Page 5 of Bodied

Lauren laughed at that. “Absolutely not. That’s how you lose yourself for real. I’m no method actor.”

“I have no idea what that means, and I can’t tell you how little I care.” Wesley unlocked the bathroom door and opened it. “Now, let’s stop bogarting the bathroom. Some people might need it for real.”

“Ugh, youweresent by my mom. You even sound like her.” She pushed past him and into the hall.

Her shadow followed. “I take that as a compliment,” he said.

Right before they entered the ballroom, right before Lauren had to become her political persona again, she snapped at him. “Suck up harder. Maybe she’ll promote you, and you won’t be stuck with me anymore.” And before he could respond to that, she walked on ahead to the ballroom and took her seat again. Her mother was still speaking, but her speech would be done soon. Anne Bartlett always sent her speeches to her daughter to read, and Lauren never failed to read them. It helped to see how hard her mom worked to remind Lauren of what she was sacrificing her freedom for. She looked up to her mother — she really did — and she believed in the big things her mom was trying to do. Next to a senator, someone trying to be an actor seemed so unimportant.

Her mom finished her speech and the crowd erupted in applause. The room was full of optimistic energy, and it was Lauren’s mom who had created it. Well, her mom and her mom’s speech writers created it. Probably, the decorators and event planners had something to do with it, too. Leaving out the wait staff would be a mistake. And who else? Not security. Definitely not security.

Wesley stood along with everyone else. “Let’s head backstage,” he said.

She walked with him, weaving around the chairs, toward the back where her mom was celebrating with her staff. Lauren and Wesley dodged hugs, high fives, and vigorous handshakes. As soon as her mom saw Lauren, she came in with a huge hug. “My baby finally made it! Was traffic an issue, honey?”

The volume her mom asked the question at told Lauren what her answer was supposed to be. The only acceptable reason for her to have shown up late was traffic. It definitely wasn’t procrastination, followed by a lost shoe, followed by a quick doughnut stop. Part of her was grateful to her mom for giving her an out, but another part of her missed the days when she would have just told the truth without letting it bother her. “Traffic was awful, Mom. But I’m so glad I made it in time to hear your speech.”

“I’m so glad, too,” her mom said with a huge smile. “Would you and your chaperone step aside with me for a moment? I have something to discuss with you.”

Without hesitation, Wesley nodded and followed her. Lauren was less sure of what they were getting themselves into. Of course, it wasn’t like she really had a choice. She’d been falling in line for so many years that, these days, it was almost automatic. Everything she’d sacrificed to help her mom’s career was a sunk cost to her now, and she wasn’t about to throw everything away.

They walked together down a hall with Anne Bartlett and some of her security detail. Once they were alone, Anne’s smile fell, and she was all business. “Your name is Wesley Pierce, correct?” she said, holding out a hand to him.

Wesley shook her hand and answered, “Yes, ma’am.”

Lauren arched an eyebrow at her mom. Something was up, no doubt about it.

“It’s great to finally get acquainted with you,” Anne said. “I have an assignment for you.” Wesley stood at attention, apparently ready for anything. “There have been some concerning rumors floating around on the internet. Until intelligence has pinpointed where it’s coming from and whether it’s a true threat, I want you to stay with my daughter.”

Suddenly, Wesley looked a lot less sure of himself, and Lauren let herself enjoy his confusion for a second until it sank in that this involved her, too. “Your daughter, ma’am?”

“Yes, Lauren here. She’s to be under twenty-four-hour security. Don’t leave her alone. I’m leaving you in charge of this. Please, see to it that my daughter stays safe.”

Though she was pretty sure her mom missed it, Lauren saw Wesley’s grimace. Admittedly, she was feeling the same. It sounded like her mom was assigning her a personal bodyguard, a permanent shadow. Her shadow would follow her to every single performance she gave, every audition. Even if she got a part, the rest of the cast would only attribute it to her mom’s influence. Walking around with personal security was going to be a nightmare. Especiallythispersonal security.

After his initial grimace, Wesley revealed nothing. “It will be my pleasure, ma’am.”

Lauren clenched a fist and grit her teeth. This was going to be hell.

“Mom,” she hissed. “I can’t be running around with a bodyguard all the time. It’s going to be a really bad look for me.”

“How so?” her mom asked, oblivious as always.

“My auditions? They’ll call me anepo baby.”

Her mom shrugged. “So what if you are? Use all the advantages you’re given, honey. You’re not out there trying to make friends. You’re out there to win.”

Lauren glared hard at her mom. She’d always been a frustrating woman, but this was beyond the usual helicopter-mom attitude. “It might shock you to know that Iamout there trying to make friends. Networking is part of it, and friends are nice to have.” Then she muttered, “Not that you would know.”

Anne briefly rolled her eyes. “Then tell everyone he’s your boyfriend, I don’t know. Come up with something, but he’s going to be assigned to you whether you like it or not.”

“That’s probably the worst idea you’ve ever had,” Lauren shot back.

“Then you come up with a better one.” Anne shrugged. “Either way, enjoy your new bodyguard. Later, Lauren.” She stepped toward the door and turned back once to say, “You’ll thank me for this one day. Trust me.” And then she walked out of the room.

CHAPTER3

WESLEY

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