Chapter 13 Reed
REED
Ty didn’t like that answer.
I stepped two steps closer. “You need to walk the fuck away. Now, Tyler.”
He let out a breathy laugh, then looked over my shoulder at where Wren had moved. “You really need a man to speak for you now, Wren? Finally learned your place, huh? If only you could’ve done this while we were together, maybe we would be married by now.”
I started to turn away from him, jaw tight, breath shaky out of pure rage.
For a second, it looked like I might let it go.
But then I pivoted on my heel, swung back hard, and my fist connected with his nose in one clean, vicious motion.
I heard the crack of bones. Before I realized what I had done, I had landed another four good hits to his face and jaw before people were pulling me off of him.
My chest was heaving, “You touch her again, and I will kill you.”
He was still lying on his back on the ground, holding his now bloodied and broken nose.
“You can’t press charges unless you want people finding out what a piece of scum you are.” I spat out.
For a second, I thought he might actually try something slick. But then he looked at me again, and I saw the part of him that always hated when someone was physically bigger than his ego.
He scoffed, finally getting up to stand. “Whatever. You’re not worth the paperwork.”
When he looked at Wren, something mean and petty flickered across his face.
“You used to know how to pick your battles,” he said, backing away. “I remember how easy you used to be.”
Wren winced. I have never seen her look so hurt.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the asshole.
If we stayed near him any longer, I would’ve beaten him within an inch of his life, and I knew it.
We stood close to the house, and I watched him leave around the back of the property.
After I knew he had left, I turned back to face her.
Her shoulders were shaking. Her hazel eyes were glassy. I knew this night was far from over. Not for either of us.
She looked so small standing there beside me. I grabbed her hand again and opened the back door. I walked us through the house, finally bumping into Harper.
She gave Wren a small half smile and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“You got her?” Harper finally asked, glancing at our interwoven hands.
I nodded once. Wren didn’t speak.
Harper glanced back toward the stairs. “Okay… I gotta go deal with Lena. She’s trying to freestyle rap in the laundry room, and I think she might have been crying about pasta. Or maybe kissing pasta. I don’t know.”
That pulled a small sound from Wren. Almost a laugh.
Almost.
Harper moved her hand from her shoulder to her cheek. “I’ll text you soon, okay? Take care of her, Reed.”
Wren closed her eyes, then nodded. Harper’s hand fell from her cheek, and she disappeared into the party.
I continued our departure, walking Wren through the sweating bodies and horribly loud music straight to my truck.
I wasted no time opening her door, physically putting her in the car, and quickly putting the seatbelt on her.
I knew she was capable of doing it, but the urge to take care of her right now was too great.
I climbed into my truck and put on my own seatbelt. We sat there in silence, hearing the dull beat of music from the house. I faced her and could read her thoughts from the expression on her face.
“You’re not dumb,” I said eventually. “So don’t talk to yourself like you are.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Wren mumbled.
“You didn’t have to. You’re wearing it on your face.”
She swallowed hard and stared at the windshield. “I forgot what he was like. I thought maybe… maybe it had been long enough that I could just talk to him without it going anywhere.” Her voice cracked. “I thought I could handle it.”
Wren pulled her feet onto the seat and wrapped her arms around her knees, letting her hair fall over one side of her face.
“I didn’t mean to kiss him,” she said suddenly. “I didn’t even really want to. It was just that he looked at me the same way he used to. Like I was something he already owned.”
“And that felt familiar.”
She nodded, eyes filling with tears. “I think even after all the shit he put me through, I still saw the good in him. I remember the good memories before the bad. I swear, this is a fucking curse. ”
“But you did remember the bad,” I said gently, “you told him to stop.”
She nodded once, finally making eye contact.
I sighed, “Wren, you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t find the light wherever you go. You gave him four years of your life, don’t give him a second more.”
Her chin wobbled, and she buried her face in her arms for a second. “God, Reed. I feel so stupid.”
“You’re not,” I said. “You’re human. And healing doesn’t mean you won’t bump into ghosts.”
“I’m glad you came,” she whispered.
“Me too.”
I looked at my bloodied knuckles. I wasn’t sure if it was my blood on my hand or Tyler’s, but fuck, I am glad I showed up when I did. I started my truck and headed back to Wren’s house.
By the time we pulled onto the street, the silence wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable. I turned the headlights off before we hit the driveway, easing the car into place because I didn’t want to wake the world or disrupt the quiet between us.
The engine ticked in the stillness. The air inside my truck was warm and full of tension.
Wren didn’t move. She was awake but clearly exhausted. Her elbow rested on where the window met the door, and her fist was holding up her head. She looked like she was ready to break.
I didn’t speak right away. I didn’t know how to, not with her looking like that. Eventually, I exhaled and leaned back against the headrest, eyes forward.
“You know,” I said slowly, “I used to think I hated Tyler because he was reckless and way too fucking old for you.”
She turned her head toward me but didn’t interrupt.
“I thought it was the way he talked to people. The way he made everything about him. The way he couldn’t even pretend to see the damage he caused.”
My bloodied knuckles flexed against the steering wheel.
“But tonight? I realized it’s because he didn’t see you.”
She shifted slightly, but I kept going.
“He wanted you. He had you. He treated you worse than shit, and he never saw you.”
I took a deep breath, and I didn’t dare look at her yet.
“I didn’t realize I saw you until it was already too late to pretend otherwise.
I didn’t even feel it happening. Just little moments piling up.
You laughing at something stupid Cam said.
The way you treated that baby bird we found a few summers back.
Standing in your kitchen barefoot with that awful green tea you like. Our kiss six years ago.”
Finally, letting go of the steering wheel, I turned to her.
“You were always right there. And I didn’t know what to do with that.”
Her lips parted, but no sound came.
“And then tonight…” My voice faltered for a second. “I saw you alone, with him, and something broke in me.”
She blinked, eyes glimmering.
“I wasn’t just mad. I was fucking terrified. That I was too late. That I’d let you drift somewhere I couldn’t reach.”
I looked down at my hands, then back at her. “But I found you in such a dark place.”
Her breath hitched.
“I found you, Wren.”
She stared at me, eyes wide and wet, looking like she’d forgotten how to breathe.
“I know you didn’t want to be saved,” I added, softer now. “And I’m not trying to be your rescue story or your hero. But I’m here. However, you need me. However, you’ll let me be.”
She turned in her seat, facing me fully now. Her hand came up, slow and unsure, and landed gently over mine on my lap.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” she whispered.
“You don’t have to.”
“You are my hero, Reed. You have been since that night on the beach so many years ago. You found me then, too. And on the bleachers. Now this?”
I grabbed her hand and smiled, unsure of what to say next.