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.
Vaughn: Either way, you’re not bringing a whore to our brother’s wedding.
Wren: Dream ruiner.
Vaughn: Crybaby. Suck it up and tell everyone the truth. Then get me the name of the fucker so I can kill him.
Wren: He doesn’t matter, and I hate you.
Vaughn: Back at you, and you’re taking the blame if Brie gets pissed.
Wren: What else is new? Send it my way.
Vaughn: Good talk. Love you.
Wren: Yeah, yeah.
Rolling her eyes, she set her phone down as she looked around The Southern restaurant. It was busy, like always, but the food was to die for. So were the cocktails, but yeah…that was a depressing thought. Before Vaughn had texted to bitch at her, Jensen had said he was running late, which was fine. It gave her time to prepare. It was a little bit of a feat for her to prepare to tell her friend that she needed him to lie to his family and hers by claiming to be the father of her child and her husband. She should have given herself more time. But she really didn’t have it.
Wells’s wedding was coming up fast.
When her phone started to sing “Hello” by who Wells confirmed was the queen of all music, she chuckled. Her brother had some crazy radar when it came to her thinking of him. “Brother.”
“Sister. We have beef.”
“Filet mignon or porterhouse?”
“Tube,” he deadpanned, and she snorted. “Mom said you aren’t coming up the week before the wedding. The boys are bringing the Cup. You have to be here.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I said I wasn’t sure.”
“Well, be sure. Blow off work and come.”
“I’m in charge of over thirty-five players’ mental health, I can’t blow them off.”
“Half of them have gone home, and the other half can be on call.”
“Wells.”
“Wren. Really. I need my sister through this.”
“Through what? You want this!”
“I know, but I want you there.”
“I’ll try. Let me work on some things.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re annoying. Like Mom.”
“Bet you won’t say it to her face.”
She gasped. “Never.”
“Thought so. What are you doing? Working?” he teased and she smiled. Her brother was probably the most amazing person on the planet. He was beyond funny, the realest guy ever, and captivating. She loved him so much. She always turned to him for advice, and it was killing her to lie to him, but she wouldn’t put that on him. He had enough to worry about: his wedding, being one of the only openly gay players in the league, and all the other stuff that came with that. So Wren had kept the last six months to herself—well, except for Vaughn. She told him, but it wasn’t like she’d reached out to him.
No, it was her. Alone. Doing it all, and she was fine with that. She was strong.
“Actually, I’m meeting Jensen for lunch.”
“Ooh, for what?”
“That is none of your business, my dear brother.”
“Finally gonna tell him you think he’s hot and you wouldn’t mind hitting it?”
“Shut it.”
“You two would make hot kids.”
Well, let’s hope that Bradley made them too. Fucker.
“Wells, be real.”
“Everyone knows you two dig each other.”
“No, they don’t! I don’t even know that, and you don’t—shut up,” she sputtered because, while her brother always teased her about it, she didn’t believe it. If Jensen was feeling her, why didn’t he ever try anything? She’d flirted with him relentlessly after his divorce, but he never flirted back. He’d been tight-lipped, and that had been the perfect time to have a roll in the hay for fun. He probably thought she was too fat to be a trophy wife too.
Fucking douche. God, she hated Bradley.
“Ha-ha, you know nothing, Wren Lemiere.”
“Ugh, you sound like Brie and Vaughn. Always with the Game of Thrones references.”
He chuckled. “Stop hating, and binge-watch.”
“No, I refuse.”
“You suck.”
“So do you.”
“Always,” he teased, and she snickered. “So, I’ll see you in a couple weeks.”
“Don’t get your mind set—”
“See you in a couple weeks! Toodle-oo!”
The line went dead, and she swore her eyes were going to get lost in her head. That guy was an idiot. Toodle-oo? What the hell? Laying her phone down, she reached for her water since she had dry mouth like a desert, just in time to catch a glimpse of Jensen coming through the door.
