Never Been Worse (Evergreen Park #3)

Chapter 8 – Wes

EIGHT

WES

“Married ?” Leo says, his face losing all color. “What do you mean you’re getting married? How are you getting married?”

I smile wider at his stress and panic. Leo hates anything outside of his very carefully crafted plan, and the guys and I very much enjoy stepping outside of it and watching him lose his mind a bit.

“It just kind of happened,” I say with a shrug.

“That kind of thing doesn’t just happen, Holden,” he argues.

“Happened to Riggs and me,” Stella says with a smile, hand on her stomach, speaking of their impulsive Vegas wedding years ago.

“You knew each other for years,” Leo says with a glare.

“And I’ve known Harper for two years,” I argue.

Our publicist sighs deeply, looking at the ceiling and trying to collect himself. I know, because we put Leo into that state pretty often. “You were supposed to go on a charity date to get good press, Wes, not to get fucking engaged! Jesus Christ, the papers are going to be insane.” He must remember something because his eyes become saucers. “Wasn’t she just arrested?”

“So was Ava,” I say.

“Ava isn’t about to have a fucking shotgun wedding to one of my clients, Wes!”

“Leo, it makes sense, and you know it,” I say. “You needed a distraction; I got you one.”

“A distraction could have been dating a high-profile celebrity. It could have been announcing some kind of home goods line or skin care or whatever the fuck you wanted.”

“None of those would have explained the band going on hiatus, and you know it,” I say, leaning back, because no matter what kind of fit Leo throws, I’m not changing my mind.

It’s a genius idea, really, and with the way it fell into my lap, I can’t help but think it was meant to be. I’ve wanted Harper Abbott to be mine since I first saw her in that club two years ago, but she was taken then. Now she’s single, and I’d be an idiot to ignore this opportunity before me.

“But a quickie marriage?” Leo almost whines, exasperated, before sinking into a chair. “Did it have to be a quickie marriage?”

“It would explain why I want to postpone the tour.”

“What’s in it for her?” he asks, looking at me seriously. “She’s going to have to sign a prenup and an ironclad NDA. Her friends, too.”

“She knows that, and she will. It was her idea, actually,” I say, thinking of our night together and how she insisted that would be something we need if we went through with this.

“I want to make sure you’re protected, no matter what happens,” her sweet voice whispered when I walked her to her car.

“And she’s got some issues with her ex, as you know,” I say, trying to gloss over that, reminding him of the arrest. “And his new girlfriend is on a campaign to ruin her reputation. She needs a bit of a boost there.”

Strangely enough, Leo perks up at that.

“Oh, a reputation redemption? I can work with that. I can absolutely work with that angle.” He pulls his laptop closer, suddenly looking excited at the new challenge. “How do you spell her first name?”

“Jesus, Leo,” Riggins says. “You’ve met her at least a dozen times.”

Leo’s face goes stern, glaring at his client. “I don’t have time for names of regular people,” he says, and Beck lets out a loud laugh.

“God, you sound like such an entitled prick,” Beck says.

“I don’t care how I sound. I care that I do my job well,” Leo says, continuing with his research.

I open my mouth to say something but get distracted when my phone buzzes.

Hey, it’s Harper.

I got your number from Ava, who got it from Stella.

I’m not a total creep.

I figured if we’re going to get married, I should probably have your number.

If you still want to do that, of course. If you don’t, that’s totally cool, it was kind of a random suggestion.

I can almost feel her spiraling through the phone, and I have to fight to keep a smile off my lips as Leo maniacally rambles about press opportunities and dates, not wanting to attract the attention of anyone.

Definitely still want to do this. Currently planning it out with Leo now.

Oh. Okay. Well, that’s good. Right? Does he think it’s a good idea?

I hesitate before answering, though I know I’m not giving her the real answer of Leo is currently having a meltdown and thinks this is both a wonderful and terrible idea because I’m not giving Harper a single reason not to go through with this.

He thinks it’s a great idea. Just working on logistics and timing.

Cool, cool, cool. Well, you have my number now if you need anything.

I need a picture.

What?

I need a picture for your contact. Everyone in my phone has one.

It’s another lie to add to my list, but I can’t resist the desire to keep her talking to me.

H: Oh. Okay. Please hold.

Leo is now looking at a calendar, his phone, a laptop screen, and an iPad all at once, comparing things and mumbling under his breath. It seems he’s accepted this is going to happen and now is in full-on planning mode.

Unfortunately, I can’t fight off the goofy smile tugging at my lips when the text comes through, even though the guys are also here and Leo is actively having a breakdown.

“What are you smiling about?” Reed asks, moving to me to look at my phone, which I quickly steal away so he can’t get his greasy fingers on it. Greasy in a literal sense, because he’s actively shoving french fries into his mouth like they’re going to disappear soon.

“He has absolutely nothing to be smiling about, except maybe sending me into an early grave,” Leo throws without looking our way.

“Nothing,” I lie, moving my phone out of reach.

“Oh, that’s how I know you’re lying,” Reed says, moving around me to try and grab my phone again.

