Chapter 9

9

SUTTON

I hoped the Calloways would be okay with Wes helping me, but I knew they were worried about him being collateral damage in this situation. “I understand your concern. But I don’t want to hurt Wes.”

Al inclined his head. “That might not be your intention, but it could still happen.”

“I give you my word that I won’t let Wes get hurt. If it comes to that, I’ll walk away.”

Al raised a brow. “You’ll walk away from your family’s legacy?”

“I won’t let my family hurt Wes.” I might let my family push me around, but I wouldn’t let them do anything to Wes. He was too good. He was everything they weren’t.

“I don’t think marrying someone you don’t love is the answer,” Al said.

“A wedding is legally binding,” Teddy added.

“When I brought this up at Fiona’s wedding, everyone seemed on board with the idea. What’s changed?” Wes asked .

Teddy shook his head. “That was a hypothetical. This is real.”

Wes’s expression was guarded. “This is our decision, and we’re asking that you accept it. We can handle the fall out.”

Holiday music played in the background, a stark contrast to everyone’s mood.

“Let’s enjoy the day. It’s not every Christmas that Ryder and Faith are with us,” Al said lightly.

Conversation started up again around us.

“Are you okay?” I asked Wes.

He put an arm around me and pulled me into his side. “I will be.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to cause trouble with your family. Maybe we should call this whole thing off.”

Wes’s expression was grim. “I want to help you.”

“But not if your family’s upset with you,” I insisted.

“They’re just worried about me. They’ll get over it.”

“I don’t want them to be mad at me either. They’re the family I never had.”

Wes’s grip tightened around me. “And they’re still that. You don’t have to worry about losing me or them.”

The thing was, I was worried this was going to blow up in our faces and we’d lose everything. The last thing I wanted to do was lose Wes or his family. They were everything to me.

Wes dipped his head. “I promise; it’s going to be fine.”

I held onto his words, hoping they were true. That we would be fine. That I’d get everything I wanted out of the arrangement and not destroy our friendship in the process. It was a tall order and, at the moment, seemed like a pipe dream. But I had to try.

I couldn’t give up on my family’s legacy or my dreams. I wanted something good to come from my childhood, and right now, it was the house. I wanted others to enjoy it like I had.

The guys eventually went outside to play football. It was a tradition whenever the brothers were together, and the women watched from the porch. This time, Izzy and Faith wanted to play too.

It was heartwarming to watch these big guys go all soft around their daughters, step-daughters, or nieces. They played catch with them first, then walked them through the different plays. Faith paid a little more attention than Izzy, who was part cheerleader, part football player.

I sat on the rocking chair next to Fiona and Daphne with our hot cocoa. Daphne rocked her sleeping baby boy, Colson, who was bundled up in a puffy sleeping-bag-looking thing. The afternoon was so different than the stuffy brunch we’d shared with my family this morning. There was concern about our fake wedding, but it was from a loving place. There wasn’t any talk about tradition or protocols. They didn’t want Wes to get hurt in all of this, and I wanted the same.

“So tell us more about this fake engagement. Are you going to get married?” Fiona asked.

My nerves kicked up at her question. “We have to in order for me to inherit the estate.”

“What does Wes get out of all of this?” Daphne asked.

“Initially, we decided to give whoever I chose a stipend at the end of the marriage.” My husband would get a cash payment as part of the divorce settlement. Essentially, we’d sign a prenup.

Fiona frowned. “Is that what Wes wants?”

“I don’t think he’ll go for it.” I had a feeling he’d be insulted by the idea. It’s why I hadn’t brought it up yet.

“Will you live as husband and wife?” Daphne asked .

“We need it to be convincing, so we’re moving in together this week while we’re planning the wedding. Our story is that we finally revealed our feelings for each other and don’t want to wait.”

“You read about things like this, but I’ve never heard of it happening in real life,” Fiona said.

Daphne nodded. “It’s like something out of a romance novel.”

“At the end of those stories, the family is upset that everyone lied to them.”

“My family’s not like that. They need me to get married to get a bigger inheritance. Otherwise, almost everything goes to charity.”

“Your parents need you to get married in order to inherit too?” Fiona asked.

I nodded, remembering the uncomfortable conversation with Grandma at the family dinner. “That’s how I understand it.”

Fiona’s face screwed up. “No offense, but that’s messed up.”

“Your family is so different than mine. I can’t imagine anyone in my family playing football.” Holidays were formal affairs where everyone dressed up and pretended to be on their best behavior while issuing snide remarks about other members’ life choices.

“I guess you’re going to be one of us soon,” Fiona said.

“You might as well get used to it,” Daphne added as we watched the game on the back lawn.

I’d always thought the Calloway family was so full of love. You could feel it even when they didn’t say it. It was warm and cozy, and I wanted to stay immersed in it forever. Maybe this time, I could. If only Wes would see me as more than his best friend .

