Chapter 46
Wren
“You ready?” Jett’s voice startles me from where I’m sitting in my mom’s office.
I spin toward him, the old desk chair creaking as I clutch my chest. “You scared me.”
“Sorry, baby.” He steps closer, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my temple. My lips quirk at the gesture.
“I need a few more minutes, if that’s okay?”
“Take your time. I’m not in a hurry.”
Jett takes the empty chair in the corner, pulling out his phone as I turn back to the desk.
I roll my shoulders and take a sip of cold matcha.
The news of Elias’s death has been front-page coverage on all of the tabloids and celebrity gossip accounts.
It was hard to relive the events of that night every time I went to the store and saw a magazine.
Thankfully, there’s always another celebrity doing something stupid to become the new talk.
I’ve still been fighting with the network, they don’t want to let me out of my contract because my story will boost the ratings.
Since I continue to refuse, they’ve paused filming stating it’s due to Elias’ death, but it’s not.
They’d pick cameras up immediately to capture the drama.
But all of that doesn’t matter right now as I stare at the mess of papers.
At the top of the stack sits the new business name.
It’s surreal seeing it in black and white.
I shuffle around the finalized documents, slipping them into a manila file folder and securing them in a desk drawer.
Then I type out a quick reply to my contractor, thanking him for the update.
There was a little hiccup with the delivery of fixtures, but Tom has it handled.
I can’t believe we're in the final stretch.
The calendar is starting to fill, and I haven’t even begun advertising.
It goes to show the power of a small-town community and word of mouth.
The events aren’t on a wedding level, but that’s okay, we’ll get there.
On top of the renovations, I’ve been planning a market to celebrate the ribbon-cutting in October.
Some mornings, I need to pinch myself that this is actually my life.
I smile to myself. Mom would’ve loved this part, seeing her dream come true.
“God, I love your smile.”
“I’m happy,” I say proudly.
“Good, don’t stop.”
I close out of my email and shut down the computer. Flipping off the lamp, I push to my feet.
“I’m ready.”
I follow him out of the office and into the evening sun. His truck glimmers, freshly washed without a speck of dirt, which is unheard of for a farmer.
“Got a hot date?” I ask, reaching for his hand.
Jett twirls me in a circle, and my dress flares around my knees. “With the hottest woman in Silo Bay.”
Reaching past me, Jett opens my door. I climb into the passenger seat and stare at the man who possesses my heart. Wranglers hug his thick thighs, worn from hours in the sun. An olive-green t-shirt with Riggsby Cattle’s logo on the chest. I can see it clearly, since he’s no longer wearing a sling.
“What?” Jett questions, tipping my head up to meet his eyes.
“Just appreciating you.”
“Feeling okay?”
I nod, and he searches my face for any lies. Satisfied with his observation, he winks before closing the door and rounding the front of the truck.
I start to buckle my seat belt when he tsks.
“Are we no longer…”
My words trail off as he pats the center seat.
I scooch across the leather as he hands me the lap belt.
With the truck in drive, Jett guides us down the gravel driveway.
He flicks a few buttons on the radio and Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” begins playing as he wraps his arm around me.
Kicking my feet to the side, I rest my boots against the seat as the wind blows through the cab.
I can’t explain the feeling washing over me as the song plays. Yesterday’s gone, but good times are still to come, and I’ve never believed in lyrics more than I do at this moment.
Over the last three weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time with my dad and brother.
After the bomb was dropped about what happened in LA, and the whole kidnapping, we all needed time to process.
They carried a lot of guilt, but I reassured them it wasn’t their fault.
Since then, they’ve been helping me get Hannah’s Haven ready for the fall’s opening day and helping oversee construction on the old barn.
We’ve even spent a few early mornings fishing down by the river like we did growing up.
I’ve attended more group therapy sessions, but I also found another therapist to work with me one-on-one. As much as I appreciate the work Margo puts into each group session, my pile of trauma rivaled a mountain. It’s going to take a long time to sort through this mess.
Jett’s been with me every step of the way. He sits beside me in the group, holding my hand and encouraging me to talk. As twisted as it sounds, that night made us stronger. Without a doubt, I know I was put on this earth to love Jett Riggsby.
The drive into town goes by quicker than normal, or so it seems, as Jett guides us into the parking lot at Sunset Shores.
Tonight, we’re meeting our friends for the first time since the incident for a relaxing night of pizza in the courtyard.
It’s not without their doing, but we’ve been living in our own bubble.
A near-death experience will have you hunkering down and focusing on anything to take your mind off it.
Or at least that’s how I chose to cope outside of therapy.
The resort hums with late-summer energy as August heat clings to our skin, but it doesn’t deter Jett from reaching for my hand. We walk together up the stairs, entering the marketplace from the back. Sunlight glints off the water as country music plays from the speakers.
“There they are!” Heath shouts, waving us over.
I wave as Jett guides us toward the tiki hut off to the side. We wait in line as the bartenders tend to other patrons.
“Your sister lives for volleyball.” Saylor’s barefoot in the sand, bright pink hair tied back in a high ponytail as she volleys the ball back and forth with Audrey.
