Accidentally Wild (The Wilder Brothers)

“What look?” Jessica asked.

My eyes slowly panned up to view Lucas and it was as if the two of us shared a bonding moment.

“My parents can be easily swayed, you know,” he said.

“I’m not so sure about that,” I said.

“What's going on? What are you two talking about?” Jessica asked.

“Andrea wants to be with Everett, but she doesn't think my parents will approve,” Lucas said.

“Wait, really? You want to be with Everett?” Jessica asked.

“I do. But I also know exactly what his father thinks of me now, so I’m not sure it’s a thing that can happen,” I said.

“Oh my gosh. You want to be with Everett!” she exclaimed.

“Calm down. There’s really been enough yelling in this apartment for one day,” I sighed.

“My parents are simply worried about the business and their sons,” Lucas said.

“He called me a gold-digger and accused me of forcing alcohol down Everett’s throat to get him to marry me,” I said.

“My father is operating under the assumption that this shadowy corporation or whatever will use any means necessary to take us down. For all I know, he thinks you’re part of this organization and that you're trying to divide us from the inside or something,” he said.

“Your father is a conspiracy theory nut?” I asked.

“Everyone has their quirks,” he said.

A silence fell over all of us before I drew in a deep breath.

“You think your mother hates me, too?” I asked.

Jessica and Lucas looked at one another before they held each other close.

“I think she would love you,” Lucas said.

And for some reason, the way he said it gave me hope.

TWENTY-FIVE

Andrea

My phone rang, waking me up on my beautiful Sunday morning. I drew in a slow, deep breath, and debated on whether or not to pick it up. I didn’t feel like talking with anyone. All I wanted to do was lay around, fall in and out of sleep, and get the rest I needed before my long week at work. The phone stopped ringing and I grinned, rolling over so I could go back to sleep and get some rest.

Then, the phone rang out again.

“For heaven’s sake, Jessica, if this is you, then you’re dead,” I said as I picked up the phone.

“I should probably inform Lucas that he doesn’t have much time with her, then,” Everett said.

I shot up in bed as my eyes widened.

“Everett?”

“Good morning. I take it I called at a bad time?”

“No, no, no. I just… I was just sleeping.”