by Reid, B. B.
I could have used one of Four’s hugs right about now, but she already had her hands full with Ever. I was almost sorry that I’d been there that day. I couldn’t imagine going through yesterday’s drama in front of an audience as Ever had. He might not care on principle what anyone thought of him, but it had still been a pretty harsh blow.
I watched Lou pace the length of the living room, a troubled frown marring her pretty face. “Where’s Wren?”
She paused, her nostrils flaring and lip curling. “Who the hell knows anymore? Who the hell cares?”
“I think you do,” I teased her. She would have done the same to me because Lou was rarely merciful. She made a sound of denial and turned away, but not before I saw the sadness and worry in her eyes. “He loves you. You know that, right?” He even adored the brat. Wren had been dedicated to Lou’s well-being long before they fell in love, and that determination had only intensified.
“I did.”
“Lou…”
“I thought maybe I was enough for him, but he’s gone more than he’s here, and he’s so secretive. He never talks to me anymore.” Staring out the window with her arms wrapped protectively around her body, she whispered, “I think he misses it.”
“Misses what?”
There was a heavy beat of silence before she finally answered. “Exiled.”
I struggled to find the words to say. While I knew all about their hair-raising story, I couldn’t claim to know Wren enough to be sure of anything beyond the obvious. He fucking lived for Lou. He’d die for her, too. If he was keeping secrets, I was sure he had a good reason. But how the hell do I convince someone who’d been his best friend and knew him better than anyone?
The simplest part of the problem was that Lou was spoiled, and Wren had only himself to blame. For years, he’d catered to her every whim and desire while somehow keeping her on a leash. And now, when what she wanted most of all was for Wren to give up his old life, he struggled for the first time to give her what she needed.
Or maybe not the first time.
No one had forgotten Lou’s shameless seduction of Wren until he finally cracked and crossed the line he’d drawn himself. I doubt either one of them had regretted it for a single moment, not even when she found out that he’d been partially responsible for the death of her adoptive parents.
The front door opened and in walked Wren as smooth and silent as a panther. He was dressed in simple dark clothing that made me think Lou was on to something. His dark hair, blue eyes—although one was currently blackened—and powerful body were something to behold. Somehow, I found the will to leave the beholding to Lou, as any good friend should.
Besides, he had eyes only for Lou, the tension between them palpable.
“Did Ever give you that?” she smugly greeted after long moments of extended and meaningful eye contact. They’d both expressed more than either of them realized in that single look.
“Yeah.”
“Good. You deserve it,” she told him with zero sympathy.
Sighing, Wren moved deeper into the living room, purpose in every stride. That was until he noticed me curled up on their huge sofa.
Awkwardly, I waved. “Hey.”
A frustrated gleam entered his eyes before he nodded politely, turned on his heel, and stalked toward the stairs. I watched Lou as she pretended to ignore him and barely hid my grin when she started bouncing her leg. I could tell she wanted to follow him, but her pride and stubbornness wouldn’t allow it.
“You know, I can go and give you guys some privacy if you want.”
“Don’t bother,” she muttered as she flopped onto the couch next to me. “He’ll shower, get dressed, and be gone again within the hour.”
“Do you really think he’s gone back to work for Fox after everything that’s happened?”
I released the air I’d been holding when she shook her head. “No. I think Wren wants to find Fox and kill him.”
Stupidly, I blinked as I processed her words. That was a pretty dark revelation and way outside of my comfort zone. I felt like an accomplice, just knowing about it. I knew that Wren hadn’t always been an upstanding citizen, but was he truly a killer?
“And that bothers you?” It was the only thing I could think to say or do. I wouldn’t bolt when she’d listened to me whine about Vaughn for an hour. Suddenly, my problems seemed smaller, less complicated.
“Wren’s only doing what he thinks he has to. Trust me, no one wants that animal put down more than I do, but I…I don’t want it to be Wren. It took a long time for me to convince him that he deserved happiness. If Wren takes a life, even Fox’s, it will haunt him forever.”
