14. Lennon
LENNON
I don’t run away from my problems.
I like to sit on my sofa, play on my phone, and ignore them. Like an adult.
Wait... where’s the couch?
—Lennon’s Secret Thoughts
I sit quietly in the back seat of a familiar dark Escalade. This time, Rome drives us back to Maddox’s house. I’ve been promised Rome and Lucky do not live with Maddox, no matter what Rome says. Threats have been made about keys being given back, and if my head wasn’t splitting with only Tylenol given to me as a pain reliever, maybe I’d think it was funny. For now, it’s just loud. Far too loud.
We pull into what appears to be a private neighborhood with beautiful homes, all on what seems to be a few acres each. The SUV slows and turns down a gated circular driveway, stopping to input a code before the gates swing open, and we follow the curve until a stunning white stone home comes into view. He did it . He built the house he used to doodle on every small scrap of paper he could get his hands on. This man is making all those dreams we used to talk about come true, while I’m what ? Letting everyone else control my life?
Rome pulls up in front of the house and turns off the car. “You need any help?”
I’m not sure who he’s asking until Maddox shakes his head. “I’m good, man. Just try to run interference with Mom and Dad for me, if you can.”
Maddox gets out and opens my door while Maria rounds the car, seemingly annoyed. “I’d like to say, again, that I don’t like this.”
“Me either Robo-Barbie,” Rome agrees, and I can’t help but wonder if he realizes just how close he is to being taken down... “I’m the one who crashes in the guesthouse,” he grumbles.
She ignores him and turns to Maddox and me. “I don’t think I should be that far away, princess.”
“She’ll be safe,” Maddox assures her, but she doesn’t even acknowledge he’s spoken.
“I was in the room next to yours this morning, and it was too far, Lennon.”
“I know, but no one knows I’m here, and Maddox isn’t letting anyone in his home,” I assure her. Apparently, this ridiculous man has only gotten as far as furnishing one bedroom and the pool house. But I’m told that was more Rome throwing a bed in there than Maddox doing anything, according to Rome. “I’ll be fine. I’m just going to bed.” I look over my shoulder at Maddox, who’s speaking in hushed tones with his brother, then add, “Alone. I’ll be fine. Get some rest and we’ll figure out my plan tomorrow. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think you’re going to have to go back to Mornea.”
“I’m not leaving.” She grabs her bag from the back seat. “I’ll stay in the guest house tonight if you keep your panic button on you.”
I hold up the fob and smile. “I’ll sleep with it next to the bed.”
“Better hope Meatball doesn’t eat it,” Rome adds, and Maddox grumbles something I can’t quite hear. “Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow. Text if you need anything.”
Rome slides behind the wheel of a sleek sports car parked in front of the garage, and Maddox taps the top of the car like a police officer on a television show right before Rome pulls away, then he lifts both my bags and waits for me.
“Good night, Maria,” I tell her and gingerly walk to the gorgeously ornate black-iron door and stare. It looks just like his old sketches. The ones he doodled on the back of every placemat and spare paper that landed in front of him back in the day. . . Back when we were friends and life was so much more simple.
He lays his palm against a sensor, then punches in a code before the door opens. “Ladies first.”
“Oh, aren’t you just so chivalrous?” I tease lightly, too tired for anything else.
I guess spending a day in the hospital will do that to a girl.
Tomorrow I’ll go back to being mad at him... maybe.
Better yet, maybe today, I’ll try to figure out how to move past the anger and find that friendship again.
That one is going to take a while, but considering I’m pregnant with his child and marrying him, it’s probably a good start.
He steps in and locks the door behind us as I take it all in. The high, arching ceilings. The floor-to-ceiling windows. The hand-scraped hardwood floors. “You really did it,” I murmur. “It’s gorgeous, Maddox. Truly. You should be so proud of yourself.”
“How do you even know it’s my design?” he questions as he moves in front of me and motions for me to follow, leading me through a bare house with very little furniture and up a gorgeous winding staircase.
“Because this is you. All you. It’s every sketch you ever showed me,” I tell him, revealing a bit more than I intended to.
“I’m surprised you remembered.” His words are short and curt, and I guess in some ways, I don’t blame him. In others, I most certainly do.
