Page 57 of Breathtaking
“He is,” I tell her, and a smile softens her face. “And we need to get married fast.”
“Courthouse fast?” Caitlin asks.
“No. Flashy fast. It needs to be big. Like the biggest Kingston wedding we’ve seen,” I tell them, and Lennon’s body sways backward into mine, and I wrap an arm around her, hoping she takes the reassurance. “The world needs to know Lennon is married and the baby is mine.”
“Have you spoken to your aunts?” Mom asks. “I’ll call them now. How fast is fast?” She’s looking at Lennon, not me. “I’m sure we can have big and beautiful and splashed all over the news within weeks. Are we thinking eight weeks?”
“Closer to four, Ma,” I tell her and grab a bagel from the plate Caitlin arranged earlier and offer it to Lennon. She follows my hand, sees the plate, and opts for a chocolate croissant instead.
“Okay. Let’s see what we can do,” Mom agrees and pulls her phone from her purse and walks out of the room, leaving me not at all surprised. Amelia Beneventi raised us to never back down from anythingor anyone. She’s never met a problem she couldn’t handle or a situation she couldn’t see her children through.
“So... That was my mom.” I press a kiss to the top of Lennon’s head, and she pulls away, glaring.
“So help me God. One day, I’m going to walk into your kitchen and not be blindsided by your family.” She rips the croissant in half and points it at me. “I would’ve liked to have met your mother looking a little nicer than this, preferably in clothes she hasn’t seen her son wear and possibly with a fucking bra on.”
“Ohhhh... I like her,” Caitlin laughs with an evil smile, and Lennon side-eyes her. “Don’t worry. Everyone fears the men in our family. But really, we’re the ones they should be scared of. Welcome to the family.”
I should be scared of this possible friendship. My sister is a little psycho. But there’s no one in the world more loyal. I forgot that once. I’ll never make that mistake again. Lennon would be lucky to have her as a friend, even if Caitlin’s a gigantic pain in my ass most days.
“Thanks, I think.” Lennon pops the croissant in her mouth and moans. “That’s delicious.” Then she’s glaring at me again. “Please tell me you have tea.”
* * *
Lennon
If I thought my family having an army of people getting things done was impressive, I was wrong. Maddox’s familyisthe army of people who gets things done. And by the end of Sunday, I’ve met most of them. There are the aunts who own the event planning company. The senator uncle who was nominated to host the wedding in his stunning backyard. His mother’s bakery will make the cakes and desserts. One of the restaurants his father owns will cater the event. And I’ll be meeting with Grace’s sister for my dress, just as soon as I call my best friend first. I refuse to have Grace find out what’s happening before I tell her. I owe her that much.
I’ll fix that today.
According to my mother-in-law-to-be, who is a force of nature, all we need to do is settle on a date. Easy-peasy. Not a term I was familiar with before today.
Not that any of this feels easy.
But what’s the alternative?
All I have to do is look in the mirror or watch the way each member of the family has looked at me today to be reminded of what the alternative is capable of. And that isn’t an option. Not for me or my baby.
“Hey... Are you okay?” Caitlin asks as she kicks off her ballet flats and sits on the edge of the pool next to me, lowering her feet into the water.
“I’m not sure,” I tell her before thinking my words through. “It’s just a lot.”
“My family?” she asks with a beaming smile. “I mean, they can definitely be a whole lot to handle, especially all at once, but can I tell you a secret?”
“Sure.”
“You’ll never meet a more loyal group of people. You’ll never feel more safe or more loved than you will be when you’re with the Kingstons and the Beneventis.” She kicks the water with her toes, causing a current to move around our feet. “We’re pretty amazing. We’re all up in each other’s business all the time, but sometimes, it’s actually fun.”
I’m not sure whether I should be relieved that this is normal or disturbed that this is what I should expect. Either way, it’s so completely different from the way I was raised, I’m not sure what to do with it.
“You looked like you were having fun today,” I laugh softly. “I think you’ll like my brother Atticus. He’s a bit of a pot stirrer too.”
“Holy shit,” she gasps and looks at me funny. “I know you’re a princess, but it just dawned on me that Rhys and Atticus Windsor are your brothers.”
I nod slowly. “They are. Not sure if they’ll be able to come to the wedding. I’m not sure...” I trail off, not quite ready to admit all my dirty little secrets just yet. She doesn’t need to know that by doing this, I’m going against my family, and by doing so, I’ll be cut off. My brothers will have to go along with it or they’ll be cut off as well. And as much as Rhys would have liked to have had a chance at a normal life, he’ll be the most amazing king Mornea has ever had one day.
“Your brothers are so fucking hot,” she laughs.
I’ve unfortunately heard that my whole life.