Jett turns to watch as we wait. “Rumor is, the varsity volleyball coach is looking to step down in the next year or two. Say’s got her eyes on the position next.”
She shouts encouragement as she beams at Audrey.
“She’d be damn good at it.”
As I watch on, Jett orders us drinks. He hands me a bottle and I take it. Much like before, eyes track our every moment, and I’m ready for the stares to end. One of these days, I’ll be a regular resident of Silo Bay with an ordinary life no one will be able to gossip about.
Greer meets us at the edge of the picnic table, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so sorry.”
I squeeze her back. “Honey, you have nothing to be sorry about.”
“I shouldn’t have let you go alone.”
“As if you could’ve stopped me.” I pull back to look at her. “Besides, who would’ve guessed a psycho was in the alley?”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Promise,” I reassure her, squeezing her forearms. “Now, Jett, on the other hand.”
“Always has to be the hero,” Heath adds from his seat. “Dude, you’ve already got the girl. Leave that hero shit for us singles. Right, Levi?”
“Leave me out of this,” Levi grumbles.
“You need to get laid. Seriously, your broodiness is a mood killer.” Heath reaches his hand out for Jett. The two do the bro hug, handshake thing. “Glad you’re okay, man.”
Jett claps him on the back. “All good. Thanks to Officer Baldwin.”
Davis chokes on his beer. “Are you admitting I know my shit because you sure didn’t act like it then.”
“Still pissed at me?”
Jett filled me in on what happened after he found out I was missing.
He said he pulled some strings with a military friend who had less than legal connections.
Davis and Nate didn’t agree with his plan, but they still went along with it.
I can see temperatures are still high between these two, and I hate that I’m the reason why.
I slide past Greer and round the table. Throwing my arms around Davis’s shoulder, I hug him. “Thank you, Davis. For everything you did. I wouldn’t be here without you and your team.”
He reaches up and taps my forearm. “Glad you’re okay, Wren. I never would’ve forgiven myself if anything happened to you.”
“It wouldn’t have been your fault, Davis.”
When I feel his shoulders relax, I squeeze him a little longer before releasing.
“To Wren and Jett.” Greer raises her glass.
“And second chances,” I add as we all clink drinks.
Waitresses bring pizzas and plates, placing them on the long table amongst buckets of beer sweating in the heat. Plates are filled as laughter rings out. Saylor and Audrey join us once they finish their little game.
Jett and Audrey have a moment; the sweet girl sheds a few tears as she checks in with her uncle.
He reassures her that he’s okay and promises not to step in front of any more bullets, unless it’s to protect me.
To which Audrey asks if I have any more psycho exes lying in wait.
Levi scolds her, but I find it humorous.
“I vote we make this a weekly tradition,” Heath says around a mouthful of food.
Greer reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone. She types something on a screen as our phones ding around the table.
“Done.” She smiles proudly.
Laughter ripples through the group. Saylor and Audrey are back in the sand, this time with other recruits as they play another game, but I can’t take my eyes off my boyfriend.
He looks relaxed tonight, offering smiles easily.
He’s fully present, and he looks…happy. A far cry from the man I ran into months ago.
He catches me looking and winks as he takes a pull of his beer. I tuck my head, hiding the blush heating my cheeks as I listen to Davis recount one of our childhood memories.
As the sky deepens toward dusk and the volleyball game winds down, the girls collapse in the sand, both breathless and holding their bellies as they laugh. Levi groans about the end of summer and school starting, which means back to a routine and schedule he has to manage as a single father.
“You know I can help whenever I can. Send me your schedules, and I’ll adjust my work schedule to pick up the slack.”
“You’re a lifesaver, G.”
I turn toward Levi. “We’re always here to help, too.”
The sound of a phone ringing interrupts our conversation. Heath digs into his pocket and checks the screen. Whatever he reads changes everything about him.
His brow furrows as his smile drops. He stands without a word and walks away before answering.
“What the hell was that?” Jett asks as we all watch.
“Work?” Greer asks.
Levi shakes his head. “He’s not on call. I would’ve got something if they were calling us in.”
I glance over again, but he’s not there. Scanning the space, I find Heath’s retreating as he jogs down the stairs toward the parking lot without saying goodbye.
“I’ll check on him later,” Davis says.
The conversation slowly resumes, but the air has shifted. Jett leaves his spot, moving to sit in the space beside me. I rest my head on his shoulder, breathing in his mint and vanilla scent. The smell of cigarettes nowhere to be found.
Tonight, we’re here together. And maybe that’s all we’re ever promised, the now.
I glance around at the people who carry us through every version of ourselves.
Leaning into Jett’s warmth, I admire the love we fought our way back to.
I spent so long believing the scars of yesterday would define me. That they’d follow me forever like ghosts I could never outrun.
But sitting here, surrounded by the people who never stopped loving me, even though I gave them ample opportunities, I finally understand something else.
Scars don’t only mark what broke us.
Sometimes, they prove we survived it.
Those scars no longer own me.
Not when I have everything I wished for.