Chapter 27: Chapter 27

: Mom’s Home

"But why would she lie?" Britney asked, both intrigued and confused plopping on the bed.

"Who knows?" Mckayla replied, shaking her head.

"But how did you know?"

Mckayla laughed," I lost both my parents Britney, I wouldn't cry like that when I really remember them. Those tears she had where a typical level one crocodile tears"

"Oh...but I don't blame her, " Britney responded still baffled by the whole thing.

"Why?"

"I mean if you knew your parents where in jail, sentenced for life because they murdered five people. I think I would be pushed to say the same. They've never really been active in my life so there's as good as dead, she'll never see them again."

"I get what you’re saying Britney, but still if my parents were in there position, but alive I would respect that," Mckayla replied.

"Mmm, I guess we all have different opinions but this really isn't our business. So what if she lied?"

"You got a point," Mckayla said standing up, "anyway I still don't like her, if she lied about this, only God knows what else she's lied about."

Britney pulled her jumper sleeves down, "when you start speaking like that I know you will try to uncover stuff. That's the journalistic side of you talking, but remember you promised not to stick your paparazzi side in our business."

"Yes, I said you and Chris not Lucy,” Mckayla argued rolling her eyes. She was not protecting Lucy at all.

"But it will affect Chris, imagine if they found out the truth, they would blame me, and the truth about this whole paparazzi scam will come to light, so please just drop it," she requested, pleading with Mckayla, "Just let Lucy battle her own demons. Don’t do it for her,”

Mckayla groaned, giving her cousin the side eye, “I’m only doing this for you," she finally replied.

"I know, because you’re the best," Britney yelped, throwing her arms around her cousin in a bear hug.

*************

The Next day Justin and Chris woke up to the smell of good food down stairs, bumping into each other in the hallway, “Morning," Justin greeted, yawning.

"Morning bro," Chris replied scratching his scalp, his muscles flexing. They were still in pajamas as they descended down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Hey boys!" A woman said to them from the kitchen turning around as she put the toast in the counter.

"Mom!" They cried out together in unison, surprised to see Bree who chuckled in response.

"Surprise, surprise," she replied, smiling. The boys engulfed her in a huge hug.

"I thought you were supposed to arrive today," Chris began, as he and Justin took a seat by the pearly kitchen counter.

"Yeah, we were, but Robin received an urgent call so we had to come back earlier, " Bree replied with a soft sigh.

"When did you arrive?" Justin asked, leaning his elbow against the stone.

"Late last night,” Bree replied setting a plate before both of them.

"And you're up so early in the morning," Chris asked, after taking a bite. He hummed tasting the delicious food. Bree was talented it when it came to making a meal, "I missed your cooking."

Bree chuckled leaning in, "Well, I wanted to make breakfast for my two favorite boys in the whole wide world."

Justin laughed, "You're the best, mom," he said, digging into his breakfast.

"I know," she replied, setting down another plate filled with bologna, before joining them.

"So where's Dad and Julie?" Chris asked, glancing at Bree.

"Your Dad, went out for that urgent business thing he had to take care of and he dropped Julie by the airport,” she finished, taking a bite of her food.

"Julie's gone? We didn't even get to say goodbye," Justin argued.

"Don't worry about that, she will be coming over soon," Bree replied.

"So how was your honey moon?" Chris asked, wiggling his eyebrows, as Justin nudged him, with a chuckle.

"You really want to know?" Bree asked, moving in slowly.

Chris nodded, "why not?"

"Well it's none of your business," she replied ruffling his hair, as both boys chuckled. "All I can say is we both had a good time," she said, sipping her coffee.

"So that's all you’re going to give me?" Chris asked persuasively.

"That's all you can handle," Bree replied.

"Burn!" Justin put in laughing at him, Bree joined in the laughter.

"Enough about your father and me, how about that Britney girl, how are things?" Bree asked.

"Do you ever forget?" Chris replied.

Bree shook her head, "so tell me how that girl is."

"You mean his girlfriend," Justin commented. Now it was Chris turn to nudge him.

