Chapter Nine

Will's Life Is Suddenly Not His Own

Tuesday, November 15

"You're what ?" Kristen's shriek could probably be heard from space, let alone the small kitchen area where Will was standing. "How the fuck are you engaged to Will? Are you for real?"

He'd been asking the same question ever since the party.

A second later, the door to Becca's room was flung open, and Kristen strode out, eyes blazing and jaw set as she grabbed her coat from the chair where she'd dumped it.

The front door closed with a bang .

Will winced. That went well.

Becca appeared in the doorway, eyes red, face blotchy. "You heard?"

He snorted. "I think all of Minnesota heard. And maybe even parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and South Dakota." He gaped at her. "How did you think she was gonna take it? ‘Oh, Becca, that's wonderful. I'm so happy for you' ?" Will narrowed his gaze. "You did tell her we're not really getting married, didn't you? That this was all your idea of surviving your parents' party without your mom setting you up with every hotel employee who was eligible—you know, so long as they had a pulse, they were in?"

"She isn't that bad," Becca retorted. Will simply stared at her, and she crumpled. "Okay, yeah, she is. Who am I kidding? She's gotten worse this year. It's as if she's on a mission from God to get me married off." She gazed at the front door. "I think Kristen was more upset that I hadn't just come clean—come out—and told Mom and Dad about her."

Will had heard enough. "You know what? I can't deal with this. I've got exams to prep for, and so do you." He didn't need this crap messing with his head.

Becca put her hands on her hips. "Well, here's something you have to deal with. Mom is busy filling my— and your—weekends for the next five weeks."

He froze. "What the fuck?"

She nodded. "Aunt Deborah's party you already know about. Now Mom has booked me an appointment on Saturday morning at the Strike Bridal Bar." Will smirked, and she glared at him. "You think that's funny?"

"Sure. I won't be the one being pinned into something that resembles a meringue."

Her eyes gleamed. "I hate to spoil your enjoyment of the situation, but I wouldn't laugh if I were you. Not when you're coming along to decide on the flowers— and the cake. Mom also says she wants us to okay the menu. And the following weekend is Thanksgiving, where you get to meet all my relatives again."

Will threw his hands up in the air. "For a wedding that isn't even going to happen, it's sure taking over my life." And Becca didn't seem to give a shit. If anything, she was enjoying it.

He froze when a sob burst from her. "I'm sorry, okay? I had no idea Mom would go this far. I know I promised it'd all be over by now, but this has really railroaded me." Becca wiped her eyes. "Just don't fall out with me over this, okay, Will? I couldn't bear it if I lost you for a friend. We've been through too much for that to happen."

He gave her a hug. "Hey. It'll be okay."

"Ya think?" Whatever Becca was about to say was lost when the door opened, and Kristen walked in, wiping her eyes. She came to a halt in front of Becca.

"Babe, you have to do something."

Will huffed. "I've been saying that since Saturday. See if you have more luck than I did." And with that, he walked out of the three-bedroomed university apartment, heading for his own that he got to share with no one.

As he walked across campus, Will's mind was busy exploring all the options, but so far he'd only come up with one.

Kill Becca.

A bit harsh, maybe? That was no act just now. She was really upset.

Okay, maybe he wouldn't kill her. Just… torture her a little.

His phone vibrated, and Will knew it would be a message from Becca, asking him to return.

Fat chance of that. She'd already ruined his afternoon—he wasn't letting her anywhere near his evening.

Then it buzzed again, and Will groaned. Leave me alone, why don't you? He removed it from his jeans pocket, ready to tell Becca where to get off, and came to a dead stop in the middle of the cleared path when he saw Aiden's name—right before someone bumped into him from behind.

"You need brake lights, dude," a voice hollered.

"Sorry!" he yelled as they passed him. He made sure he wasn't going to be someone else's obstacle before reading the message.

Mom says you'll be here this weekend. Wanna talk about the bachelor party? I was thinking December 10.

Great. First Becca, now her brother.

Her hot-as-fuck, straight brother, who was going to make every family get-together awkward as hell once he and Becca were mar—

Okay, that did it. He was starting to sound as crazy as Becca.

We are not getting married, remember?

Will hit speed dial, and when Becca answered within two rings, he let rip.

"I'm not playing anymore. You got that?"

"Oh sure. Like it's that easy."

"I'm gonna tell Aiden the truth." It was easier than telling her parents, and besides, once Aiden knew, they'd get to hear about it pretty swiftly after that.

"You can't!" Becca blurted.

"Ya think? Watch me."

"But Will, I—"

"‘But Will' nothing. What's the alternative? Play along until you're suddenly standing in front of a room full of guests, with me in a suit, looking like the Penguin from those old Batman shows my dad used to watch, and then you say ‘Oh, sorry, hundreds of guests, this wedding isn't happening. It was a joke, all right? You know, ha ha ha'?" He took a breath. "There's still time. We can break up. Tell your parents I took one look at your family and changed my mind."

"What? What's wrong with my family?" Becca's voice was laced with righteous indignation.

