MY CONFESSIONSNEVER AGAIN WOULD I DOUBT Charlotte and her knowledge. I’d been back to school for three days and found I had a whole lot of new friends.“Wren! Hey, Wren! Wait up!” a voice called out from across the parking lot of my school.I shook my head and attempted to run away.“Hi, Wren!” A random girl popped up in front of me, a frightening smile on her face.“Hi,” I replied, stepping around her.“I was wondering if you wanted to hang out this afternoon?” she asked, stepping up to walk beside me.“Who are you?” I asked.“I’m Kim! We have Physics together.”“Sorry, there are so many people in that class,” I said, picking up my pace.“So, what do you think about tonight? We could hang at your place.”I groaned and rolled my eyes. It’d been like that ever since I got back from the flu. Charlotte wasn’t kidding when she said everyone would be talking about my “brothers.” As soon as I returned, everyone knew who I was, that I wasn’t just any old Lockwood, and I ha
OUR AWKWARD THANKSGIVINGTHANKSGIVING WAS ONLY A FEW days away, and I was happy to have a couple extra days off school beforehand so I could prepare our meal and pick up my dad from the airport. I wanted to cook the meal myself, having done it the past few years, but I forgot the scale of people at this occasion versus the past, and I needed the extra time.It was going to be an interesting holiday, for sure. My dad was coming in that night and leaving Friday morning, unable to get much time off work on short notice, especially with his job.I made sure there was no chance Natalie would show up and ruin the day. Weston assured me she always spent it with her family, thousands of miles away. I understood they still had to maintain a working relationship for now, but she didn’t need to be coming into our home whenever she felt like it, or at all in my opinion. Maybe I’d become a bitch when it came to her ... maybe I needed to. Every time he kicked her out, she came
OUR LANCE AND THE DIVAIN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THANKSGIVING there was a shift. Weston wasn’t home much, which wasn’t a surprise, but what was a surprise was the change in him. It was barely noticeable at first, but after two weeks of waning affection, I began to feel like a guest who’d overstayed their welcome.The stress on Weston grew worse with each passing day. One of his project timelines had practically derailed, and others were on the verge. Add in the stress of Natalie’s continuous presence, and a rift began to divide us.His mood soured with each day, leaking into our home life, infecting it. Constantly pissed, he would snap at me for no apparent reason, sometimes apologizing, sometimes not. It seemed like we were barely communicating at all. When I did call him, it either went to voicemail, or a quick “Wren, I can’t talk, call you back,” and then no call. Texts were answered, but short, three or four words. Loneliness settled in, and I didn’t know when or if it woul
OUR CRACKSAFTER WESTON’S FORCEFUL REMOVAL OF me in front of some friends from school, the rumors about me picked up again. Granted, I knew they didn’t start them ... well, maybe Aaron ... but I also knew other students were milling around from various afterschool activities. What I didn’t need in my life was more rumors about me and the Lockwood men. This time, however, people were saying I was in an incestuous relationship with Weston.I’d thought after getting Talia back on track, his bad mood would dissipate, but then he went off in a jealous rage. It seemed like our “honeymoon” phase had worn off and real life, with all the shit that went along with it, came out tenfold.Charlotte and I walked into the cafeteria for lunch, and I noticed that an unusual amount of people were looking at me, some pointing and whispering. A shiver ran down my spine as we got in line, wondering if somehow my real relationship with Weston had come out.No. Weston woul
OUR DOWNFALLLITTLE HAD CHANGED IN THE week since our blowout, but our carefree days were over. I returned to the bedroom the next night, but the following morning he left for a week, out of town on a filming location.The semester was over, and the Christmas bash that my classmates had been so excited about was upon us. Char had come over the day before, bringing with her about a dozen dresses for me to choose from since I had no idea how to dress up for the occasion. All of my dresses from Sophie were much too elegant for a high school party, and I didn’t want to bother her. We ended up choosing one that had a sleeveless top that was filled with silver sequins, a white, flirty skirt below a satin belt, and silver sequined peep-toe heels to match.I was dressed and waiting, the house empty of all but me, as it had been all week without Weston. It was odd that in all the time I’d been in the house, I’d never been as lonely as I was in that moment, waiting for Charlotte to pi
OUR END?I AWOKE GROGGY, MY HEAD pounding, and I carefully sat up. It was silent, not a single sound, and when I looked to Weston’s half of the bed it was still made. He never came to sleep in our bed.With sluggish movements I made my way to the bathroom and started up the shower. The hot water felt good against my skin and helped to clear my head. Unfortunately, that brought thinking, and with it the knowledge that everything was falling apart. My life with Weston was disintegrating before my eyes.I needed to get away, just step back for the weekend and assess what my life had become and what I wanted it to be. My backpack sat by the bed and I picked it up, throwing in a few things, including a change of clothes. I’d see if I could spend the night with Charlotte.The house was silent as I headed down to the ground floor, but as I approached the kitchen, I could hear the murmur of voices.“Natalie, you need to shut the fuck up about my personal life,” I heard Weston say
