Chapter 16
sixteen
. . .
Axel
The next few weeks flew by. Wren brought so much life into the business that everyone seemed to be enjoying work more. She’d gotten my books completely in order, and everything was running smoothly now.
She loved to cook, so she was always making things in her apartment and bringing them for lunch for everyone, and all the guys were enjoying themselves. Maybe even a little too much. They were blaring music at lunch, and she was teaching them how to line dance.
I kept to myself during the day, trying to focus on work.
Trying like hell to keep some boundaries where she was concerned.
She and I took the horses out together every night, and we’d talk and laugh just like old times, but I’d always end things abruptly.
I was falling into that comfortable pattern with her that we’d always had.
The one that had led to me being madly in love with her.
The one that had led to no other woman comparing to her.
The one that had led to two years of heartache.
I needed to be wise.
Wren was unsure about her future, but she’d made it clear that she wasn’t staying; that much I knew. She was heading back to North Carolina to start competing again.
So going all in on this girl was risky.
Because it hurt like hell when she’d left the first time.
It took me a long time to move on with my life, which I couldn’t even say I’d successfully done yet.
“Hey, Axel.” A voice came from behind me, and I heard the door close.
I turned around to see Lily Anderson walking toward me.
“Oh, hi. What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I was in the neighborhood.” She winked.
It’s a small town. If you live here, you’re kind of always in the neighborhood.
I wiped my hands on a towel and turned to face her. “What can I do for you?”
“That’s the million-dollar question,” she said, tucking her dark hair behind her ear. She was attractive, no doubt about it. I just didn’t feel anything romantic toward her, although she’d tried on several occasions.
“How so?” I asked, unsure how to respond to that.
“Well, there’s a few things you can do for me, if I’m being honest.” She stepped closer. “But for starters, I wanted to see if you’d go with me tonight to Booze and Brews for a beer and some line dancing.”
I started to let her down, but then she clasped her hands together as if she were praying. “Please, Axel. It doesn’t have to mean anything. We’re old friends. Let’s just go have a good time. All my friends are bringing dates, and I just don’t want to go alone.”
I internally groaned, because I had no desire to go, but I wasn’t a complete asshole.
She was nice enough, and I didn’t want to be cruel.
“As long as there are no expectations.” I cleared my throat.
“None. Just two friends out having a good time.” She flicked her finger against the rim of my hat. “And I insist that you wear the hat. It suits you.”
“Hey, Lily, long time no see,” Wren said as she came out of the lunchroom with the guys.
“Oh. Hi, Wren. I forgot that you were back in town. I heard your parents split up—sorry about that,” Lily said, and I didn’t miss the way Wren winced. Lily didn’t strike me as a malicious girl, but I’d definitely put her in the category of someone who wasn’t great at reading the room.
Hence asking me out multiple times, even after I’d turned her down every single time.
“It’s fine,” Wren said, shaking her head. She strode closer in her worn boots. She was wearing a pair of navy shorts that showed off her gorgeous tan legs. “I mean, it’s not fine, I guess. But I think it will be eventually.”
“Are you still competing at the little horse stuff?” Lily asked as she stepped closer to me. She was basically pressed up against me in the most awkward way now. I thought the question was condescending as hell.
Wren’s gaze followed her movements, and her shoulders stiffened. “I, um, yeah, I’m on a little break from competing. But Wrax and I will head back to North Carolina at the end of July.”
Why did it bother me so much every time she said that?
I knew she’d be leaving. I shouldn’t have been caught off guard at all. Wren obviously still had dreams to chase.
“Oh, that’s great. And don’t worry about this guy. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.” Lily patted my chest, and I took a step away, but my back hit the trailer. She’d cornered me at this point.
“He’s a big boy. I don’t think he needs a babysitter.” Wren had a little more bite to her tone now, which surprised me. Although she’d always been full of fire, I hadn’t seen it since she’d returned.
“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” Lily snipped, and it was clear that they were in some sort of pissing match now.
“All right. As riveting as my childcare needs are, I need to get back to work.” I raised a brow at the woman who had me trapped against the trailer.
