CHAPTER 5 BEN
Ellie: Are you both free to swing by sometime today before the flight? We need a strategy session and I have some news I need to deliver in person.
That’s the text awaiting me on a Monday morning.
Ellie booked herself, Luke, and Nolan on the same flight to Montana tonight that Kaylee and I are taking, and Jack, Kate, and JJ will join us after they return from a week at Jack’s place in San Diego.
Kaylee is warm in my arms, and her warmth somehow thaws the icy cold grip that’s been squeezing my heart since Tatum lied to the press and Kitty came out with her accusations.
Somehow Kaylee makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.
She believes me, and while I hate what these two women are doing to my reputation, somehow all that matters is Kaylee’s opinion of me.
She still wants to be with me.
After everything that’s going on…she’s standing by my side. And the way she fucked me last night after we spent the majority of Jack and Kate’s reception missing opportunities to be alone tells me she’s in this with me.
Hell, she wants to marry me.
The thought doesn’t scare me like it used to, and I think it’s because I’m finally with the right person.
I don’t want to face the real world. I want to stay here under the covers all day.
We had a great weekend with her family who has become my family, too, and we showed a united front the entire time—not because we were purposely trying to, but because we are united.
And nothing proved that more than last night when I was moving inside her in the bed we share after we had a great time at her brother’s wedding.
The guests at the party were her family and my dad along with close friends who are like family…
and nobody there was judging our every move.
We just got to have some fun with the people we love, and it was the little looks across the room we shared that told me she was feeling the same things I was. The same things I do feel.
I think it’s time to tell her family the truth.
She shifts in my arms, and her eyes flutter open. They seem bluer than normal in the morning light, and her dark hair just sets them off more brightly. “Good morning,” she rasps.
“Morning,” I say, my voice hoarse, too.
She sits up and stretches with a yawn, her tits perky beneath the white t-shirt she slept in. My mouth waters.
But I also know it’s time to face whatever Ellie wants to strategize about. She wouldn’t send a text like that unless it was urgent.
“Ellie needs to see us,” I say. “She said we need a strategy session.”
“I need to go over there anyway,” she says lazily. “I have some work stuff to chat about with her, so let me just shower and we can go.”
I grab her and tackle her into my arms, and she falls into a fit of giggles as I pin her underneath me. “I think we have a few minutes to spare if you’re interested.”
She pushes her hips up toward mine, and that’s her answer. That’s the only answer I need.
An hour later—okay, fine, an hour and a half later since I took my time with her this morning—we’re on our way to Luke and Ellie’s with relaxed smiles on both our faces.
“What do you think she wants to strategize about?” she asks.
“Probably the whole Kitty thing,” I say with a shrug.
It never came up this weekend. The focus was on Jack and Kate and the wedding, but I held it all in the back of my mind. And now that a new week is upon us and we’re heading back out of town, it’s smart to do that with some sort of plan in place.
Once we’re sitting across from Ellie, who is nervously fidgeting as she looks between the two of us, I have a feeling this conversation isn’t just about strategizing.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Ellie draws in a deep breath. “I have some bad news. I’m just going to get it out there and then we can talk about how we’re going to move forward, okay?”
I try to hide the alarm I’m feeling at her words. “Drop it on us.”
“CC Athletic Equipment and Fahrenheit Energy Drinks have both pulled their contracts, citing the clause about negative media attention from the harassment claims,” she says, looking at me.
Fuck. She turns to Kaylee. “And I also had an email this morning that SheFit has dropped you for deciding to stand with your man.”
“That’s straight bullshit,” I say. I glance over at Kaylee, who snags her bottom lip between her teeth, and I wish I could tell what she’s thinking.
“I’m so sorry to have to tell you this.” Ellie seems calmer now that the words have tumbled out of her mouth. “We need to strategize what to do to mitigate further sponsors pulling. Have you heard from Calvin yet on the Eric Scott situation? Did he get him to talk?”
“I haven’t heard,” I say. “But it was the weekend, and some guys fall off the grid during the off-season.”
“Interesting that he didn’t show up to the wedding but he was at the bachelor party,” Ellie muses.
“From what I understand, he wasn’t invited to the wedding,” I say. “He wasn’t invited to the bachelor party, either, but he got wind of it and tagged along with Cory.”
“Huh,” Ellie grunts, steepling her fingers in front of her chin.
“Okay, well it’s Monday, so give Cal a ring and find out what you can.
Jack’s a little preoccupied, but if anyone can get Eric to answer his phone, it’s probably him.
I’ll see what I can do there.” She sighs.
“Lying to the press is one thing, but attacking your livelihood with the kinds of accusations she’s tossing around is a whole different ballgame and it’s not okay.
My advice is to lie low in Montana while you can.
Head down, focus on the game and your impending nuptials.
We’re locked in on July second in Montana, right? ”
Kaylee nods. “And I heard from your girl Molly. I think she’s going to be the perfect planner for us. She’s already got things rolling, and since I found the dress when we did that fake photo shoot, one of the biggest obstacles is already taken care of.”
“You found the dress?” Ellie says, brows dipping. “How did I not know this?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, it’s the dress. I wanted to save it for when I was getting married for real…” Her eyes dart toward me, and I think she’s giving me a look like she wants to be honest with Ellie. I nod to encourage her to just do it. Rip the bandage off. We can deal with the rest later.
But she doesn’t.
“But I decided it’ll be fine to wear it to this wedding.” She looks away from me and back to Ellie.
“Okay, great then,” Ellie says, all business. “Have you figured out the wedding party and all that?”
“I was thinking we’d keep it simple,” Kaylee says.
“Just Ben and me standing up, the guests—which by my calculations will be all family anyway—will be our witnesses. We’ll do it on Ben’s property so we don’t have to rent a place, and we’ll keep the guest list very small.
Did you talk to your contact at People for the exclusives? ”
She nods. “They are very interested. We’re working on the details and I should have something drawn up in a few days.”
“Aren’t they concerned about the allegations?” I ask.
“Of course they are, but your name in the news just means the images will be worth more money. I haven’t seen it have any sort of effect on your social media just yet, and the statement Jaxon posted seems to have helped.
If we could just get Eric to admit the truth and get Kitty to pull her claims, we’ll be all set.
Have you considered talking to her at all? ” Ellie asks.
I shake my head. “The thought didn’t even cross my mind. Any communication with her seems like it could be twisted negatively at this point.”
“Smart thinking. But that doesn’t mean your publicist can’t try to get in touch. Or your fiancée…”
Kaylee’s brows dip. “You think I should talk to her?”
Ellie shrugs. “Can’t hurt.” She glances at the smart watch on her wrist. “It’s almost lunch time. I bet the club is open. Want some beer and hot wings for lunch?”
Kaylee wrinkles her nose. “No. But if you come with me, I’ll go confront this bitch.”
Ellie stands. “Let’s go.”
“I think this is a terrible idea,” I say, standing as well.
“Good thing you’re not in charge, then,” Ellie says with a smile. “Come on, Kaylee. Let’s go look at some boobies.”
“Sounds like a country song,” I say, and the women laugh as they walk out the door toward the strip club.
I’m not sure whether I should be totally turned on or scared out of my mind.