HIS LONELINESS—WESTONSILENCE. I COULDN’T REMEMBER A time my house had ever felt so empty. Even in all the years I lived alone. My gaze was locked on the spot she’d been standing. The sheets on the bed—our bed—were tangled on her side. I didn’t even get to sleep beneath them with her the night before, to breathe in her sweetness, feel her warmth.I hadn’t slept the previous night, haunted by what she had said to me and wondering when things had become so fucked up. I crawled onto the bed, lying down on her pillow, in hopes of getting a little bit of Wren’s lingering scent. It was calming and gave the illusion she was still there, that she hadn’t walked out and left me. My aching heart was soothed by the falsity of it all.How had it all gone so terribly wrong? My recent behavior had been deplorable, so I couldn’t really blame her for leaving me. The realization I’d fucked up so bad that it gave her no other choice but to leave for her own peace of mind, was like poison. Acid
OUR FIRST CHRISTMASIT WAS DURING THE FOURTH batch of our annual Christmas Eve cookie making event when the doorbell rang, and Mom went to answer it.“I bet it’s Weston,” Daniel said as he pressed the dough out on the table.Chances were it was yet another cookie delivery from one of the neighbors. Two tins had already been delivered since we started.“Yeah, right. It’s been two days, and I haven’t heard one word from him. He’s probably at work right now, figuring out his schedule with Natalie,” I said, my lip twitching up into a sneer.But even my anger didn’t stop the pain in my chest or stop the tears that had been falling almost non-stop since I left.“God, I hate that bitch!” Daniel fumed.“Makes two of us,” I said with a sigh. “She might have just ended what was never meant to be in the first place, though.” It hurt to say, but that didn’t make it any less true.Daniel stared at me with wide eyes. “You don’t mean that, Wren.”“Don’t I? Because I sure as hell thin
That NightI got pregnant on New Year’s Eve.That night was hands down the best night of my life. A magical night with the man of my dreams.The aftermath changed everything.After weeks of silence from him and a positive pregnancy test, it was safe to say I was in full out panic mode.Until I walked into a conference room only to find Mr. Man-of-my-dreams-father-of-my-unborn-child at the head of the table.Turns out the VP of finance isn’t an old boring guy with white hair.Two different cities.A baby on the way.An intense attraction.And he’s technically my boss.Life just got even more complicated.Find out more hereAbductedThe mafia never lets you go.I thought I was safe, free, but I never expected to find myself locked in a cage.I’m in his territory. His prison.The beast.A fate worse than death awaits me if I can’t get away, so when the opportunity of salvation presents itself I grab it, even if I’m unsure i
K.I. Lynn is the USA Today Bestselling Author from The Bend Anthology and the Amazon Bestsellers, Breach and Becoming Mrs Lockwood. She spent her life in the arts, everything from music to painting and ceramics, then to writing. Characters have always run around in her head, acting out their stories, but it wasn’t until later in life she would put them to pen. It would turn out to be the one thing she was really passionate about.Since she began posting stories online, she’s garnered acclaim for her diverse stories and hard hitting writing style. Two stories and characters are never the same, her brain moving through different ideas faster than she can write them down as it also plots its quest for world domination...or cheese. Whichever is easier to obtain... Usually it’s cheese.WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramGet my Newsletter
Weston ...IN THE ENDING DAYS OF July, I stood outside a huge estate, looking over the wedding site preparations. I scanned over the garden where the final touches for the ceremony were being put into place.In a few short hours, I would marry Wren with all our friends and family in attendance. We would both remember it this time, and have more than just a few photos to memorialize the event.I would have the memories of her walking down the aisle on her father’s arm in a white dress. The thought made me anxious. We were doing things backwards, so I didn’t think it would affect me, but it did.Somewhere inside the large, Spanish style mansion behind me, was my wife. She was hidden away in the bridal suite with her mom, Daniel, Sophie, Julia, and Charlotte.And I was going crazy without her. I wanted the hours to pass faster, just so I could be close to her again without some stupid barrier between us. We were already married, for fuck’s sake. Normal tra