Will rolled his eyes. "To quote your girlfriend—you know, the one you do want to marry—‘are you for real?'"

"Who says I want to marry Kristen?"

"Wait—you don't wanna marry me?" Kristen shrieked in the background.

"Oh fuck." He listened as Becca pleaded with Kristen not to walk out again, whined that of course Becca wanted to marry her—she'd do it in a heartbeat—and then went so far as to tell her she'd even picked out a dress for the occasion.

When he heard Becca's labored breathing at the other end, he snickered. "See? You do want to marry her. Tell her I think she'll make a beautiful bride."

"I heard that. Thanks, Will. It's good to know I've got someone on my side," Kristen called out.

"Babe, I'm on your side, honest." Then Becca snarled down the phone. " Now see what you've gone and done?"

"What I've done? Girl, you are delusional. So here's the deal. I'll go with you to Milwaukee this weekend, but on one condition. Before your mom lays out any money for a dress, flowers, catering, whatever—you tell her it's off. We're off. You got that? One party, you said. We'll break up right after it, you said. Well, this has gone way beyond what we agreed, and if you think I'm gonna let you walk all over me, then think again."

"Will… I… I can't tell her, not yet." The catch in her voice was all too real, and it sobered him.

He took a deep breath. "Then give me one good reason why. Why are we still playing at this… farce, Becca?"

"Because…."

"Still here. I'm waiting."

Her sigh tugged at his heart. "I love my family, okay? I'm trying hard to figure out a way that I won't lose them, but no matter how I look at it, once the truth comes out, they're gone." She paused. "I know I'm asking a lot, but please, just give me a little longer. I swear I'll fix it. I just have to figure out how."

He sighed too. He could understand that desire to keep the family. He'd had friends who'd come out and it hadn't gone well.

"I… I guess I can understand. But so we're clear, I am not marrying you." He snorted. "And we are not having babies."

Becca choked. "Don't say things like that!"

Then he sighed once more. "And for the record, I really like your family, okay?"

"Yeah, it sounded like it."

"Not that it matters if I do or I don't because we're not really getting married, remember? But Aiden seems cool."

"Huh. He likes you too. I guess because you're both nerds. It's a pity you won't be his brother-in-law. He'd have liked that." Another pause. "I gotta go. Got a girlfriend to spoil."

"You got that right." Will hung up.

By the time he reached his own apartment, he'd pushed aside his bad mood, all thoughts of weddings, bachelor parties, killing Becca…. He had a lot of work to do, and he needed a clear head. No sooner was he in his room than the phone rang again.

Great, now what?

It was his dad.

"Hey, how are the studies going?"

They'd be going better if everyone just left me alone to study. Except that wasn't fair. Dad only called once in a blue moon.

"Okay, I guess."

"You guess ? That doesn't sound like you. Is everything okay?"

Fantastic. Now he'd gone and worried his dad.

"It's… complicated, all right? Nothing I can really talk about." And definitely not to you. His dad was an awesome father, but the present situation would be beyond his comprehension.

Who was he kidding? It was already beyond Will's.

"Boy trouble?"

Will laughed. "Oh Dad, that would be so easy compared to what I've gotten myself into." Well, what Becca had gotten him into, even if she had been motivated by her love for Kristen.

"You know, if you ever need to talk, we're right here."

"Thanks, Dad. Give my love to Mom."

"Will we see you for lunch on Sunday? We missed you last week."

His heart sank. "Yeah, sorry, but I can't make it."

"Okay, I'll let your mom know, but don't leave it too long, all right? I mean, we're not exactly a million miles away from the campus."

"I know. I'll come over soon." He hung up, grabbed a glass of milk from the fridge, a couple of cookies from his stash, and spread his textbooks out over his bed.

Finally.

Five minutes later, his phone buzzed, and Will raised his eyes to the ceiling.

You're just toying with me now, aren't you, God? You're doing this for shits and giggles.

He glanced at the screen. Ethan.

Will closed his book and stabbed at the phone.

"Hey. Your little brother is just fine, okay? Never mind whatever Dad has told you. And don't tell me he hasn't called you, because we both know that's a lie. He's been doing this since I was old enough to have a phone."

Ethan chuckled. "Okay, you got me. He said you sounded—and I quote—‘a little weird'."

"He'd be weird too if he was in my shoes," Will muttered.

There was a pause, and Will wondered if he'd said too much.

"Sally's Saloon, ten minutes. Be there, or the next thing you'll hear will be me hammering on your door at University Commons."

"Don't you have better things to do than annoy me?"

"Sure I do. I could be helping Dad tidy the garage."

Now Will got it.

"You just wanted a get out of jail free card, didn't you? And I'm it." He knew when he was beaten. "Fine. See you at Sally's in ten." He hung up.

Is this my lot in life, to be used by everyone?

Will gazed at his books. "Just one beer, all right? Then I'll be back."

He chuckled. Now who's delusional?

Ethan was already sitting at the white marble-top bar when Will walked in, his gaze focused on the TV screen at the end of it. A re-run of a football game was playing, and Ethan was yelling at the players.