My hands shook as I held onto the mug of cocoa. What if I fell in love with Wes, but he didn’t love me back? What if I was the one who was going to get hurt in all of this? I had the most to lose. I’d gain the Calloways for a few months, then would have to walk away. And if I wasn’t careful, I could ruin our friendship.

I couldn’t lose Wes or his family. I’d have to tread carefully. I couldn’t tell him how I really felt.

Jameson threw the football to Claire’s son, Owen, and when Izzy grabbed his leg, he pretended she was holding him back and dramatically fell to the ground.

“You got me,” Owen proclaimed.

Wes stood over them with his hands on his hips. “This is flag football. Not tackle.”

Izzy giggled as Cole lifted her into the air. “That’s my girl.”

When she recovered, she grinned impishly at Wes. “Don’t be a spoilsport.”

“I’m not a spoilsport,” Wes grumbled, but everyone could tell he was enjoying the banter.

I found it so sweet and heartwarming. I knew my heart was going to melt by the end of the evening. When the game resumed, I said, “You’re so lucky to have grown up with this.”

Fiona and Daphne exchanged a look. “It’s not always like this. We had our fights and hard times.”

I knew they were talking about their mother dying. Wes leaned on me during her illness. He needed a break from the sickness. Everyone was worried, and Wes felt guilty for wanting to escape it. He’d always been someone who cared deeply for his family.

The day we met, I had been new to the school, having convinced my parents to let me try to go to public school, and the kids had been brutal, calling me a spoiled rich girl. I wasn’t sure I’d make any friends, so I hid under the shade of a slide.

When Wes crawled underneath, he’d held his hand out to me. “I’m Weston.”

I shook his hand. “Sutton.”

He frowned. “If we’re going to be friends I’m going to have to shorten my name to Wes.”

I’d smiled. “That sounds better than Sut.”

He shook his head. “That’s just awful.”

I couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped. I was so relieved that he’d gone out of his way to make me feel better, I didn’t ask why he’d done it. Was there something about me that had drawn him in? But I didn’t want to know if he felt sorry for me.

When we reached middle school, my parents insisted I transfer back to a private school. But our friendship remained. We kept in touch through texts. When Wes had gotten his driver’s license, we had been able to see each other more often, usually at his farm.

This time, Faith went for the pass, and Teddy threw it directly into her hands. She dove for the end zone which was between two trees in the yard and immediately jumped up and cheered. Her dad, Ryder, fist-bumped her.

“I don’t think I’ve seen Ryder smile since he’s been home,” Fiona said.

Daphne lowered her voice. “Dad’s wondering if they’re staying.”

Fiona’s gaze swung from the celebration to Daphne. “What are you talking about?”

“I thought you knew. Ryder put in for a transfer at work and got it.”

Fiona’s voice raised. “A transfer to where? Here? ”

Daphne met Fiona’s hard gaze. “The Baltimore office. Apparently, he has to supervise a smaller office before he can get a promotion.”

Fiona shifted in the chair to face Daphne. “What about Stacy? I thought she wanted to live close to her family in Virginia.”

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised if she stays down there and expects him to commute back and forth.”

Fiona grimaced. “She’s such a bitch. I shouldn’t say that, but?—”

“It feels like she keeps us from seeing Ryder and Faith. I don’t know if that’s what’s really going on. But I can’t help but think this might be the beginning of the end for them.”

Fiona tipped her head back. “One can only hope. I’d love to have Ryder and Faith around more often.”

“What if Stacy insists on keeping Faith in Virginia?”

Fiona frowned. “That’s a bad situation for everyone.”

At least my fake engagement to Wes wasn’t the only gossip.

Daphne nudged me with her elbow. “Tell us more about this fake marriage. Will you be sharing a bed?”

Fiona grinned and winked. “You have to consummate the marriage to make it official. I’ve read enough romantic comedies to understand how it works.”

My face heated. “We’re friends. It’s not like that.”

“Friends. Right. I fake marry all my friends,” Daphne mocked, and Fiona laughed.

When Fiona recovered, she said, “It’s not a bad idea. My relationship started out as a friendship. We talked about everything, what was going on with our families, school, and friends.”

That’s how it felt for me and Wes. We even talked about bad dates minus the intimate details. It would have been weird talking about those details with Wes, which should have been my first sign that he wasn’t just a friend. But I couldn’t tell his sisters any of what I was feeling. I had to pretend it was fake in front of Wes’s family and real in front of mine. This situation wasn’t going to mess with my head. “I wish I didn’t need Wes to do this. But he’s the best option. I trust him. I feel safe with him.”

“Mmm,” Daphne said.

“This should be interesting to watch. Are we going to get to plan a wedding?” Fiona asked.

“I was thinking of something at the estate. Probably inside. There’s a room behind the house that’s all windows. We could hold the ceremony and the reception there.”

“Do you already have a planner? We just planned our own weddings and would love to do one that wasn’t ours.”

“My mom wanted to hire someone, but I thought I could do it myself.”

Fiona inclined her head. “Trust me. You’re going to need help.”