"Oh girlfriend?" Bree asked, taken by surprise, "you must really like this girl."

Chris nodded, "there's no use hiding anything I guess, uhmm…. I love her," he said, finally glancing at the both of them. To his surprise only Bree looked shocked at his confession.

"Love? That's a strong word Chris," Bree began raising an eyebrow.

"It's the right word," Justin put in, "you should see how his face lights up when they are together, like someone just announced every war on earth is over." he commented, with a slight chuckle.

Chris blushed a little at this statement.

"Maybe I will," Bree said finally.

"What?" Chris asked.

"Today's Sunday, invite her over for Sunday lunch with us, your dad will be back soon. I'm sure he would want to meet the girl that took over his son’s heart," Bree said taking a bite.

Chris thought for a moment.

"Don't worry we will call the rest of the crew over so it looks like just one big get together, then she will be more comfortable, " Bree added.

"Uh...”

"C'mon" she persuaded.

"Yeah, c'mon Chris" Justin backed.

"Fine, I'll call her and ask,” Chris replied, finally giving in.

"Make sure she says yes, I really want to meet this girl," Bree replied, patting his back.

Chris grinned as he stood up and took his phone out of his pocket dialing Britney's number as he walked away.

"And what are you still doing here?" Bree asked pulling Justin's plate away from him

"What is it?" Justin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You should be calling Lucy."

"Oh,” Justin replied patting his pockets, before taking out his phone and leaving the way Chris had.

"And you boys should take a shower and change out of those pajamas!" She yelled after them.

"Okay!" They called back.

She smiled to herself as she took a sip of coffee.

***

Mckayla woke up the next morning and looked at her watch, realizing she had slept in Britney's room, "Oh God I'm late," she groaned standing up and trying to think how best she could prepare.

Britney came out of the shower with her phone in her hand.

Mckayla noticed the look on her face

"What is it?" Mckayla asked partly caring while looking for her slippers.

"That was Chris. He says I should come over for a Sunday Lunch with his family and friends,” She replied.

Mckayla stopped and looked at her from under the bed with her lost slipper in one hand, "He's inviting you over to the Ryder villa?" She He's.

"Yes, for dinner,”

"Go for it! I mean if he wants his parents to know you it means he wants to take this thing of yours seriously. It's a good thing,”

"That's all you’re going to say?" Britney asked.

"That's all I have to say," Mckayla corrected.

"So you aren't coming?" Britney asked in dismay.

"Oh Britney, I would really love to come. I mean it's a villa with a celebrity family, but I can't write anything about it or what I did there because then your secret will be exposed so there's no use in going," Mckayla huffed coming out from under the bed, "plus I promised mom I would be at the office by ten after taking a day off yesterday for you."

"Then take another day off," Britney argued, pouting.

"I can't Britney, besides Mom will only get suspicious, and you can't keep showing up everywhere with me, you've got to do this alone," Mckayla replied as she walked to her, "you'll be fine, and if that beast, Lucy tries anything, just tell her you know she lied. It might be a powerful weapon," she added, before turning and walking out the door.

Britney sighed as she collapsed on the bed.

Mckayla took a shower and had her breakfast. Then Ted came to pick her up and she said goodbye to Britney assuring her she would be okay.

Britney smiled weakly as she watched Mckayla and Ted drive away.

She headed up stairs and decided what she would wear for the meeting with Chris' parents. She begun to realize that dating a celebrity was much trickier that she had calculated.

She spent the next few hours toning and blowing hair this way and that, , doing  her make up before fitting into the dress she had planned for.

As soon as she was ready she heard the doorbell ring. She put on her last pinch off lip gloss and took her purse and headed down the stairs.

She opened the door and found Todd (Chris bodyguard) at the front door.

He greeted her and told her he was sent to pick her up for lunch and complemented her.

She smiled nodded and said a little thank you before following him out of their premises into the Prado that waited outside for them.

He opened the door for her, giving her a hand up as she entered, situating herself in the car, a little nervous as well excited as she the car start off.