Page 101 of Sleeper: The Palisades Edition

“That’s a lot of talk about your naked fiancée for a guy who’s fully dressed as Greyson Manning of TV’sThat’s So Wizard.”

“I’ll stop talking now.”

“I’ll start undressing you now.”

We’re a fucking awesome team.

My mom called me yesterday, from Florida, to tell me that she and Hank are going to see my movie thisweekend. When I told her that I had fallen in love with Nico’s little sister and was in the middle of shopping for an engagement ring for her, she was not at all surprised. She reminded me that the day I met Willa on theWizardset, I said to her, “Something weird happened. I met Nico’s sister, and when I held her hand to pull her up, I think I had a vision. Not something I could see, exactly, but a feeling. Like a flash of what it would be like to be married with kids one day. And I liked it.”

I had completely forgotten about that. Blocked it out, probably, as soon as I asked Margo to marry me, because I knew on some level that it would never feel like that with her. But as soon as my mom said it, I remembered the feeling. It was the feeling I had as soon as I introduced Willa to my kids. I’ll tell Willa about that, one of these days, because if anyone would understand that kind of thing, it’s her. But I’m way over my cheese quota for today.

Now is the time for me to make my bride-to-be forget how fucking adorable I am. I’m gonna make her forget so hard. But it seems I’m still fully dressed as Greyson Manning, aside from being unzipped.

My bride-to-be is gripping my cock and looking up at me pensively. “Actually, I think I’d like to engage in sexual activity with Greyson Manning today.”

“What?” I slam my hands flat against the wall behind her, on either side of her head. “You would rather engage in sexual activity with a fictional teenage wizard who doesn’t have full control over his wand yet than with me—the world-famous star of motion pictures who asked you to marry him?”

She purses her lips and shrugs. “Just this once?”

“Well, you’re in trouble, because Greyson Manningis secretly a dirty horndog who will bewitch your tits and enchant your pussy.”

“Sounds charming.” She slowly removes her hand from my jeans. “Get that wand out. Let’s see what you can do with it.”

I lick my lips, lowering myself to my knees. “I may still be a student, but I know how important it is to work some magic with my mouth first.” This woman. Her eyes and voice are unflinching, but her thighs are quivering. She gasps and tenses up when my thumb gently brushes against her clit, still sensitive to my touch as if it were the first time. I will be worshipping at this temple for the rest of my life. “You’re so wizard.”

She tilts her head back against the wall, threading her fingers through my hair. “Youare.”

I get a quick taste of forever and the shuddering pleasure I’ll be giving her. “You.”

WILLA TODD-MILLER SCENT DIARY

TUESDAY AFTERNOON

Provence in early July smells of lavender, rosemary, basil, sage, fennel, fresh air, true love, and dirty sex. Lots and lots of sleep and sex. It’s so beautiful here—fragrant and scenic. The sunflowers are blooming too, so it’s just like sunflowers—pow! Lavender—bam! Tah dahhhh—evergreen trees everywhere! I basically came in my pants for the entire drive from Nice. Or something more ladylike, since I am a blushing bride.

But if I’m being honest, I really have been in a constant state of orgasm. We’ve been here for two nights already, on our honeymoon. Shane chose a spa hotel in the hills above the Luberon, in the south of France. An elegant chateau, surrounded by a vineyard and lavender fields. The view from our suite is spectacular. We have our own terrace, pool, jacuzzi, and garden. It’s all very private and low-key, but it feels so extravagant. One more week here, a few days on the coast, and then it’s back to the Palisades to get ready for Summer’s and Lucky’s seventh birthdays.

It feels like we’re celebrating all the time now.

We had a small weddingin Santa Monica—mostly a family affair. The twins were the cutest flower girl and ring bearer ever, Nico was Shane’s best man for the second time, and Grammie made for a surprisingly helpful and dazzling matron of honor. Margo even gave a moving and not at all nauseating speech. I do not hate her.

One thing I will say about Margo Quincey—the woman knows how to market herself. Her “Margo” perfume oil launched half a year ago to great success. At first it was sold exclusively on her online store, but now it’s being carried at posh department stores in New York, LA, and Chicago. I get a cut of the profits. I own a piece of Margo. We are connected in many ways, as mothers and entrepreneurs. Ever since she posted an interview with me on her website, sales of my own line have skyrocketed. I pay Margarita to help me with shipping orders when she isn’t busy with the kids. Turns out people really want to smell like me and Shane. The Sleeper fragrance is now available as a roll-on perfume oil, eau de toilette spray, soap, body lotion, and candle. A girl could make her whole house smell like the beginning of our relationship if they wanted to.

But only I have the pleasure of basking in the glory of Shane Miller’s pheromones. He’s all mine for two weeks, mine and the kids’ for a couple of weeks, and then he starts work on his next movie. After the Toronto film festival,Hard Shellgot a limited release in December and Shane was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. He wasn’t even annoyed that Zac Efron ended up winning becauseHard Shellwent on to become a surprise sleeper hit, and as I had predicted, he’s getting offered all kinds of parts.

Fortunately, the only parts he’s interested in right now are mine. My skin is pink and raw all over and thoroughly loved. Shane isslowly waking up from a long nap, naked and blissed out under soft white sheets, caressed by the gentle lavender-scented breeze that blows in through the open windows. His hair is perfect. Eyes closed, he’s reaching for my leg.

I don’t know that it would even be possible for me to capture the way I feel right now in a perfume. It’s a remarkable thing, to know that a person is yours but to still long for him. To be married to your first celebrity crush. To choose to love someone with an unguarded heart because he has proven to you, time and again, that he will be the one to protect it.

We blend well together. I suppose I didn’t need a post-graduate degree to figure that out, but who knows. Maybe that’s why our chemistry is so spectacular. The performer and the perfumer.

I’m reaching behind myself with my free hand to hold his.

Shane Miller.

My brother’s best friend.

My brother’s former costar.