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“I know, but I’m still sulking about it and wondering why I did it.”
“Did what?” Bennett looks between us.
He definitely knows we’re a couple, I can tell by his expression, but he’ll wait until we’re alone to ask me. He’d never put Briar on the spot, and he knows Ben and Gillian’s stance on us.
“Fourth of July pig roast the year we graduated.”
“Okay…” He glances Wren’s way to make sure she hasn’t wandered off, then he looks back at me.
“JJ was there,” I say.
“The two of you got into a fight.” He nods as if I remember it.
“We did?”
“Yeah.” He looks at the sky. “I think it was about Carly, maybe. You were back behind the barn with her, and then you and JJ came out shouting at one another. I went over to break it up before you got close to the party and the adults noticed.”
I look at Briar again, and she stiffens.
“No, wait. Carly was there, but… oh yeah.” His eyes go to Briar and widen. “It was about you.”
“Are you sure?” What the hell could we have fought over about Briar? I barely knew her then.
“Yeah, I think JJ was trying to get with you.” He looks at Briar again. She shows no sign of knowing what he’s talking about, and that seems to confuse him even more. “You told him not to, and he came at you, saying you were jealous, probably wanted her for yourself and to stay out of his business. He left the party not long after that. Carly went off somewhere, and when I asked you what happened, you said Ben would kill you if you let something happen to Briar.”
She gasps.
“Wait… what?” My head tilts, and I cringe when it aggravates my swollen face.
“I’m sorry, Briar, ahead of time for saying this.” He looks at Wren. “Hey, kiddo, do you see that rock over there? Can you get it? We’ll paint it tomorrow.”
She nods and runs in the direction he pointed while Briar and I wait for him to fill us in.
“You said JJ was bragging about how he was gonna take her virginity, and you tried reverse psychology or something to get him off her scent. He said she wasn’t worth his time or something to that effect. I can’t remember exactly.”
Relief floods my veins. I still regret that she overheard me and has been carrying that with her ever since, but knowing I did it to protect her helps to ease some of my guilty conscience.
Wren runs back with the rock in her hand, all smiles.
Bennett looks apologetically at Briar, but damn, I’m thankful for his memory.
“Daddy, I’m hungry,” Wren says, handing the rock to him. “Want to come over and paint rocks tomorrow?” she asks Briar and me.
“Maybe. We’ll see,” I tell her.
“I gotta go, keep ice on it. Take care of him, Briar.” He chuckles.
They walk away, Bennett holding Wren’s hand.
“I don’t like Ben, he hit Emmett,” I hear her say.
He says something to her, but I can’t make it out.
“Why did you ask him? I told you I forgave you.” Briar sits right next to me since we’re the last ones here.
“I don’t know. He still remembers algebra from high school. I knew he would’ve been there that night, and if something big went down, I would’ve told him about it. It’s been killing me that I hurt you, and I wanted to see what he knew about what the hell I was thinking.”
“Well, I’m glad we found out the truth. Now you can rest easy knowing you were trying to protect me, not hurt me.” She takes my hand. “I wasn’t going to let him sleep with me.”
