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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 30 ] I Think Your Mom Has A Thing For Me

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After all the hype, you'd think we'd all be ready for a day like tomorrow. When in reality, we were no where near ready for my mother and Elias' wedding.

"Where is my veil!" My mother shrieked. The woman began tossing t-shirts and dresses out of her bag feverishly, unable to slow herself as she struggled to find the one thing she thought she'd need tomorrow morning.

"It's here!" Wren called from the bathroom of my mother's large bridal suite.

Wren rushed back out into the main area, giving me a glare as she strode past me to hand my mother her veil. Apparently, I hadn't helped enough.

A few months ago, when I had first heard my mother was remarrying, I had thought we would be able to handle all that came with her new husband and his family. I though we would be able to take on the day without issue.

I hadn't factored my mother into the equation when I had pictured how calmly the following day would go.

"Do you need your dress for tonight?" I offered, standing from my spot on the edge of the bed.

My mother merely shook her head, "Wren had it ironed and hung it up in the bathroom already."

"Can I get you anything else, then?" I sighed weakly, crossing my arms over my chest. I was still exhausted from the days prior, and my mother's panic attack wasn't helping any.

"I'll be fine dear," she waved her hand absentmindedly in my direction. "Why don't you head downstairs and greet everyone? I'm sure the guests would appreciate a familiar face."

"I can do that," I said, turning and walking off towards the door just as my mother scurried off into the bathroom to change.

The rehearsal dinner would be a splash if Angel Blaine and Wren Manny had anything to do with it.

"Wait up," Wren hushed, following me out into the hallway.

She closed the door soundly, taking a deep breath as she did. My best friend actually looked stressed out, for probably the first time since I had known her.

Something was off.

"What's wrong?" I tried.

Wren's breathing quickened along with her hand movements. She was fidgeting as if her life depended on it.

"I need to tell you something," she sputtered out all too quickly, nearly cutting herself off. "I mean, I should have told you directly before, which I kind of did, but I didn't exactly-"

"Wren," I placed a hand on either of her shoulders. "What's wrong?"

She smiled gently my way, almost as if she was bracing me for the worst news yet.

"You know how I kind of mentioned moving to San Francisco with Jay?" She started off, fumbling with her fingers as she spoke. "I'll be moving in with him when we get back from the wedding. He's got training, and it's just the right time-"

"You're leaving?" I practically gaped back at her. "You're moving across California with my soon to be step brother that you met only a two months ago."

"Yeah," Wren laughed happily. "I know it's quick, but Scarlett, I've been wanting a guy like Jay to come along all my life. I know you don't get it and you probably think I'm crazy-"

"I don't," I shook my head, letting my arms fall back to my sides. "I understand completely."

Wren frowned back at me, "so you're okay with it?"

"Well I'm not okay with you moving so far away, but I kind of figured we'd be splitting up sometime."

Wren smiled and tossed her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug as she did.

"I just hope you find something like Jay and I have someday," she mused before letting me go.

I pressed my lips together, forcing myself not to mention the fact that I thought I already had.

Because by the end of tomorrow, Hayden Pennington would be my step brother. No one would ever understand what we had.

-

"They probably picked some gross food," Jay whined as he patted Hayden on the back. "Like would it kill them to bring out some hamburgers or something?"

Hayden rose an eyebrow in my direction, turning back to his brother there after.

"You know, I think they've got a special order table over there. You ask, they deliver," Hayden suggested with a teasing smile.

Jay nodded enthusiastically before rushing off in the direction that Hayden had pointed out for him.

"I should watch him," Hayden narrowed his eyes in on his older brother. "Save a dance for me, Blaine? You know how you love to dance with me."

I couldn't stop the blush that fluttered onto my cheeks at the memory. That night at Asteroids felt as if it had been years ago now.

"I promise not to dance with anyone but you," I smiled.

Hayden sent a wink my way before striding off after Jay. If anyone would be able to keep watch over Jay, it would be Hayden.

At least until Wren came downstairs.

I made my way over to the bar, ordering a water and sitting down at a nearby table. The room was filling up more and more by the minute, but luckily enough, the tables had been left vacant for the moment.

Everyone was still milling around and engaging in small talk about the wedding; the one thing I wouldn't be caught dead doing.

The wedding was the last thing on my mind.

I took a sip of my water, playing with the cap of the bottle before setting the bottle back down on the table covered in a satin pink table cloth. There were large white and green flower arrangements placed in the center of each table, and it was no surprise my mother had picked out colors like this.

The entire room screamed that this was her doing.

"Nice party, huh?" Axel asked as he slid into the chair next to me, resting his elbows on his knees. "They've really honed in on the whole, winery thing. Now if only I could find your brothers."

"What the hell are you doing here?" I snipped, barely looking over to him as I spoke.

"And from that warm and welcoming tone, I'm left to assume that Zane did tell you the whole story?" Axel's face scrunched up in thought before the man sat up straight, unbuttoning his blazer when he did. "He's been a wreck all week, Scar. Give the guy another chance."

"Why should I do that?" I huffed. "And again, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Elias invited Zane, Eddy and I during that brunch you and Hayden skipped out on about a month ago," Axel answered with ease. "But to top it off, I think your mom has a thing for me."

"Is that your idea of humor?"

"No," Axel shrugged at the thought. "I genuinely think your mom likes me. I mean, she's hot and all, but I just don't go for..."

"For what?" I huffed, though I'm sure I wouldn't like whatever little anecdote he felt the need to add.

"Maybe it's the fact that she's marrying Elias," Axel sighed before flashing me a winning grin. "Now where are we on the whole, where's Hayden issue? I've got my guys on the case-"

"Zane and Eddy?" I finished for him.

"You know me too well," he chuckled. "But I really do need to talk with him."

"And I really don't think he wants to talk with you," I smiled snidely his way. "Give it up, Axel. Hayden's never going to forgive you."

Axel nodded absentmindedly as his eyes trailed about the room, his motions stopping all together when he caught sight of whatever he was looking for.

"Then I'll do the next best thing." popped another smile before causally walking off, leaving me alone once more.

I followed him with my eyes, and I could feel my heart drop into my stomach at the sight of Zane, Eddy and Axel cornering Elias.

After all that I had heard about those three, I was more than worried about what they would tell Elias at a time like this.

But before I could do anything, Elias ushered the three off to another room, making sure that whatever conversation they had stayed private.

If only Hayden was here to see this.

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The rehearsal dinner is going well. And Axel's sure got things figured out 😜

How does everyone feel about Wren and Jay moving in together?

The next chapter will be up on August 18th! Sorry for the wait this last week guys!

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Thank you for reading!