction that was. “Are you excited?”

  “Of course I am,” I replied.

  She hugged me. “Me too. Is Arden OK?”

  “She’s scared, but she’s gonna be OK. But there’s more.”

  “Ok, what is it?”

  “Twins!”

  “No! This is wonderful,” she squealed.

  “Shhhh! We aren’t telling anybody until after the first trimester, just in case, and I sure don’t need the paparazzi getting wind of this. Keeping Arden calm is already a full-time job in itself.”

  “Is she freaking out?”

  “Oh yeah! She’s trying to act calm, but that’s for my benefit. She knows I’m worried about her. She’s sick again, but she’s doing better this time. She’s making herself eat and rest. I think she’s in a different mindset than she was last time.”

  “What about her work?”

  “I don’t really know. I wish she’d forget it all and stay home, but don’t you ever repeat that. I guess we will figure it out later.”

  “You can’t be the only one who does what he wants with his life. Don’t try and force her into a perfect little box, Slayde. Let her be herself. If you push her to do what you want, you’re gonna lose her. You hear me?” She grabbed my hand to make sure I was listening.

  “Yes, Mom, I hear you. I’d never do that.”

  “You better not. Arden is not the kind of girl who would ever be happy sitting around waiting on you to come home, and you knew that when you married her.”

  “I know, Mom. OK. Drop it.” I pulled my hand away, sitting up straighter in my seat.

  She pointed at me for a second and lowered her voice before saying, “Don’t tell me to drop it, Slayde Price. I know you, and I know how you think. You love her and you want her to be happy, but you hope that will eventually mean her giving in and doing what you want her to. As much as you despise your dad, there’s a little of him in you.”

  That really offended me. “That’s bullshit. Look, I’m not going to do that, but I don’t understand why she feels the need to bust her ass when she doesn’t have to. Why doesn’t she want to travel to the sets with me?” That was how I really felt.

  Mom smirked and leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. “Why don’t you stop making films and stay home with her?”

  “Well, that would just be stupid.”

  “Really? Why is that?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s talk about something else.”

  She gave me a dirty look, but she let it go. “What are you going to do about a nanny? You’d be smart to get two.”

  “We haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I think you need to move in with us.” I smiled, but I was serious.

  “I love you, but I still have my own child to raise. And that’s Arden’s house, not mine. There’s never room for two hens in one henhouse.” She winked at me. I knew she was right. “But I will come stay with you if she wants me to after the babies are born. Has she told her mom?”

  “No, why would she do that?”

  “She is her mother, Slayde.”

  “So? That doesn’t entitle her to anything. Arden doesn’t want anything to do with her,” I snapped at her.

  “Maybe not, but don’t discourage it. If she wants her involved, you need to encourage her.”

  “Why? So she can just tell Arden she’s too busy for her grandkids? I don’t think so. I won’t discourage her, but I won’t encourage her either.”

  “And I don’t think I’m old enough to be called Grandma. So, find something else to call me, OK?” She smiled and gave me a big hug. I knew she was happy for us.

  There was a huge crowd outside the restaurant when we went to leave. It was crazy. It made me realize how much I hated the thought of bringing kids up in this environment. How would we protect them from this? This wasn’t going to be easy.

  Chapter 13

  Arden

  Slayde had to go to a movie premiere and wanted me to go with him because I was off. He usually didn’t ask if it wasn’t one of his movies, but we hadn’t done much together since returning from our anniversary. I also hated for him to go alone when I was home.

  So, even though I really needed to throw up and go to sleep, both things I’d rather do than go anywhere playing my part as Hollywood Slayde’s wife, I’d go. For my Slayde.

  On the ride over, I yawned. He looked at me. “Babe, are you too tired to go? I feel bad making you go.”

  I rested my head on his shoulder. “You aren’t making me go. I want to go with you. And I’m no tireder than normal. Just preggers-tired.”

  He smiled and kissed the top of my head. “You’re so beautiful.”

  “Thanks,” I whispered before yawning again.

  When we arrived at the premiere venue, we had to wait in the limo for almost thirty minutes before we were let out. This was pure torture for me, because I really wanted a little power nap, but I didn’t want Slayde to get out with drool marks on his jacket and me to have a seam mark on my face from sleeping on his shoulder. Once we reached the red carpet, someone opened the car door, and Slayde got out first, reaching back for my hand and helping me out of the car.