Crap, she wasn’t ready!
But it didn’t matter because when he saw her, his face lit up as he pointed to her from the hostess stand before coming toward her. God, he was majestic. So damn big, unlike the stocky thirteen-year-old she remembered. He had grown over thirteen inches his freshman year; she remembered that because her mom was worried his skin would snap, he was growing so fast. His shoulders were massive and thick through the tank he wore. She knew from seeing him at the pool that he was ripped like no other, but it was his eyes that always got her. He had the darkest set of brown eyes she had ever seen. They were like two pools of deep, dark chocolate that always seemed to be a shade darker when he looked at her. His face had hard angles, his nose was broad, and his jaw was covered with dense, coarse hair—and those lips. Thick and scrumptious.
Yeah, she had a thing for Jensen Monroe, and she was pretty sure she was in a whole lot of trouble asking for him to pose as her husband.
But she had no choice.
Reaching the table, he had a smile pulling at his lips as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. Closing her eyes, she inhaled sharply, his musky scent tantalizing her core. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he muttered as he moved back, sitting down across from her. “Good to see you.”
“You too.”
“It’s been a while. I didn’t even see you at the Assassins’ Cup party.”
“Yeah, I was busy.”
“Oh, that sucks.”
“Yeah, Elli was not happy with me, but I’ve been under the weather lately.”
His brow furrowed in concern. “You’re okay?”
He reached for his water as she nodded. “Yeah, fine. Now. Thanks.”
She giggled nervously as the waitress came up to take their drink orders. “Water is fine.”
“Me too,” he said with a grin that, of course, the waitress swooned at. Who wouldn’t? He looked like an underwear model.
And Wren didn’t miss the way the girl looked back at her, like, “Wow, you’re with him?” Some would be offended, but having grown up with three very good-looking brothers, she was used to it.
After ordering her food, Wren leaned on her elbows. “I’m starving. Sorry to make you rush.”
“No, it’s fine. I love this place, and I always get the same thing.”
“Don’t like change?”
He shrugged. “Why mess up a good thing when you got it?”
“Touché, Monroe.” He sent her a grin, and she smiled back sweetly. “So, what’s up?”
“Nothing, just Cup stuff.”
“Which is awesome.”
He smiled shyly. “It’s a lot.”
“I hear you’re all over the place.”
“I am. Lots of interviews. We went to the White House, which was cool.”
“I saw that on Facebook. So amazing.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to take the Cup home.”
“I bet.”
He nodded before shrugging. “Other than that, I’m boring.”
“So am I. It’s okay.”
“Boring people have more fun.”
“Totally agree.”
“But our friends are not boring. Did you hear Brie and Vaughn are moving?”
“Yup.”
“Apparently, I was supposed to be torn up about it.”
“Of course you were.” He laughed and she chuckled. Vaughn was so dramatic. “But I’m guessing not.”
“Not having to listen to those two go at it? No, I’ll be good.”
“You can hear them?”
“Yes, they are so loud. It’s obnoxious.”
“That is hilarious.”
“Says you, the person that doesn’t have to hear, ‘Call me The Legend!’”
She laughed so hard she almost spat out her water. “No! You’re lying.”
“Ask Brie. It’s pathetic. His ego is beyond words.”
“He’s your best friend.”
“I know. I love the fucker.” They shared a small laugh as he leaned on his elbows, taking a swig of his water. This was them. They were easy, which was why he would be perfect for this. “So, what’s up with you?”
She swallowed hard, not ready to ask. “Like I said, boring as hell over here.”
He scoffed as their food was brought out. “That was quick.”
“Yeah, y’all came in at the perfect time. It’s the start of my shift,” the waitress said with another flirty smile.
“Awesome, perks to being late,” Wren said, and Jensen laughed a little as he reached for his fork.
“I was actually watching Game of Thrones and lost track of time. Which is totally unlike me.”
