Chapter 28 Wren
WREN
The second the door clicked shut behind Harper, I let out a slow breath. That went so fucking well, it was a relief. I have no idea why I thought Harp would have an issue with this, maybe because if the situation were reversed, I wouldn’t be thrilled.
It was a little after eleven at night, and the house was finally still again. She’d hugged me on her way out, told me to figure out a way to tell Cam before he figured shit out himself. Then she vanished with a parting look over her shoulder. It was a warning and a smirk rolled into one.
Classic Harper.
I shuffled back to the couch, Reed’s hoodie still wrapped around me like armor I wasn’t ready to take off.
The iced coffee she’d brought sat forgotten on the coffee table, condensation puddling beneath it.
My head was still swimming with thoughts about today—Reed’s hands on my skin, the tattoo needle humming against my chest, and that look in his eyes, right before Dax had interrupted us.
God. That look.
I sank into the cushions, pulling my knees to my chest. My fingers itched toward my phone before my brain could talk me out of it. I opened our text thread. I typed, then paused. Deleted. Re-typed. Then, finally, hit send.
Me
She knows.
The reply came fast.
R
Who? Harp? What happened?
Me
Walked in, saw your hoodie, and immediately turned into Sherlock Holmes.
I could practically see his smile through the screen.
R
… You kept the hoodie on??
I rolled my eyes as I blushed.
Me
Don’t even. I was cold.
Also, it smelled like him.
R
Sure. That’s the only reason, Little Birdie?
I bit my lip, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.
Me
You’re SO annoying. You know that, right?
R
Hush, pretty girl. You love me.
My heart skipped. Play it cool, Wren. You’re not in that deep.
Lie. Total lie.
Me
Eh. Something like that.
R
So… what’d she say?
Me
Said if you hurt me, she’s shaving your eyebrows. While you sleep.
R
That tracks.
A small laugh escaped me. God, this shouldn’t feel so easy.
Me
I told her it’s not official. That we’re figuring it out.
Three dots appeared. Then stopped. Then came back. I stared at the screen, stomach tightening.
R
And… are we? Figuring it out?
I hesitated. Thumb hovering. The truth felt too big, too delicate for a single message. But maybe it didn’t need to be complicated.
Me
I think we are. At least I want to.
The answer came almost immediately.
R
Me too. And for the record, Wren, you look really fucking good in my hoodie.
I smiled. Nope, I was full-blown grinning, cheeks-flushed, heart-skipping kind of smile. Practically, giggling and kicking my feet.
Me
That so?
R
If it wasn’t so late, I’d be making sure you weren’t cold right now. No need for that damn hoodie when you could just be wrapped up in my arms.
My entire face went warm. The heat traveled straight to my pussy. I squeezed my thighs, trying to will away the ache. Goddamn him.
Me
Reed?
R
Yeah?
Me
You’re making it very hard to play it cool.
A pause. My pulse pounded in the quiet.
Then—
R
Good. I think I prefer flustered Wren to playing-it-cool Wren.
I laughed and bit my lip, trying not to squeal as I tucked the phone to my chest, heart pounding against the fabric of his hoodie.
The one with the sun and crescent moon stitched together on the chest.The one that still smelled like his truck, like comfort, like him.
For the first time in a long, long while, I didn’t feel like I was bracing for everything to fall apart.
Me
Well, in that case, goodnight Reed
He replied immediately.
R
Goodnight, my Little Birdie