I found myself speechless, and it seemed Lou was done sharing. We didn’t speak for a long time, and after a while, the only sound came from the water running in the shower upstairs.
The sound of glass shattering jerked me out of my sleep. I sat up in a panic that only slightly dissipated when I looked around and realized I was still at Wren and Lou’s. Feeling groggy and disoriented, I wondered how long I’d been asleep as I looked out the window and realized night had fallen. The only light was from the soft glow of the television. The romcom Lou and I had been watching before I fell asleep was paused halfway through. Checking my phone, I saw that it was a quarter past nine and still no text or call from Vaughn.
Ignoring my spinning head and shaking hands, I wondered at the last time I’d eaten as I slowly rose into a seated position. My appetite was nonexistent as I considered swallowing what was left of my pride and calling Vaughn again. The thought fled when I heard what sounded like a whimper.
I froze, hearing the sound more clearly a second time.
Remembering the glass, I shot to my feet. Was Lou hurt? Had someone broken in? Where was Wren? Tiptoeing into the small foyer—because if someone had broken in, the last thing I wanted to do was startle the burglar and get shot in the face—I came to a stop.
There were two figures cloaked in the darkness near the front door.
Oh, shit. I’m so toast.
I started to back away, hoping maybe the intruders hadn’t seen me yet when I noticed the large vase that normally resided on the entry table lay shattered at their feet. Either they were the world’s clumsiest burglars or… Just then, one of them mumbled something too low for me to hear. My lips parted to reply, but no words came. A moment later, the deep voice I recognized as Wren’s beat me to it.
“I said, arch your fucking back.”
My spine became a rod as I immediately straightened. The smaller figure, on the other hand, obeyed, and I could only assume it was Lou. She released a choked cry as Wren ruthlessly flexed his hips, driving himself deeper. My eyes nearly fell out of my head when I realized what I was seeing. I never thought I’d be grateful for the dark, which seemed to grow fainter as my eyes slowly adjusted. The skirt Lou had been wearing earlier was hiked around her waist while Wren’s jeans were shoved around his powerful thighs, giving me an unobstructed view of his muscular buttocks. Nothing but the sound of their skin slapping filled the foyer, and then Wren began to fuck her even harder. The table he had her bent over slammed into the wall with each drive of his hips, neither caring about the damage.
And the worst part? They blocked my only exit.
Back door.
Spinning on my heel to make a hasty escape, I realized I must have moved too quickly. The lightheadedness from before hit me with greater force this time, and as my oblivious friends continued to fuck mere feet away, I reached out for the wall. Unfortunately, I grabbed nothing but air when I swayed on my feet. The bright spots dotting my vision became too much to bear, so finally, I gave in to the overwhelming feeling and collapsed.
The first thing I noticed when I came to was how soft my bed had gotten. Vaughn had complained so many times that it hurt his back, but right now, it felt like I was sleeping on a cloud.
“Hey, this is it. I think she’s really waking up this time.”
Recognizing the voice, I frown
ed as my eyes fluttered open. I desperately wanted to stay asleep for a little while longer, but my brain seemed to have had enough, even if my body disagreed. When my vision cleared, I found myself staring into a warm set of beautiful brown eyes—eyes that filled with relief when I didn’t immediately close them again. The blinding grin that followed as Jamie hovered over me was equally breathtaking. Still, why was he in my bedroom?
“Seriously, Ty-baby, you could make a nun feel shame,” Jamie teased. “I knew you were a virgin, but damn, fainting?”
“Wha—what are you talking about?” I demanded, my voice hoarse for some reason. “I fainted? Why?”
“You walked in on Wren raw-dogging Lou, that’s why.” After glancing over his shoulder, he turned back to me and smirked. “Judging by his scowl, I’m guessing it was before he blew his load.”
“Seriously, Jamie?” Lou screeched while sounding scandalized.