She chuckled, like the whole thing was hilarious.
“All right, Chadwick. I’ll see you tonight. Bring your dancing boots, and don’t forget to wear that hat. It’s sexy as hell.” She turned her attention to Wren. “If I don’t see you before you leave, have a nice life.”
She wasn’t leaving for two months.
What the fuck is this about?
“Oh, don’t you worry, Lolly. You’ll see me around. Maybe even tonight.” She winked at her and crossed her arms over her chest.
“It’s Lily, not Lolly,” she said over her shoulder when she pulled the door open.
Now it was my turn to cross my arms over my chest and narrow my gaze at Wren.
“What the fuck was that?” I chuckled, because it had been somewhat comical.
“She was coming at me.”
“I don’t know, Horse Girl. From where I’m sitting, you seemed a little jealous.” I pulled my hat off and used the towel on the table to wipe my forehead before putting my hat back on my head.
“Pfffttt… jealous of what? Are you dating her? And if you are, I’m happy for you.” She shrugged as her tongue swiped across her bottom lip, and of course my dick responded. I was attracted to Wren, and she knew it. She was gorgeous and frustrating and hilarious all at the same time.
“I can tell.” I turned my attention back to the trailer, because if I looked at her for one more minute, I’d need to sneak home for a cold shower. I’d gotten off to her in the shower more times than I could count over the last few weeks.
Even when I tried to keep my distance during the day, my mind always went there at night.
And in the morning.
“Hey, Jonah and Coby,” she called out.
“Yeah?” they said at the same time, because of course she had their full attention.
“We’re going line dancing tonight.” She turned to Benji. “And you and Marina should come, too, Benj.”
“Yeah, sounds like fun. I’ll text her.”
“We’re not going to meet any girls if we take the hottest girl in town out dancing with us,” Coby said over his laughter.
“I’m one of the best wingwomen around. Ask your boss. He’ll tell you.” She smirked at me.
“When was the last time you were my wingwoman?” I chuckled.
“High school.” Her lips turned up in the corners before she turned to walk toward her office. She paused when she got to her door.
“Hey, Cowboy,” she called out.
“Yeah?”
“She’s right about the hat. It works for you.”
And my dick was hard as steel again.
“Bring your dancing shoes, boys! We’re going to have some fun tonight,” she called out.
Fuck me. It was going to be a long night.
To say that line dancing with Lily was a shitshow would be the understatement of the year.
She’d decided to get completely wasted, and I was definitely the one babysitting her.
Unfortunately, my eyes were on another woman, one who had every single dude’s attention in the bar.
Wren was on the dance floor with Jonah and Coby, who were both several beers deep and having way too much fun. They were quite possibly the two most uncoordinated dudes I’d ever met.
She’d already found them women to dance with as well, and she’d dragged Henley, Lulu, and Emilia out on the dance floor with her. She was leading the entire group at line dancing like a pro, and I could swear I’d never seen a more beautiful woman.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the short denim skirt that she’d paired with her staple white tank top and a pair of red cowboy boots with fringe on the sides.
Wren’s guilty pleasure had always been cowboy boots, and she wore them well.
“Damn, dude. You might want to tone down the way you’re staring at Wren,” Rafe said against my ear. “Your date will be back from the bathroom shortly.”
“I’m not staring at anyone. It’s a dance floor. I’m watching the steps.” I smirked.
He laughed. “Sure you are.”
“And Lily is not my date. I agreed to come as friends.”
“Well, if you and your bestie keep eye fucking one another from the dance floor, other women might think you’re all about a friends-with-benefits situation,” he said.
“There’s nothing going on there,” I griped. They’d all been giving me shit for the last two weeks, and I was over it.
“I believe you, buddy.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t want it to.”
Going there again would not be wise.
She’s leaving.
She’s leaving.
She’s leaving.
She was figuring out her plan, and there was no doubt she’d be gone.
That was the thing with Wren—she didn’t need me anymore. Our time apart had allowed us to figure out our own shit. We’d always relied too much on one another.
So she could up and leave tomorrow without a word, and I’d be left to pick up the pieces again.
