Chapter 43
WREN
Iwoke up slowly, still tangled in the warmth of sleep and the lingering scent of Reed on my sheets. The room was dim, the light from the hallway barely creeping past the crack in the door. My body ached in that delicious, used way—tender and satisfied.
I reached over to grab my phone on the nightstand. I had only slept for a couple of hours, but it was already a little past eight o’clock at night.
I opened my text messaging app and sent a message to my cousin.
Me
Little Lena Ivy!! Are we still on tomorrow? I know you’re busy with your last few weeks of school, but I miss you!
I can’t even remember the backstory behind her nickname anymore. I had been calling her that since elementary school, even though we were only a year apart. I was shocked at how quickly she replied.
Lena Ivy
Wrennie baby! I’ll be there. Did you see the group chat? Harper wants to hang out too. I miss you guys so much. School fucking sucks.
I opened our group chat thread, ‘Threesome’.
Harps
ok bitches can we PLEASE get together tomorrow? last time i saw you guys together was after that stupid ass party. lena and i literally live together and barely see each other
Lena Ivy
UM FUCK YES? Breakfast at Wren & Cams
Me
I miss you guys so much!! Someone bring muffins, pleassseeeeee!!
Lena Ivy
Harpsichord, she said bring muffins
Harps
anything for my future sister
Lena Ivy
SHUT THE FUCK UP?!?
Me
Whoa! I am NOT engaged… but after the past couple of days? I would say yes
Lena Ivy
Someone fill me in?!?
Me
Long story short, we fucked in the bed of his truck in the woods, and then here and now we are dating…..
Harps
TMI WREN THATS MY brOTHER. but also its about damn time. so happy for you guys.
Lena
Oh shit… I know Cam is PISSED.
Me
I’ll tell you guys everything later!! Love you guys!
Harps
love youuuuuuus
Lena
Ugh, fine! Love you ladies
After returning my phone to the charger, I started wondering where Reed went. I figured if he was in the bathroom that he would be back by now. Maybe he had left.
My chest tightened. The spot beside me was empty, covers thrown back, his warmth faded. I pushed up on my elbows, heart kicking up into a nervous flutter. Had he left?
Did Cam make him leave?
Panic cracked through the haze. I hadn’t heard anything—not a door, not raised voices. I sat up, using the blanket to cover my exposed body. The scent of him was all over me. God, I really needed to shower.
I glanced toward the door and froze. It was open. Not wide, but enough. I scrambled out of bed, grabbing my hoodie from earlier off the ground and tossing it on. Just as I headed towards the door, a knock came at the door.
“Wren?”
“Reed.” I sighed in relief, closing the distance between us.
There he was—fully dressed now, hair messy and wet like he’d been dragging his hands through it in an attempt to style it.
He smelled like my honey lemon soap. His emerald eyes were tired, but locked on me like I was the only thing anchoring him to the ground.
“Cam saw me. I went to the bathroom in my boxers, and when he came to check on you, he saw my pants on the floor,” he said quietly.
My stomach dropped. “Shit.”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
I reached for his hand instinctively, pulling him into my room and shutting the door behind him. “Did he—?”
“We talked,” Reed said, voice low. “Not great. But I told him that he has to let you grow up. I also may have reminded him that I love you.”
The way he said it—no hesitation, no apology—sent something sharp and bright through my chest.
I looked up at him, the weight of everything between us pressing in. And then I kissed him—not out of lust or desperation, but because I needed to remind both of us we were choosing this.
“Stay,” I whispered against his lips.
“I wasn’t going anywhere,” he said, before kissing me again. When we broke apart, he reminded me that we needed to clean up our little mess from earlier.
While I showered, Reed replaced the sheets with new ones and put a frozen pizza in the oven for us. He even straightened my pillows and put the comforter back on. Sounds like the bare minimum, but I was just happy I didn’t have to do it myself.
I came back into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me.
My damp hair fell past my shoulder blades, making my worn shirt a bit wet.
I went for comfy rather than cute pajamas.
They were green and blue plaid pajama pants.
We sat together on my bed and ate an entire pizza together. The ideal date night.
We didn’t have any plans of going to bed, even though it was nearing half past ten. Instead, we stayed wrapped in the blanket, tangled together in the warm hush of my bedroom. Reed’s arm curled around my waist, our legs overlapping, and our fingers laced together. It was quiet, intimate. Unrushed.
We talked for hours. We’d already started with the heavy stuff the other night at the lookout. Tonight was about the rest of it. The little things. The normal things.
I learned Reed hates cilantro with a passion, that he’s weirdly good at chess, and that he once sprained his wrist jumping from a roof because someone dared him to. I learned he has a thing for thunderstorms but says they only sound good when you’re watching them on a porch or trying to sleep.
He learned that I have been painting again and posting my work online.
I showed him the picture I took of my art because there was no way I was leaving this bed to show him my work in person.
I told him that I was too afraid to share that part with him or Cam because it felt new again, and I couldn’t tell if I loved or hated my work. But fuck, I missed it so much.
I explained to him that I have another commission coming up for a wealthy family in Whistler Bay County.
It is a floral painting that incorporates all the flowers from their family tree, dating back almost a hundred years.
I have the entire summer to do it, but they are paying six months worth of my wages.
I couldn’t be more excited to get back into my element and watch people fall in love with my art again.
I finished it off telling him that I feel most like myself when I’m barefoot at the beach.
I wasn’t used to this part. The softness. The curiosity. The way his eyes didn’t stray or wander—just stayed on me like I was some kind of answer he’d been waiting to find.
He told me he was proud of me and kissed my forehead. It was a comfort I hadn’t known I needed from someone who didn’t want to fix me, just see me. All of me.
Reed tilted his head down toward me. “Hey, have you heard from Harper?”
I nodded. “Yeah. She texted me earlier,” I said softly, brushing my fingers against his. “Had to give her a small update. And she and Lena are coming by tomorrow morning for breakfast. Pretty sure they’re bringing food, but knowing your sister, she will forget.”
His brow lifted, and he let out a quiet breath. “In your little update did you tell them you rode me and I came in you?”
“No,” I laughed, hitting his arm playfully. “Your sister might not want to hear that. But I may have mentioned we had sex in the bed of your truck.”
He gave a low chuckle and kissed the top of my head again. “Yeah, you’re probably right, Birdie.”
I curled tighter against him, the weight of his arm grounding me.
I love how it felt like I belonged here with him.
Having him in my bed felt right. I hope Cam will give us a shot, not that it would matter if he didn’t.
I know he’s overprotective because he felt like he was too late saving me from Dad and Tyler, but I feel safe with Reed.
I am not sure anyone has ever loved me the way this man does.
We lay together in the quiet after that. I shut my eyes and just relaxed. Being here with him felt so right. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before I noticed Reed’s breaths becoming calm and rhythmic.
I opened my eyes to see his shut and his mouth slightly parted. He was sleeping so soundly. Before I decided to fall asleep in his arms, I whispered to him.
“I love you, too, Reed.”