Everything came flooding back after hearing her voice. My lips twisted at the irony. Lou didn’t seem to have much shame when she was screwing her boyfriend out in the open—while I slept in the next room.
I got that this was their house, but jeez…they could have just asked me to leave. Sighing, I sat up with Jamie’s hands around my arms, making sure I took it slowly. Once he stepped away to stand next to Bee, I looked around the crowded room and realized everyone was here.
Everyone except Vaughn.
Four stood from Ever’s lap where they’d been waiting in the chair by the window and sat next to me. “How are you feeling?”
Stealing a peek at Wren and Lou, who were making an amusing effort not to stand too close to each other, I answered. “A little awkward.”
“I am so sorry,” Lou offered. “We shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s okay.” I waved off her. “By the way, I did not faint because I walked in on you two.”
Jamie smirked at that as if to say sure.
“Then why did you faint?” Four asked with a frown. Everyone seemed eager for the answer as they all leaned forward.
The slam of the front door downstairs made us all pause before I could answer. Always alert, Wren immediately left the room to check it out after turning his scowl on Lou. He was always getting on her about forgetting to lock the door. A few seconds later, he returned, but he wasn’t alone. Vaughn was on his heels, carrying a brown paper bag from a local sandwich shop.
“Well, fuck, did you at least bring enough for everyone?” Jamie deadpanned.
Vaughn didn’t bother acknowledging him as he moved deeper into the room. Our gazes connected, and I could see the concern in his green eyes before he cruelly blinked the feeling away. Four reluctantly stood, and he immediately took her place on the bed.
I didn’t speak, and neither did Vaughn as he opened the paper bag and produced a small container of chicken noodle soup. My empty stomach growled in relief as he wordlessly handed it over along with a spoon.
“I know what you’re going to say,” I grumbled as I pulled the top off and dove in.
His jaw clenched as he pulled out a bottle of apple juice and a chocolate chip cookie. My mouth watered when I realized it had been more than twenty-four hours since I’d last eaten. “That’s where you’re wrong,” he replied dryly. “I’m not a fan of repeating myself.”
“I’m sorry for not having an appetite after finding out that my entire existence has been a lie, and I’m sorry for needing you to be there when it was an inconvenience to you.”
“What about all the other times you forgot to fucking feed yourself?” he snapped. “Was that my fault, too?”
My gaze dropped to the bedspread as every set of eyes in the room zeroed in on me. Vaughn had callously put me on blast, but could I blame him? I wasn’t used to having friends or a social life—much less a love life. Not knowing how best to balance it all, the number of hours I had in a day had been stretched thin. These past months, I’d been killing myself to make sure I not only got into Harvard but remained a top candidate for the Theodore Lidle Scholarship. It was a private fund offered to low-income minorities accepted into Ivy League universities, and they only awarded two per graduating class. That scholarship could pay for my entire four years at Harvard. I just had to keep my GPA once I got there above a sphincter-tightening 3.7.
My grade point average my entire four years at Brynwood Academy had never dropped below perfect, but college was designed to be more challenging. With me attending Harvard, let’s just say it had been causing me to lose a bit of my appetite.
“I’m not blaming you,” I whispered, feeling shame warm my cheeks.
“Maybe we should give them some privacy,” Bee suggested. She’d been silent this entire time, but when our gazes connected, I could sense her understanding. It was a shock to discover that Brynwood’s cold queen was actually one of the warmest, nicest people around.
“And maybe you should come up with better ideas,” Jamie shot back. Folding his arms, he made himself comfortable against the wall. Clearly, he wasn’t going anywhere.
“You’re absolutely right. How about I start with sleeping alone tonight?” Not waiting for a response, Bee sauntered out of the room. Jamie quickly followed her with his tail tucked between his legs. The rest of our friends left, too. Wren was the last one out, closing the door behind him, but neither Vaughn nor I spoke again until our friends’ footsteps faded. I wouldn’t put it past any of them to listen behind the door.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, deciding to speak first. “Now they all think I have some sort of eating disorder.”