Will laughed as he slid onto the stool next to Ethan. "You already know how it ends, dumbass." He picked up the tall, frosted glass and clinked it with Ethan's. "Here's to the Dwarfs for their great brews, and may we all live longer than our foes."

Ethan arched his eyebrows. "Whatever."

The beer was crisp and refreshing, and exactly what Will needed.

"So…. What's going on that you couldn't tell Dad?"

Will chuckled. "Finish your beer first."

"Why?"

"Because you'll only spit it out when you hear what I have to tell you."

Ethan blinked, then downed his beer. "Okay, what's bad enough to get you to a bar on a school night?"

Will finished his own beer, set the glass down, and started at the beginning. Ethan listened, peppering Will's account with the occasional ‘What the fuck?' and ‘OMG'. When Will got to the end, Ethan shook his head.

"I was going to ask how you got yourself into this mess but I think you just answered that question."

"I keep asking myself the same thing."

Ethan laced his fingers on the bar. "Okay, let's look at the positives. You're not marrying Becca. Sure, you're going to upset a ton of people when they learn the truth, but if you don't let it get too far, you might avoid that. I'll be honest, you've stuck it out far longer than I think I'd have done."

Will gestured to the bartender. "Same again, please." Then he realized Ethan had gone quiet. He shot him a darting glance. "What?"

Ethan smirked. "All right…. What is it you haven't told me?"

He feigned innocence. "I don't know what you mean."

"You're not still playing along because Becca wants to keep her family sweet. And sure, she's your bestie, but there has to be more to it than that."

"I don't want to sour relations with Becca's family," Will protested.

Ethan's gaze bored into him. "And the rest."

He sighed. "Okay…I don't want to sour relations with her brother, all right?"

That got him a grin. "Aha. Now we're getting someplace. I knew there had to be a guy in the equation somewhere. What's his name?"

"Aiden."

"Right age?"

"Perfect."

"Is he hot?"

"God, yes."

"Is he into guys?"

Will groaned. "I don't know! All I do know is he's a D & D Dungeon Master, he's cool, smart, and even if he isn't gay or bi, he'd be a great friend. And I don't know why I'm in such a mess over him because I only met him on Saturday."

Ethan chuckled. "In which case, I have the perfect toast, one I even researched and saved for just such an occasion. Well, almost perfect."

"I dread to ask, but what is it?"

Ethan grinned. "Bottoms up and tops down."

Will was glad he'd chosen to wait before taking a drink.

"So what does Aiden look like?"

It was Will's turn to smile. "He's a ginger."

Ethan laughed. "Oh yeah. Perfect for you."

"And what does that mean?"

"Little brother, who was on your bedroom walls when you were sixteen, seventeen, eighteen…? Prince Harry. And remember when Mom found your Red Hot Exposed calendar under your mattress when you were sixteen?" He grinned. "I think your cheeks were the same color."

"Can you blame me? She stood there, leafing through it, saying things like, ‘ he's got a nice bottom' and ‘ooh, look at those muscles.' And then she wanted to know where I got it, because she was thinking of getting a copy for herself. Not that I ever told her."

Ethan coughed. "Thanks for that, by the way." He studied Will. "You really have no idea if Aiden is into guys or not?"

"No."

"But you want to know, don't you?"

Oh yes, he wanted to know, all right.

"We're meeting this weekend, to talk about the bachelor party."

Ethan's hand froze, his glass stopped on its journey to his lips. "Say what?"

He huffed. "It was Becca's mom's idea. She asked Aiden to put it together."

Ethan put his glass down, his gaze narrowed. "Now wait just one minute. The bachelor party? That's the remit of the best man, right? So does that mean Aiden is gonna be your best man? Because I can think of someone else who should be at your side, and it isn't him."

Will gaped at him. "At my side when? On the day I don't get married? Or did you forget that part? I don't need a best man. I don't need a bachelor party. Because I am not getting married, do you hear me?"

The bartender snickered. "Preach. You're better off single." When Will and Ethan turned their heads to stare at him, he flushed. "Just sayin'. Marriage is for morons. Who needs a stupid piece of paper? Play the field, man. Sow your oats. Love 'em and leave 'em, that's what I say."

Will bit his lip. "You don't date much, do you?"

The bartender blinked. "How d'you know that?"

With a sigh, Will returned his attention to Ethan. "Thanks for that. You've given me a reason to go to Milwaukee." He took a mouthful of beer. "I'm going to tell Aiden he is not organizing any party for me."

"Thank God for that," Ethan muttered. "Besides, putting together a bachelor party for you would be a freakin' nightmare."

"Why?" Will glared at him. "What do you mean?"

Ethan chuckled. "You don't have three friends to rub together. I can see it now. Sitting around a table playing your games till the wee small hours, eating chips and drinking beer."

Will was about to retort that he had friends, thank you very much—until he realized Ethan was correct.

He didn't have many.

That's why I don't want to piss Aiden off.

Aiden was the kind of friend Will would love to have. So whatever he was going to say when they came face-to-face, it had better be diplomatic.

I'll let him down gently. He'll understand.

Gods, Will hoped so.