“Sure. Why not?” I’d never had sisters, and it would be nice to have someone help that wasn’t family. “The only problem is that you’re going to have to deal with my mother.”

Fiona waved her hand. “I used to deal with hotel customers and administration. I can handle your mother.”

I laughed. “That’s good because I haven’t done the best job of it.”

“Weren’t you dating the guys she put in front of you?” Fiona asked.

“She was vetting them for me. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But the guys were all the same. They went to the same schools, have trust funds, and work at their daddy’s businesses. No thanks. ”

“And Wes is nothing like that. He’s as real as they come,” Fiona said as if she was warning me not to hurt him.

“He’s the most important person in my life. I won’t do anything to hurt him.” He was too good for me.

Daphne patted my hand. “We’re going to plan the best wedding. You’re going to love it.”

As long as that was all I fell in love with.

Fiona pulled out her phone and started to take notes. “You’ll need to schedule an appointment to try on dresses?—”

“I don’t even know where to start.”

“Let us know who you want there, and we’ll arrange everything.”

“Are you sure?” The thought of the things I needed to do to host a wedding in a few weeks was overwhelming. But it might be a good test for hosting events on the property.

“We know all the best places.”

I let out a breath. “I don’t want to call my college friends and ask them to travel. Especially since it’s not real.”

Daphne waved a hand at me. “No worries. We’ve got you covered.”

“Would Izzy and Faith be interested in being the flower girls?” I couldn’t believe I was marrying my best friend and involving his family in my lies. But it was too late to back out now.

Fiona grinned. “Now we’re getting somewhere. We’ll have them try on flower girl dresses at the same time. They’ll love it.”

“Thanks for helping me. You guys are life savers.”

Daphne patted my arm. “You’re going to be our sister-in-law.”

I didn’t mention that it would only be for a few months. It didn’t feel fake when we were talking about dresses and flower girls. It made my heart long for the real deal.

“I need a drink,” Teddy made his way over to the porch, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the bottom of his sweatshirt.

“What are you ladies talking about over here?” Jameson leaned a shoulder against the porch column, his dimple popping in time with his cheeky smile. He was a consummate flirt, but I never had eyes for anyone but Wes.

He’d stolen my heart that day under the slide, and there was no getting it back.

“Weddings of course!” Daphne exclaimed. “Sutton is going to let us take charge.”

Jameson raised a brow in my direction. “So this is the real deal then.”

I smiled. “As real as fake weddings get.”

“You’re having a ceremony, reception, a ring?” Jameson asked as Wes came up behind him.

Wes huffed out a breath. “We need to get a ring.”

“Why don’t you wear Mom’s?” Jameson asked with a glint in his eye.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. That should go to a real fiancée.” I stumbled over the words.

Wes frowned. “Teddy should have it.”

Teddy had returned to the porch, water bottles in hand that he handed out to everyone. “What should Teddy have?”

“Mom’s ring,” Jameson said, a challenge in his voice. He was expecting push back.

“I don’t want to take something like that. It’s too special,” I said. I didn’t like how real this was starting to feel.

Wes shrugged. “You’ll wear it for a few months, then Teddy can have it for his future fiancée.”

Jameson snorted. “Fat chance of that happening anytime soon. This one’s too wrapped up in his job to make time for a woman.”

“I don’t care if you use it for your ‘wedding,’” Teddy said, using his fingers as quotation marks.

“Why don’t you ask Dad for it?” Jameson asked innocently.

“You saw how he took to the fake engagement. There’s no way he’ll give me Mom’s ring,” Wes said as he sat on the arm of my chair. It was something he would have done before we were pretending to be engaged, but it felt different now.

My entire body heated at the proximity, and I reveled in the smell of soap and pine.

“I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about it,” Wes said, drinking most of the bottle before lowering it.

Everyone moved inside to look for food, and Wes asked, “How are you holding up?”

“Your sisters are planning our wedding. So far, we have flower girls, and they’re going to schedule me for a dress fitting.”

Wes shook his head. “Who are the flower girls?”

“Izzy and Faith.”

Wes nodded, his eyes shining with appreciation. “Good. They’ll love that.”

“You don’t think they’ll be confused about the fake nature of our relationship?” I kept my voice light, but it was something I was worried about.

“When we divorce, we’ll tell them it didn’t work out. They don’t need to know the details.”

“Is this crazy?” I asked him.

Wes gave me a serious look. “No more than your grandmother making it a condition of your inheritance.”

“Am I crazy for going along with it?” I persisted .

“It’s going to be an adventure, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it,” Wes said before he leaned over, hesitating for a second before touching his lips to mine.

It was so quick, so light, I thought I’d imagined the pressure. “What was that for?”

“I’m just practicing. You’re my girl now. You’re going to have to get used to touching and kissing.”

Then he winked and got up to go into the house.

The cold air did nothing to cool my overheated body. I wanted Wes to come back and kiss me again. I wanted to feel his body pressed against mine. I wanted him, and I knew I wasn’t going to come out of this unscathed.