“Do you?”
“No!” Feeling my shoulders slump, I stared into the now cold soup and once again felt my appetite wane. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve been a little stressed out.”
Taking my soup from me, he placed it on the nightstand and pulled me into his lap. “I know what’s at stake,” he claimed in a soft voice. “But none of it will matter if you don’t take care of yourself.”
“I know.”
I felt his chest expand when he inhaled deeply, and then his minty-fresh breath caressed my cheek when he exhaled. “And I’m sorry for leaving you.”
Nodding, I silently admitted to myself that it hadn’t totally been his fault. I still hadn’t told him that my father would be out of town for weeks, so it made sense that he hadn’t stuck around. What didn’t make sense was why he’d left without saying goodbye. If I’d done the same, there would have been hell to pay.
“You’re here now,” I said rather than give into my thoughts. He simply squeezed my hip in confirmation. “Thank you for the soup. I won’t forget to eat again. I promise.”
“I know you won’t,” he responded a little too confidently. “You’re going to eat three meals a day, even if I have to spoon-feed you myself.” Dumping me back on the bed next to him, he deftly plucked the soup from the nightstand. I watched him, my eyes wide as he spooned some of the soup before extending it toward my mouth.
“You can’t be serious.”
“As a fucking heart attack.”
“I can feed myself.”
“Recent evidence suggests otherwise.”
“Vaughn, don’t be ridiculous. I’m not letting you—”
He managed to shove the spoon between my parted lips before I could finish my sentence. Not all of it made it inside and spilled onto my shirt. I had no choice but to swallow it down, glaring at Vaughn as I did so.
“I can make airplane noises if it will help?”
My lips pressed even tighter together. I was not letting him win a second time.
“Train then?”
Silence.
Tsking, his hand shot out, quick as a rattlesnake, and he pinched my nose, cutting off my only airway until I had no choice but to part my lips to take a huge gulping breath. “Resistance is futile,” he said, mimicking the Borg from Star Trek. I remembered the day he made me watch the movie with him. It was the day I realized that the hot jock was a closet Sci-Fi nerd.
I was
fed a second bite of chicken noodle, and when he offered a third, I didn’t fight him, not even when he made airplane noises on the fourth and yelled “Choo Choo” on the fifth.
God, I hated him.
I might have even loved him.
Only time would tell.
Before either of us knew it, the soup was gone, and the butterflies in my full tummy were fluttering out of control. Wisely, Vaughn let me eat the cookie he’d brought me on my own, but I noticed he kept a watchful eye, making sure I ate the entire thing. By the time I was finished, I was bursting, but I downed the entire bottle of apple juice anyway to avoid another argument.
The moment I took the final sip, he leaned over and kissed the lingering drops of juice from my lips. “Fuck, I missed you,” he said with a groan even though it had been less than a day.
“You weren’t acting like it,” I retorted with a pout.
Vaughn didn’t respond as his fingers unbuttoned my shorts and started pulling them over my hips and down my thighs.
“What are you doing?” My heart was racing because I already knew the answer though it baffled me. We were just fighting moments ago.
“Relieving some of your stress.”
I bit my bottom lip, not knowing if I should let him despite really wanting him to do just that. Bringing me soup and then feeding it to me didn’t change the fact that he’d been an asshole. Not to mention all the lies and secrets he was keeping. Suddenly, I understood Lou’s anger and frustration toward Wren.
It was the ego of the alpha male. They couldn’t fit it inside of Jupiter.
I shook off my thoughts just as my shorts cleared my ankles. Rising to his feet, Vaughn moved across the room and flipped the lock. He obviously wasn’t expecting much argument from me.
“Maybe we should go back to my place? I’m sure Wren and Lou are eager for privacy after what happened.”
On cue, our phones pinged with a text from Lou in the group chat Jamie had made.
Lou: Everyone took off. It’s late, so feel free to stay in the guest room.