She groaned loudly. “Jenny! Come on! We were the last to get on the GOT train.”
“I know, fucking Vaughn and Brie.”
“Assholes.”
“I hate them.”
“All of them.”
They shared a comfortable smile before digging in. The food was perfection as always and hit all the right spots. Kiddo was a happy camper, which meant so was Wren. When Jensen pointed his knife to her, she looked up, surprised. “Am I in trouble?”
He laughed. “No, but Wells said you might miss our Cup day back home.”
“Between him and my mom, I’m going to scream. Everything is so up in the air.”
“But it’s his wedding and our Cup day, you have to be there.”
She exhaled loudly. “I know.”
“So you will.”
“I probably will. I gotta figure some things out.”
“Like what?”
She swallowed hard before running her tongue along her teeth, cleaning out a piece of kale.
That was hot.
Looking up at him, she felt her heart in her throat as her mouth went dry. Man, he was pretty, but besides that, things were good between them. It wasn’t like with Vaughn. He was an idiot, but he was her idiot, and he wouldn’t care one way or another when it ended. She would for sure never fall for the guy, but it was way different with Jensen. He had a soft soul. A sweet heart. He was a good guy, and she could fall. But she sure as hell didn’t want to burden him with something that would hurt him in the end.
But it was either ask him or hire a gigolo.
Damn Vaughn.
“Um, stuff.”
He laughed. “Wren, it’s me. Come on.”
“Actually, that’s why I asked you here.”
He drew his brows in. “Oh, so not because I’m awesome company? I’m starting to think I suck.”
He laughed and she smiled. “You’re amazing company, you are, but I need to talk to you about something. Or better yet, ask you for basically the hugest favor ever.”
He looked a little defeated in a way, but it was gone before he shrugged. “Shoot.”
She bit her lips as she nervously played with her hands. How was she going to say this?
“Wren, stop fiddling with your hands, and talk to me. You’re making me uneasy.”
She laughed anxiously. “Well, Jensen…”
“Yeah, Wren?”
She looked up, meeting his sweet gaze, and then in a burst of word vomit, she said, “See, the thing is, I kind of need you to marry me and act like the father of the kid I’m pregnant with so I can get my inheritance. And I swear, you’ll be off the hook in like four months. I just gotta have the kid, and then you can run. I’ll pay you, and we can act like it never happened. You don’t have to even kiss me, maybe like a smooch on the cheek here and there so my mom and dad think we’re in love. And I’ll take all the blame when we end it. I’ll say I cheated like a dumb whore or something, and they’ll believe it. The thing is, you have to lie, and I know that really isn’t your style, but yeah, please?”
When his jaw dropped, she snapped her mouth shut as his eyes bored into hers.
Well, that was one way of asking him.
* * *
“I’m sorry, what?”
Jensen’s heart stopped. He was pretty sure somewhere in the rambling mess his best friend’s sister had just muttered, she’d said she was pregnant. But maybe he’d heard her wrong. Because Wren, pregnant?
What?
No.
“Which part didn’t you get?” she asked slowly, and when her eyes started to cloud with tears, he was out of his seat instantly, coming to her side. Bending down to his knees, he looked up at her. Thank God the place was clearing out. “No, you can stay in your seat,” she tried, but he ignored her, taking her hands in his.
“From the beginning. Not the rambling. Tell me what’s going on.”
Her bottom lip trembled as she looked down at the table. “I’m pregnant.”
It was as if he had been slammed in the chest. With the biggest hammer. Like, a Thor hammer. Yeah, that was big enough to cause the devastating ache that burned in his chest. Biting his lip, he nodded his head. “Okay. How far along?”
Her face scrunched up as she swallowed hard. “Six months.”
His jaw dropped for the second time in the past five minutes. “Six months.”
“Yeah.” She tried to look at him, but it was only for a second before she looked away. “I know, it’s bad.”
“By whom?”
