57. Wren
57
WREN
…a few weeks later
“Evie,” I cry when she walks over to me. “This is amazing, thank you so much.” Evie has thrown Stefan and I a belated wedding reception, and it’s more than I could have hoped for.
“It’s the least I could do. I mean, you saved my ass years ago, and I know this isn’t the same thing but it makes me feel better.”
Recently, things haven’t been easy for her but she’s paved out a fantastic life for herself. Yes, it’s been marred with tragedy but she’s finally found happiness with Miller and their son, Tyler.
“Please. I did not save your bacon.”
“Umm, hello, you supplied the Skittles and coffee. Without those two key ingredients, I would not have survived USC.”
“Whatever,” I singsong like Cher from Clueless . “But seriously, Eve, this is more than Stefan and I could have hoped for, so thank you.”
“Anytime, babe, now go, enjoy yourself. We can catch up properly later.”
Pulling her in for a hug, I hold on extra tight. It’s been rough for her in recent weeks, but it’s nice to see her smiling again … and it’s all to do with Miller Wentworth and a little matchmaker named Tyler.
Standing here, I watch her head back to Miller and Tyler. My already big smile increases when Miller lights up when he sees her walking toward them. He tugs her into his embrace and it’s magical watching the two of them together. I’m so, so happy for them.
“Drink?” my brother asks, pointing at the empty glass in my hand. Nodding, he links arms with me and guides me over to the bar.
“I still can’t believe my baby sister is married,” my brother states while we wait for our drinks. He pulls me in for a side hug and kisses me on the head. Then, Penn being Penn, adds, “Clearly, you had to get the groom drunk to marry your sorry ass.” His tone is teasing and it’s accompanied by a belly laugh, and even though he’s laughing at my expense, I’m happy to see him laughing.
“Hardy har har,” I reply, slapping him upside the head. “Cleary, you had to drug two women to marry your sorry ass,” I throw back at him with a wink.
“Hey, whatever works to get your happily ever after,” he teases. “For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen you happier.”
The smile on my face widens at my brother’s words and he’s right. I have never been happier than I am right now. The fallout of my and Stefan’s surprise wedding and relationship wasn’t anything like I expected. Most people were happy for us. Sure, the bunnies hate me, but that’s the same for all the other wives and girlfriends, or WAGs as we’re affectionally referred to as. It’s so weird to refer to myself as a WAG, but those women know what it’s like and I now have a bigger friend group. And Stefan’s ex, Chelsea, has become one of my best friends. She already knew I was Stefan’s mystery bride because right after us, Lexi and JJ were waiting to get hitched. They eloped due to some bet JJ lost with Kallen. Chels and Kallen were attending via FaceTime since she was ready to pop, and with a screen flip, they saw us stumble out of the chapel.
In the aftermath of our Vegas wedding, Chelsea reached out to me. I’d totally forgotten they saw us on account of being drunk. During our conversation, she told me I was good for Stefan and she was happy for us both. From that moment, a friendship was forged. I can’t ever see Kallen and Stefan being as close as us but, thankfully, their grudge has been squashed and they can tolerate one another now.
“For what it’s worth, I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time either. Seems the time is right for both Brookes siblings.”
“Hello, it’s ’cause we’re awesome,” he emphatically states, then his eyes widen. “Do not look at the dance floor.”
So what do I do, I look at the dance floor because when someone tells you not to do something, you always do it. My face scrunches up when I see our parents out there; they’re basically dry humping one another. “Ugh, I could have gone my whole life without seeing that, but is it wrong that at the same time I’m happy to see them enjoying life?”
“You’re fucked in the head, Wren Brookes?—”
“It’s D?uchmen now,” Stefan interrupts, joining us. He slides his hands around my waist and I relax back into him. I love being able to do things like this now. If only my pride hadn’t gotten in the way, we could have been doing this for longer but that aside, we can now do it forever.
“Okay, I’ll rephrase, you’re fucked in the head, Wren D?uchmen.”
“And why is my wife fucked in the head?” Stefan questions.
“For enjoying that.” Penn points to the dance floor. Thankfully, Mom and Dad have moved on from dry humping and are now, I have no idea what they’re doing, but from the look on each of their faces, they are having the time of their lives. They’re happy and in love, just like me.
“They’re happy, so what? And just so you know, that’ll be your sister and me in twenty years’ time.”
Penn begins to fake gag, and I shake my head at my brother’s antics. On reflex, when it comes to my brother, my hand flies out and I slap him in the stomach, causing him to hiss from the force of my actions.
He says he’s going to find Tate and get her to kiss him better. Shaking my head, he wanders off, leaving me with my husband. Spinning around, I drape my arms over his shoulders and gaze lovingly at him.
“You’re a dangerous woman, Wren D?uchmen, but I’m so glad you’re mine. Now, take me to our room. I’m done with peopling.”
With a smile on my face, I nod up at my husband and smack a quick kiss on his lips. Removing my arms from around his neck, I take his hand and lace my fingers with his. Then I lead him toward the exit.
As much as I’ve enjoyed our belated wedding reception, I’m looking forward to some private time with my husband. I’m so glad he convinced me to stay married. Yes, it was reckless drunkenly getting married in Vegas, but it was the push I needed to admit to the world he’s mine. Do I miss sneaking around? Sometimes, but walking into a room with Stefan by my side is indescribable.
“Where are you two sneaking off to?” Mom asks us, just before we make our escape.
“Bed,” Stefan tells her with a waggle of his eyebrows. Like I did to my brother earlier, I smack him in the stomach. Whereas Penn’s abs are pudgy, Stefan’s are rock-hard and my slap does nothing to him.
“Without saying goodbye to everyone?” She looks hurt.
“We didn’t want to make a spectacle,” I tell her, but just as I say this, Dad cups his mouth and calls out. “The happy couple is sneaking away, come say your goodbyes and let them go make me a grandaddy.”
“Daaaaad,” I scoff. “You did not just say that?”
“Yeah, I did.” He beams at me. “Fletcher needs a cousin.”
“Dad, we’ve been married for all of five minutes. At least let us enjoy being married for a bit.”
“Fine,” he relents. “I give you till Christmas.”
“A few months. That’s so generous of you.”
Stefan leans into me. “We can still practice, right?”
“Get me out of here and we can start practicing in the next five minutes.”
His smile widens. His eyes dilate and fill with desire. He turns to our guests and shouts, “Laters everyone.” Before I have a chance to breathe, he throws me over his shoulder, and slaps my ass. Our guests cheer and holler as Stefan marches out of the room and down the corridor toward the elevators.
That night, we practice making babies several times, and in the early hours of the morning, I fall blissfully asleep in my husband’s arms. I’m woken a few hours later with his head between my legs, which I have to say is my new favorite alarm clock.
I’m coming back to Earth when my husband stares up at me from between my thighs. “Puck me, baby, one more time.”
“Did you just Britney me?”
“I guess I did but the offer still stands. Wren, puck me now, baby.”
“I will ffffuck you,” I place emphasis on the “F,” “if you promise never to say puck me, baby, again?”
He chuckles and nods in agreement. “Deal, now jump on and p-fuck me.”
Stefan rolls to his back and fists his dick as I move into place. I throw my leg over and I p-fuck him. I p-fuck the hell out of my husband, and I’m gonna be waddling like a cowgirl when we leave this hotel room, but I’m okay with that. Stefan knows how to p-fuck, and I’m always up for a good p-fucking … especially when it goes into overtime. I’m so pucking screwed—literally—when it comes to Stefan, and I’m not upset by that at all.