OUR HAPPINESSI STOOD IN THE KITCHEN with my hands wrapped around Julia’s as she breathed hard and fast.“Calm down. Let’s pretend for this week that I’m Julia, and you’re Weston.”With only days left until her wedding, Julia was going into full panic mode. In her workaholic wisdom, she decided to work until the day before the wedding, juggling her demanding job and last minute wedding details. Which left me sitting next to her on the kitchen island trying to calm her down before I needed to rush her to the hospital.She quirked her brow at me, her chest expanding, struggling to take in a deep breath. “Wren, I can’t do that.”I smirked at her. “You’re a bit of a control freak, you know?”Tears filled her eyes. “I have to be.”I nodded in agreement. “Yes, but this week it’s different. Let me be your wedding assistant.”She shook her head. “It’s too much.” Her breaths began to slow, letting her take in a little more air with each inhale.Gently, I pushed some loose stran
MY COMPOSITION“BABY GIRL, YOU’RE GOING TO burn,” Weston said, blocking my sun as I laid out on the deck of the boat.“I’m okay. It’s our last day, and I want to soak up as much of the Caribbean as I can.”The week had been beyond words or expectations. Weston had gone above and beyond any fantasy vacation my mind could come up with. We’d snorkeled off the coast of St. Thomas, swam with sea turtles, spent time on the beautiful beaches in the Virgin Islands, and sailed around crystal clear turquoise waters.Sure, we’d had our picture taken the few times we went on land, but there wasn’t a pap in sight. More than once, we sat and talked with people for a while. I think it was something Weston enjoyed, meeting new people and getting to engage in conversation.Being with Weston, we were treated differently, which was still odd for me. Having people stumbling over themselves to make me happy as going to take some getting used to.“You should reapply.”I sighed and took the bo
OUR VACATIONHATERS GONNA HATE.I smiled at my phone, a bit of calm coming over me. Somehow, Daniel always knew when I needed a lift. I typed out a quick response and threw my bag down next to the couch as I took a seat.A week had passed since the world found out about us, and things had calmed down at school, for the most part. Oliver continued to follow me around, but he didn’t have to come inside again except for after hours. However, the paps continued to stalk our every move.“Hey, baby girl,” Weston said, walking in and sitting down next to me. He let out a sigh and gave me a quick kiss.I pulled my knees up and reached for the remote. “How was your day?”“Good. Surprised I made it home before you.”I grimaced, nodding. “The deadline is coming up for the film score, so I needed to stay late after losing so much time.”His lips ghosted across my temple. “I know. Just make sure Oliver is always with you.”“Yes, my worrywart husband.” I tilted my head up an
OUR FALLOUTWESTON WASN’T KIDDING WHEN HE said things were about to change. By the time we got home, there was already a crowd of people at the gate. From experience, Weston had the foresight to bring Joe and his crew along. Flashbulbs were going off, trying to get a picture through the tinted windows. My hand unconsciously squeezed Weston’s, and he gave a reassuring squeeze back.“Don’t worry, baby girl, they can’t see in. And once we’re past the gates, it won’t matter anymore.”The first thing I did when we walked in was rid myself of the heels that were killing my feet. Weston helped me out of my dress, and I hung it back up, quickly inspecting it for any damage to avoid the wrath of Sophie.I searched out my phone from Weston’s pocket where I kept it stowed all night. Once I found it, there was a knot in my stomach as I looked down at the screen and the ton of texts waiting for me. Many of them were angry.You’re married? Why didn’t you tell us? - LoganThought you tr
OUR D-DAYWE ONLY HAD A LITTLE time together on Sunday before the whirlwind began. Sophie arrived first with our clothes. The makeup artist and hairstylist showed up shortly after and began to work on getting me camera ready for Hollywood.“Do I need to get you a sedative?” Sophie asked. She was scowling down at me with her arms folded across her chest.I looked down at my lap to find I’d destroyed a napkin, shredding it into hundreds of pieces. Drawing in a deep breath, I tried to center myself, but it wasn’t helping.“Maybe?”She sighed and uncrossed her arms. “Cissy, can you give us a few minutes?”I caught her smile in the mirror as she set down the brush. “Sure. I need to get something from my car anyway.”Sophie stepped forward and took my hand in hers. “I know it’s scary.”“I wasn’t expecting this to happen.” I held my hands out and watched them shake.She gave me a small smile and wrapped her hands around mine. “It was bound to happen. Tonight is a lot to take
OUR COUNTDOWN“OPEN WIDE,” WESTON SAID, WAVING a fork in front of me. The tines were topped with the most delicious cobbler ever.I opened wide and let in the heavenly dessert, moaning as the peach flavor burst against my taste buds.“I’m going to miss this,” I said, my eyes scanning the diner. There were only a few people occupying the booths, and none of them even noticed Weston.He sighed. “Me too, but it will calm down after a few weeks.”I nodded. It was our fourth official date. We’d managed to find some pretty good places to go about an hour outside the city. A long drive, but a fair price to pay.The Oscar buzz was out of control. Seeing it on TV and seeing it unfolding in L.A. weren’t even in the same spectrum.Weston’s free hand took hold of mine, linking our fingers. “I’m nervous and anxious about it coming out, but I’m also ecstatic. I’m so tired of having this hanging over us, hindering us.”Butterflies invaded my stomach every time I thought about the Osca