“It doesn’t matter. He’s scum.”
“Okay, no one knows, I assume.”
“No one,” she said, swallowing hard. “Well, Brie and Vaughn. But Brie just found out like last night.”
He blinked, looking down at where he was holding her hands. They were so small in his own hands, but what killed him was he hadn’t even noticed. He’d seen this girl plenty of times recently, and he’d never noticed she was with child. How? How did that happen? And why was she hiding it? “Jenny, can you go to your seat? People are staring, and all I want to do is hug you, which would probably make me cry because I’m an emotional mess.”
Ignoring her wish, he stood, pulling her out of her chair and into his arms. She went more willingly than he expected before she wrapped her arms around his ribs, her head digging into his chest. Leaning his chin on top of her head, he closed his eyes as he held her tight. He wasn’t sure how this had happened—well, he knew how it happened—but it wasn’t like Wren. Of course, she fooled around, everyone knew that. But she wasn’t the type to get pregnant. He was pretty sure when they had all talked about one day having kids, she had been the one who said she didn’t want any.
So he was a little confused and a lot pissed at whoever the douche was who’d knocked her up. Where was he? Why wasn’t he with her, being the father, or hell, her husband. Because if Jensen had knocked her up, he’d be right there, right beside her.
But that would never happen, he guessed.
Pulling away, she looked up at him with those beautiful green eyes and smiled. “I’m okay.”
“You sure? I’ve got all the time in the world.”
She smiled before patting his chest. “You don’t know how much I needed just that. Really. Sit down.”
He squeezed her biceps before going back to his chair, sitting down and running his hands down his face before looking over at her. “So, where is the guy?”
She shook her head curtly, her eyes blazing with fire. “He isn’t involved.”
“Why?”
“He didn’t want it. Told me to get an abortion.”
His veins caught on fire. “Excuse me?”
“Exactly. He’s a fucker, so fuck him.”
“Who is it? Do I know him?”
“No.”
“Well, let me know him, so I can kill him.”
“No. I don’t want to bring him up. He isn’t a part of my kid’s life, he is dead to me and my child. In my eyes, my child doesn’t have a father.”
His blood was boiling. “That’s not right, Wren. He needs to own up to his fucking responsibilities.”
“No, he’s a douche. Fuck him, I’m fine without him. Well, not really, because obviously, I’m here asking you to marry me and act like the father.”
He didn’t like that, not one bit, but before he could tell her that, her last sentence hit him full force, and he muttered, “Oh, so you did say that.”
She nodded sullenly. “Yes, and I know it’s a lot to ask. We’ll have to lie to everyone, tell them that we had a one-night stand back in like December. That we both decided it was just a silly night, thought nothing of it, but then I popped up pregnant and didn’t tell you until now.”
Again with the Thor hammer in his chest. Gasping, he took in a needed breath. “You’ve thought this out.”
“Yeah, well, I had this plan with Vaughn, but he was in love with Brie, and it didn’t work out.”
He glanced up at her, his eyes narrowing a bit. “You asked Vaughn?”
He loved his best friend. He did, but man, why would she ask him first?
She must not have noticed the annoyance in his eyes because she waved him off. “Yeah, he would be easy, and everyone would believe that he slept with me. It’s Vaughn. Plus, he would lie and have no cares in the world about doing it, you know? But you’re a good dude, and you love my parents. I know it will be hard for you to lie to them, and it’s unlike you to sleep with people without wanting something more.”
Oh. Well, that made sense. She was right, it would be something Vaughn would do. “Yeah, I mean, it makes sense. But will they believe that we did this?”
She chewed on her lip as she shrugged. “I think if we sell it, yeah, which is why I have no issue paying you for your time and your effort. I think five million would be good, right? Is that okay?”
He shook his head. “I don’t want your money, Wren.” Looking down at the table, he inhaled. “So it’s because of your inheritance, right? That you need me to do this?”