No fucking thank you.
And I had bigger issues at the moment. Lily wobbled toward me before gripping my shirt hard and nearly tearing my cotton T-shirt. In her defense, I was fairly certain she was trying to hold herself up, not rip my clothes off. “Shall we go home, Chaxel?”
“That’s a new one,” Bridger said as he suddenly appeared beside me.
“I’m happy to walk you home,” I said, then grabbed my hat off the table and dropped it on my head, since everyone seemed to be ready to go all at the same time.
The girls had returned from the dance floor, with Jonah and Coby beside them.
My gaze locked with Wren’s, and she smiled.
It was this big, beautiful smile that did something to me every single time.
This fucking girl still owned me. No matter how hard I tried to fight it.
“Hey, are you guys leaving? I was just going to head home,” she said, concern moving across her gaze when she saw how intoxicated Lily was.
“Of course you are. You’re the worst cockblock, Wreeeeeeennnnn,” Lily said, slurring her words dramatically.
Lulu leaned against Wren, and they both fell back in a fit of laughter.
“Well, I’ve been told I have a big set a balls when I’m competing, but a cockblock is a new one for me,” Wren said.
And then Wren waved Tracy Peters over. She and Lily were best friends, and they’d arrived together tonight.
“Hey, Wren,” Tracy said as everyone in the group started walking toward the door to leave. “How are you?”
“I’m good. It’s nice to see you.” Wren pulled her purse over her shoulder. “I think maybe you should walk her home with us and stay the night with her. She seems pretty drunk, and it might not be safe for her to be alone.”
This was another side of Wren that I loved. She was probably the most caring person I’d ever known.
A tough competitor on the outside, but all warmth and kindness on the inside.
Tracy let a few hiccups escape, but she nodded in agreement.
So we all followed my family out the door and started walking down the sidewalk, while Lily leaned her entire body weight against me just to maintain her forward motion. Everyone turned off to their respective streets to head home, waving goodbye one at a time.
The next stop would be dropping a very intoxicated Lily off at her house. I even had to pick her up and carry her inside when she tried to lie down in the front yard. I was grateful that Tracy would be spending the night with her because she probably shouldn’t have been alone.
“Thanks, guys,” Tracy said as she waved goodbye and then closed the door.
And then it was just me and Wren.
Walking in the dark with the stars shining down on us.
“That was nice of you to carry her inside,” she said, peeking up at me with a smile on her face.
“It was nice of you to ask Tracy to stay with her.”
“She’s clearly really intoxicated. She needed someone to stay with her.” We turned right onto my street as we walked along the river toward my driveway.
“Yeah. That was a lot.” I paused when we stopped beside the stairs leading to her apartment. “Looked like you were having fun tonight.”
“I had a lot of fun.”
“Good. You deserve to let loose.”
“How about you? Did you have fun?” she asked. “I didn’t see you out on the dance floor.”
“Sure. It was fine. I just didn’t make it out to the dance floor tonight.” I chuckled, keeping my tone light.
I was too busy watching you on the dance floor.
“It seems like you might be avoiding me.” She stepped closer.
“I’m not avoiding you.” I glanced out at the water. It was hot as hell, and a nice dip in the river sounded real nice at the moment. “But I think it’s a perfect night for a dip. Remember when we used to sneak out of our houses and meet at the river?”
I tore the tee over my head and kicked off my boots.
Her eyes widened when I dropped my jeans, leaving me in nothing but my briefs.
“Of course I remember.” Her tongue swiped out along her bottom lip.
“Well, I guess this is me not avoiding you, huh?” My voice came out gruffer than I’d expected. I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing, but I didn’t want to think right now. I just wanted to be with her. I was tired of trying so hard to keep my distance.
I missed her.
I was crazy about her.
If it hurt when she left, I’d deal with it then.
Right now, I wanted to jump in the water with Wren.
I turned and walked down to the river before diving in. When I came up for air, she was watching me. “Are you going to chicken out, Horse Girl?”
“Please. We both know that I never back down from a challenge.”
I had a feeling this would challenge us both.