Chapter 26 Reed
REED
We didn’t say much on the drive back. She had one leg tucked beneath her in the passenger seat, her fingers playing with the hem of her shirt, still half-hiding that lazy, knowing smile she’d worn since the shop.
The kind that made it impossible to think straight.
The fact that I was still thinking about her shirtless didn’t help either.
I kept my eyes on the road, gripping the wheel a little tighter than necessary just to give my hands something to do other than reach for her.
When I pulled up in front of her place, she didn’t move right away. Neither did I. The engine ticked softly as it cooled, headlights throwing long shadows across the driveway. She stared out the window at the setting sun, then slowly turned to look at me.
“It’s cold tonight,” she murmured, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. “Didn’t expect that.”
Without thinking, I leaned behind my seat and grabbed my favorite hoodie I always kept in the truck.
It was black, soft, and a little worn. Embroidered in the center was a sun nestled snugly against a crescent moon; the lines were stitches in yellow.
Despite all the wear and washes, it still looked great. I held it out to her. “Here. Take it.”
She hesitated just long enough to make my chest ache, then reached out and brushed her fingers against mine as she took it. “You always carry spares for freezing girls you tattoo after hours?”
“Only the ones who drive me crazy,” I said before I could stop myself.
Her lips curled, slow and deliberate. “Drive you crazy, huh?”
I gave a half-shrug, trying to play it off. “A little.”
She pulled the hoodie over her head, the hem swallowing her thighs, sleeves past her hands. When her face popped through the collar, her hair was tousled, eyes shining. She looked like trouble wrapped in comfort.
She glanced down at the design, fingers brushing the embroidered sun and moon on her chest. “This yours?”
“Yeah.”
“Figures,” she said, tugging the sleeves over her hands. “Even your hoodies are poetic.”
I swallowed. “Yeah. Sorry.”
“I’m not. And it smells like you,” she replied, and that look she gave me? Like she was daring me to do something about it.
I leaned in just a little, elbow on the center console, close enough to count the freckles across her cheekbones. “You trying to get me in trouble, pretty girl?”
Her gaze dropped to my mouth for half a second. “Maybe.”
I should’ve kissed her right there and then. I think we both knew it. Her knees were turned toward me, her breath shallow, chest rising slowly beneath my hoodie. Instead, I reached out and tugged her left sleeve higher up her arm, fingers grazing her wrist.
“You warm enough now?” I asked, voice low.
She nodded, but didn’t move. “Yeah. But I might still keep this.”
I smirked. “It looks better on you.”
She bit her lip, like she was holding something back, then opened the door slowly. “Thanks for today, Reed. For… everything.”
I cleared my throat. “Anytime.”
She stepped out, then leaned back in, hands still wrapped in the sleeves, her voice quieter now. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good and this wrecked at the same time.”
And before I could respond, she closed the door and walked up to her door, one hand pulling the hoodie tighter around her. I watched until she disappeared behind the door.
My fingers still buzzed. My chest ached as if I’d held my breath the entire ride. She’d said she felt wrecked. She had no idea. Because I was already ruined.
I backed my truck out of the driveway, only to notice a familiar car parked on the street in front of their house.
Fuck, it was Harper’s. She hadn’t gotten out yet, just sat there with the headlights off.
I cursed under my breath, jaw tightening.
The last thing I needed was Harper catching sight of Wren in my hoodie with messy hair and flushed cheeks.
It would look like we did a lot more than we had.
I drove slowly and tossed another glance toward Harper’s car again. Hopefully, she hadn’t seen anything.