“I remember everything.” I follow him down a long hall into the master bedroom and stand back as he places both bags on a massive bed. “I really can sleep on the couch, you know. I’m a lot smaller than you. It would be fine.”
I don’t tell him I’ve spent plenty of nights on the couch in my flat.
Nights it was easier to fall asleep watching TV than trying to go to bed, alone, with nothing but my thoughts running rampant.
“I’ll be fine, Lennon. You take the bed. We’ll work on furniture for one of the other rooms soon.”
I narrow my gaze and cross my arms. “Why don’t you have furniture?”
He shrugs. “I just moved in last month. I guess I haven’t gotten around to it. Why? Are you still obsessed with decorating things?”
Little shit.
“I wouldn’t say obsessed. But I do enjoy it. Both my brothers let me do their places. And Rhys let me do his office too.” I always thought once I was done with ballet, maybe I’d dabble in interior design. Not that I ever told anyone that. Princesses aren’t expected to work. We’re expected to look pretty and serve the crown.
“Want to help me decorate the house?” he offers. “If you’re going to live here, you might as well like it.”
Well, that’s a ringing endorsement, if ever I’ve heard one. But still... “I mean, you do need furniture and at least one more bedroom set, so you don’t have to sleep on the couch.”
He tilts his head, and I put my hand up. “Not a chance, Beneventi. This is a marriage in name only. We’re doing this so I can get out of marrying Monty. I’ll stay here long enough to give birth and make sure you’re listed on the birth certificate. We can figure out everything else after that. But I can guarantee you that will not involve you and me sleeping in the same bed.”
Meatball picks then to trot in and sit at my feet.
“Fucking traitor,” Maddox grumbles. “Fine. But that dog is going to try to get in bed with you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Him, I’ll take.” I lean down and scratch behind the chubby bulldog’s ears.
I’m fairly certain I hear him mumble, “Lucky bastard” under his breath.
“Do you need anything?”
“Just a shower and some sleep,” I assure him, needing space and clarity and a few minutes to have the proper fucking breakdown I deserve but couldn’t have while everyone has been watching. “Can we figure everything else out tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I’ll call my aunts and see if they can stop by tomorrow. They run a wedding planning event company. If anyone can give us a wedding fit for a princess in just a few weeks, it’s them.” He turns and heads for the door.
“Thank you,” I say softly as he walks through it.
So softly, I’m positive he can’t hear me.
At least not until he stops without turning around.
“I would have done anything to make sure you didn’t marry him. Even before today.”
And with that, he walks through the door, and I’m left standing, frozen in place, wondering not for the first time in the past week exactly when my life went sideways.
* * *
Atticus
Rumor around court is Monty wants to move up the wedding. He told Charlotte Cavendish he just couldn’t wait to marry you any longer.
Lennon
Charlotte Cavendish is a cow who’d probably just finished polishing his knob.
Atticus
She is good at that.
Lennon
ATTICUS.
Atticus
Don’t go all prude on me, preggo.
Lennon
Do you ever think before you speak?
Atticus
Where’s the fun in that?
I contemplate the best way to answer my brother.
If it’s nearing eight p.m. here, it’s almost one a.m. back home, and I’m guessing he’s enjoyed more than one whiskey tonight.
I think about FaceTiming, but if I do that, he’ll see my face, and that’s not an option. Not until I figure out how I’m handling all this. And I haven’t figured that out yet.
Telling Atticus anything just puts him in the uncomfortable position of having to lie for me. Not that he wouldn’t willingly do it. I’m certain both my brothers would. But that doesn’t mean I want them to.
Lennon
He can try to move the wedding up if he wants to, but I’ve got other plans. Ones I can’t talk about just yet, but I promise I’ll tell you everything just as soon as I figure it all out.
Atticus
WTF Lennon? You can’t say something like that, then leave me hanging.
My phone rings with an incoming FaceTime, which I decline.
Lennon
I’m already in my pajamas and in bed. No FaceTiming tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Atticus
Do you know me at all? You might as well have teased a socialite with a bottle of Dom. I need my hit, Lennon. Don’t leave me hanging.
Lennon
Love you. Talk tomorrow.
Atticus
LENNON!
Lennon
Shutting my phone off.
Atticus
Don’t make me get Rhys.
Lennon
Really? You’re going to threaten me with Rhys?
Atticus
Did it work?
Lennon
Goodnight, Atticus.