Page 18 of Bodied

Somehow, Wesley made what used to be her personal hell into an absolute blast.

* * *

The next event Lauren had to attend with her mom’s entourage was a movie premiere. This one she had been looking forward to, mainly because it was right up her alley. The film was one Lauren was only mildly interested in seeing, but it was nice to do something in her wheelhouse for a change. Of course, being in her wheelhouse and potentially drawing the attention of people from her world meant the boyfriend act was of the utmost importance.

She held Wesley’s hand on the way in and leaned on his shoulder as the title card popped up on the screen. He had the presence of mind to put an arm around her, but then he squeezed her shoulder and his thumb caressed her skin, which was probably overkill. It was dark and not like anyone could really see what was going on. Maybe he was just getting into his role. It wasn’t like Lauren had never done the same. But there was a warmth to it, a gentleness that made her question what he really meant by it.

Lauren was so distracted by his hand, she barely noticed the film she was supposed to be watching. Her distraction was so bad that she couldn’t even answer questions about it afterwards. She had to stay vague and shrug a lot, all while her mind kept going back to that feeling of his fingers brushing her bare arm.

At some point, one of her mom’s colleagues asked Wesley what he thought of the film they’d just seen, and he answered, “Well, it was just fine, you know. But it hasn’t dethroned my favorite.”

The man who asked gave Wesley a dubious smile. “And what’s your favorite, if you don’t mind my asking?”

Wesley didn’t hesitate to answer. “It’s going to have to beThe Princess Bride. Practically perfect in every way. No one’s managed to top it. It’s just… objectively excellent.” He shrugged.

“That’s…” The man fumbled for something but lost whatever it was he intended to say fairly quickly. He ended with. “That’s an option, I guess.”

“It’s the only option,” Wesley said with a level of confidence that instantly elevated the conversation from merely amusing to downright aggressive. “Anyone who says differently is selling something.”

If there was any chance Lauren wasn’t attracted to him before, that chance was dead and buried now. She gasped, burst out laughing, and she couldn’t seem to stop. It was such a beautiful way to put these pompous pretenders in their places, and she adored Wesley for saying with his whole chest what she’d could never muster the courage to say.

Every single premiere she attended had at least one of her mom’s political peers pretending to care deeply about film in general. They always spoke nonstop about the most obscure arthouse films and would put down anything mainstream with an arrogance Lauren could hardly stand. They thought it made them look smart or something. It didn’t. The fact that Wesley shut that down before it even got started made Lauren want to drag him outside and plant a kiss on him. But of course, that would be against the rules she herself had made.

Instead, she leaned in and muttered, “Are you going to follow me to the bathroom? Because I’ve got to go.”

“You know it, babe.” He grinned and put a hand on her shoulder. His performance had definitely improved, so maybe she shouldn’t criticize how deeply he seemed to be getting into the role.

On the way to the bathroom, Lauren’s mom found her and pulled her aside. “A word, please.” She was unhappy — that much was more than obvious.

Her mom pulled her into an unused room, which Wesley quickly went in and swept ahead of them. When he was finished, he waited outside the door while Anne Bartlett admonished her daughter. Lauren wished he was still with her, but she supposed everything they were both doing was her fault anyway. She was the one who insisted on such a realistic display of affection, after all.

“Lauren,” her mom began. “I don’t ask much of you.” Lauren resisted arguing, though she definitely disagreed. “Attend a few events here and there. Dress nice, smile, and shake a few hands. Act like an adult. That’s all. It’s really not that complicated, but lately…” The woman bowed her head in the dim light of the empty room. “Lately you seem unable to do even that much.”

How was Lauren supposed to respond to that? Something about her mom always shrank her courage to nothing. It felt like shame, like she owed more than she could ever pay back. Of course, her mom wasn’t asking much at all, was she? She was right as always. And Lauren had been behaving like some kind of rebellious teenager. Again. She bowed her head. “We were just having a little fun.”

“We?” Her mom arched an eyebrow and folded her arms.

“Yes,we. Wesley and me. You’re the one who told us to stick together at all times. You were even the one who suggested we act like we were dating to avoid suspicion.”

“That was hardly a serious suggestion,” Anne said, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest.

Lauren crossed her arms right back. Two could play at the game of mutual disappointment. “Well, next time you’re making a sarcastic suggestion, try to be more clear. Isn’t communication like… a big part of your job or something? We took the suggestion seriously, and it’s been going well, even if it’s not exactly what you wanted. No one in my life knows I have a bodyguard, which is the entire point.”

Her mom actually rolled her eyes, which made Lauren care a lot less about what the woman thought of her performance.

It was time to stop the games. “I feel like I can never be good enough for you, Mom. I’ve given so much of my time, and there are other things in my life besides your campaign and election, you know? I wish you could care about anything going on in my life for a change. Like did you know I just had a really big audition, and I’ve basically got the part. It could catapult me into a real career in cinema. It’s a big deal, Mom, but the only one who knows about it, or even seems to care, is my freaking bodyguard — myfakeboyfriend.”

Anne Bartlett narrowed her eyes. “Congratulations, Lauren.” Her words did not match her expression at all. “I wish you all the best. You know I do. I always have.” She gave her daughter a halfhearted smile. “Just… try to play the part of a responsible adult at the symphony on Friday, okay? That’s all I ask — one event that you take seriously. Please.”

Lauren heaved a deep sigh, and let her arms drop. “Fine. We’ll be extra boring at the symphony on Friday.”

“Thank you,” her mom said as Lauren made her way out the door. Lauren scowled down at her feet and grabbed Wesley by the wrist. “Let’s go. I’m done with this role tonight.”

Wesley perked up and followed. “Oh. okay.”

* * *

On the day of the symphony, Wesley waited in Lauren’s living room while she got ready for the evening. She had purchased a dress for this specific occasion — a dark-blue ballgown that hugged her curves and looked appropriately formal. She even had opera gloves, though she hadn’t put them on yet. She added the last tweaks to her hair and makeup, and emerged into her living room.

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