  There were a zillion people there, and it was very loud. Of course camera crews and paparazzi were everywhere. People were calling Slayde’s name and screaming at other people ahead of us. I was getting so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even make out half of what they were saying.

  Slayde, sensing my angst, grabbed my hand more tightly, pulling me closer to him. I looked up, and he was smiling at me. ”Absolutely beautiful,” he mouthed, making me smile and blush.

  Then a woman I hadn’t seen before said to a camera while walking toward us, “And we have Slayde Price arriving with his beautiful wife.” She looked vaguely familiar. I was pretty sure she said who she was and where she was from, but I didn’t understand her. I stood there while she asked him questions until Slayde’s publicist, Jennifer, showed up out of nowhere and pulled me away from the mayhem.

  “You look nice,” she said as soon as we were able to hear each other.

  I yawned again before saying, “Thanks.”

  She stepped back and looked at me quizzically. “Oh my God, you’re pregnant?”

  I was shocked. I had told Slayde I didn’t want anyone to know yet after what had happened last time. And we had just recently told Lexi. “Uh, what are you talking about?”

  She smiled knowingly. “Why didn’t you deny it?”

  I looked around to make sure no one was listening. “It’s really early.”

  “Which is why you are asleep on your feet,” she stated.

  “I guess.”

  She squeezed me. “Congrats. I can’t believe he hasn’t told me.”

  “Well, like I said. It’s early, and we don’t want it out yet.”

  With a cocked eyebrow she said, “Who am I gonna tell, other than US Weekly?” I guessed she could see how horrified I was by the thought of that, because she laughed. “I am kidding with you.” I hoped she was.

  After a few more minutes, Slayde finally made it to where we were standing. He leaned in and kissed my temple, saying, “Sorry.”

  I hate to admit it, but I fell asleep during the premiere. Not because it wasn’t good but because I was too tired to pay attention. When it ended, Jennifer looked at Slayde. “You don’t have to stay at the party all night, but stay at least thirty minutes.”

  He nodded and looked at me. “How was it?”

  “The movie?” I asked.

  We start
ed walking out, and he smiled and said quietly while bumping my shoulder with his, “No, your nap.” I cringed, and he laughed and pulled me along toward the car.

  I hated this part, almost as much as I hated the walk down the red carpet. Most of these people were fake, and it made me ill. I couldn’t do it. I guessed I was a bad actress, but I didn’t like pretending to be interested in the things these people talked about: fame, money, scandal. Slayde swore they weren’t all that way, but based on the fact that he didn’t hang out with many of them outside of work, I suspected he was wrong.

  Brett Wilder was the star of this movie. She was a tall, curvy, dark-haired twenty-three-year-old with fake pouty lips and long fake eyelashes. She was beautiful, and she looked like one of those women who was actually prettier without all that makeup on, but she probably wouldn’t understand that.

  Brett was known for being a diva. She was also known for sleeping with several older, well-known A-listers—some of them older than her father had to be. I had seen her at numerous functions all over James Maddox, who was at least fifty-five years old. It totally grossed me out. She struck me as a girl with daddy issues and a seriously jacked-up moral compass.

  When we arrived at the party, she was the first person I saw. She was standing off to the side, wiping the front of her dress with a cloth napkin. A waiter standing next to her appeared to be trying to help her. When he managed to wipe her dress with his rag, she reached up and grabbed him by his collar and started yelling in his face. “You idiot. Do you see what you did? You spilled wine all over my dress.”

  I wanted to point out that her dress was black, and you couldn’t see it.

  “Ma’am, I am so sorry. Let me dry it off.”

  She pushed him away and went back to dabbing at the dress. “Don’t touch me. You pathetic loser. Get away from me.”

  The poor guy was so upset; he was fumbling, trying to help her, and she was being ridiculous. “I will pay for it to be cleaned. Or pay for it to be replaced. Ma’am, I am sorry.”

  She stopped what she was doing and looked at him as if he were crazy. “You couldn’t afford this dress in a year,” she shouted.