“What the fuck, man? Leave me alone,” I say, elbowing him to keep him away from me.

“No, you’re all goo-goo-eyed, and I think it's over your new fiancée , so I want to see what she said.”

“I’m not going goo-goo-eyed ,” I lie, then lean forward to grab one of his fries, which proves to be just the distraction I need.

“Hey! Leave my fries alone!” he yells, moving to his food and hovering over it as if I’m going to steal it all.

“Then stay away from my phone—hey!” I shout, looking at Stella, who is triumphantly smiling and scrolling through my phone now. “Stella, what the fuck?” I stand, moving to her, but she shifts away from me.

“Can’t be mad at the pregnant chick. It’s a rule,” she says with a smile, then winks at Reed.

“She’s right,” her husband agrees with a smile, sitting back and taking in the show.

“Ha, you totally just got owned by a five-foot pregnant chick,” Reed says with a laugh. “What was he smiling at?”

Stella looks at my phone, reading the texts Harper sent, then to me. “It’s Harper texting him,” she says.

“Is she sending nudes?” Reed asks, standing eagerly to go and look. I put my leg out, tripping him so he falls to the ground, then moving on top of him, sitting on his back, and pinning him down.

“What the fuck!?” he shouts as I hold him in place.

“You’re running to look at nudes of my fiancée,” I growl, unexpected irritation and anger running through me.

“Were there actually nudes?” he asks, a thread of mischievousness in the words.

“No, you creep,” Stella says. “She sent a picture of herself for his phone contacts. But if you want to look at naked pictures of other people's fiancées , you deserve to get your face pounded into.”

“I didn’t actually think it was nudes,” Reed grumbles as I get off him.

“Who is sending nudes?” Beck asks, sitting up with interest, suddenly checking back into our conversation. “Aren’t you about to get married, Holden?”

“No one is sending nudes. God, all of you are terrible,” Stella says with an eye roll, handing me back my phone. “Harper sent Wes a photo of herself, fully clothed, and Reed is being a creep about it.”

“I didn’t actually think they were nudes!” Reed shouts, and I fight a laugh. “He was just being all weird and secretive and smiling at his phone like a lovesick puppy, so I wanted to see what it was.”

“Well, it seems like you already got the ball rolling,” Leo says, turning his phone toward us and showing some paparazzi photos of Harper and me at the burger shop.

“Oh my god, you two look so cute!” Stella says, clapping her hands excitedly.

The article’s title reads “Who is Wes Holden’s New Girl?” and is accompanied by a dozen other photos I didn’t notice were taken. Upon scanning the article, I realize it’s mostly speculation and locations, mentioning Harper’s name and Ava’s charity.

“Outlets are excited about this,” Leo says quietly to himself, scrolling on his ever-present phone, and I’m glad he seems more on board now. “We can definitely use this. I see the rumblings from her ex, but we can clean that up quickly.” Leo is scary good at his job, so seamless and effective, he can hide almost any scandal. “We can hold an auction for exclusive rights to the wedding photos and have the proceeds go to charity.” I nod, happy the money will go somewhere good. “Do you think we can swing next weekend?”

My eyes go wide with the nearness, though I knew a quickie wedding would be close.

“You need a real wedding, ceremony, reception, and everything, so it doesn’t seem like a stunt.”

“I mean…if we have enough time to make it happen, I’m fine with next weekend,” I say with a shrug that is much more casual than I feel. I’m playing it cool, like this is all just some fun game or another spur-of-the-moment decision I’ve made, but I’m excited for this, to tie Harper to me for a while. She’s always so closed off, that I can’t wait to see what happens when I get past that.

“We all agree this is crazy, right?” Beckett, the most reasonable of all of us, asks.

“In this line of work?” Leo shakes his head but then pauses, staring straight at me. “But you have to keep it in your pants the whole time, Wes, however long we agree to.”

I roll my eyes. “No shit.”

For what might be the first time ever, Leo sets his phone aside and leans in, his full attention narrowing on me. Everyone takes note of this once-in-a-lifetime experience as Leo stares at me intently, like he’s a parent who knows his kid is about to embarrass the fuck out of him.

“I’m serious. I’ll be putting an infidelity clause in the contract both of you will sign, and it will be a huge issue if you break it.”

What Leo doesn’t understand is that I don’t want to hook up with anyone. I want the woman who took my breath away when I met her two years ago, the one who has been endlessly playing through my mind ever since. It’s why I suggested this and pushed for it. I saw an opening, and, as unconventional as it may be, I jumped on it. Being able to help her repair the reputation that asshat has given her and having a chance to divert attention from Stella and Riggs is just a bonus at this point.

“Personally, I think it’s cool!” Reed says, and Beck rolls his eyes. “Wes’s having a shotgun wedding just like Stella and Riggs. Maybe we can make it a thing. An Atlas Oaks tradition. Who do you think will be next, big guy? Me or you?” Beck glares at Reed, but he just smiles wider.

“I’m not having a fucking shotgun wedding,” Beck says, and then they all start arguing about who is going to be married next, but I’m busy staring at the photo Harper sent me—the photo my fiancée sent me—to care much.