“I have to be married if I’m pregnant. The baby is due in September, and I turn thirty in October. There is no way I can hide this. I mean, I’m huge.”
He looked over at her. “No, you’re not.”
She smiled sheepishly before standing up and pulling her shirt back against her stomach so it clung to her extended abdomen. That fucking hammer hit him again as he drank her in. There were moments when they were younger when Jensen thought about putting his own child in her. Watching her belly grow, but he never got that.
And he never would.
“I am,” she laughed, letting her shirt go before she sat down, brushing her long, dark hair off her shoulders. “And because of that, I need to be married.”
Still breathless, he nodded. “But won’t Winston and Elaine be pissed you got married without them knowing?”
She nodded. “They’re gonna be pissed about a lot of things, but at least I’ll be married and to the ‘father’ of my child.”
Looking down once more, he tried to collect his thoughts, but it wasn’t fucking working. This was too much all at once, and he almost couldn’t believe it was happening. “Wells will kill me.”
“I won’t let that happen.” He looked up to meet her gaze, and she shrugged. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and I’m sorry, really I am. But Vaughn told me I can’t hire a male escort, and I’d rather it be someone who knows my family, knows me, because it will be easier. I’m comfortable with you, and we can act like we’re desperately in love.”
He wouldn’t have to act.
But he didn’t miss that she felt she would. Swallowing hard, he held her gaze as he asked, “And we’ll end it once the baby comes?” When she went to answer, he held up his hand to stop her. “Do you know what it is?”
She nodded, a little grin pulling at her lips. “A boy.”
He closed his eyes, looking down as he drew in a breath, his heart aching in his chest.
Yeah, this was way too fucking much to take.
“But to answer your question, yes, maybe we’ll end it like a week or two after. I don’t know. We can discuss the timeline in more depth later. But don’t worry, we wouldn’t have to live together unless, for some reason, my family decides to pop in. We can pick a place, maybe put some things in one of our apartments to make it look like we live together there. And I’ll take all the blame, I’ll ruin us, but I just want to make sure that no matter what we stay friends because I’ll basically owe you everything. It’s mainly when we go home to Colorado that we have to look like we are truly in love, and then when the baby comes, ’cause I’m sure my mom will be here, and wow, I’m rambling again.” He swallowed hard once more as he nodded, taking in everything she was saying. “No one will hate you, though. I’ll take all the blame. I just need you to marry me and be my kid’s father for five months, tops.”
“Will we really get married?”
“Yeah, ’cause I have a feeling my dad will check.”
“And we’ll get divorced?”
When he looked up, her eyes were wide. “Maybe not divorced but annulled. I think we’ll be in the right time frame. You wouldn’t have to be divorced twice. I thought about that. I know you don’t want that.”
Looking away, he wrung his fingers together and thought about it for a moment. He had loved Wren almost his whole life. He had seen himself with her more times than he could count. This was his chance. He would be hers, and she would be his, but it would be a sham. All a fake love kind of thing. He would do anything for her. Anything. But could he do this to himself? It was essentially setting himself up for heartache and pain. Because watching her leave would be his downfall, and he wouldn’t be able to stay friends with her. Even if she claimed it would only be a week or two of them being “in love” as she kept saying.
It would break him.
More so than when Ophelia left him.
Looking up, he ran his hands along his face and took in a deep breath before meeting her gaze. “When do you need to know?”
Her mouth parted. “What?”
“When do you need an answer?”
Her eyes widened as she shrugged. “As soon as possible since the wedding is in a month.”
He nodded before getting up and pulling his wallet out. Throwing a hundred on the table, he went to her, kissing her cheek. Lingering longer than he should, he whispered, “I’ll be in touch.”
Pulling away, he turned and headed out because if he didn’t, he’d say yes to her terms.
He’d be damned if he was going to set himself up for failure.
He’d done it once.
And he wouldn’t do it a second time.