Page 3 of Vows of Ruin

Wrenley watches her go before looking at me, brows furrowed. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I think so. Just… listen, okay? This is going to sound crazy, but I need to tell you something.”

She tilts her head, eyes full of curiosity.

I take a deep breath and tell her the truth. “I’m in love with you, Wrenley.”

She blinks. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I’ve been in love with you for a long time,” I say, the words tumbling out like a confession I’ve held too long. “And today, Max finally called me out. Said he’s known.”

Her lips part as she gasps. “Max?”

“Yeah.” I swallow. “He said he’s seen it. Felt it. And if I don’t say it, we’ll all just keep dancing around like idiots.”

I step back, giving her space she didn’t ask for. Bracing for the sky to fall or for her to tell me I’m out of my mind. “I don’t expect anything, Wrenley. I just needed you to know. Take some time. Think about it.”

I turn before I can see the look on her face, before I can register if it’s confusion, or disgust, or maybe even hope. I climb the stairs two at a time, heading for the shower and praying she doesn’t shut down. Praying she doesn’t ask me to leave. But if I’m going to lose everything, at least I said it.

Chapter Two

Wrenley

I flop in the chair next to Margot like I’ve just come back from war. Without a word, I grab the pitcher of margaritas and pour a glass. Heavy. Tequila sloshes over the rim as I bring it to my lips and down half of it like its water.

Margot stares at me, wide-eyed. “Okay… what the hell was that about?”

I set the glass down hard on the table. “He told me he’s in love with me.”

She blinks. I nod slowly. “And Max knows. Apparently, he’s the one who told Reaper he needed to tell me.”

Margot damn near drops her own glass. “Holy shit.”

“Yep.”

There’s a pause. Then, like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat, she reaches into her bra and pulls out a joint, already rolled. “We definitely need this.”

I raise an eyebrow, but don’t protest when she sparks it up, takes a deep inhale, and hands it to me.

As the smoke curls up into the early evening sky, she exhales slowly. “It took him long enough to say it.”

I turn to look at her. “What do you mean?”

She gives me a look. “Wren, if you seriously haven’t noticed the way he looks at you, then you’ve been completely checked out. Like—unplugged from reality.”

I pass the joint back. “I just assumed it was a harmless crush, some teasing, a little flirting. You know how we all are.

Margot laughs, eyes sparkling. “Girl… Riot says Reaper’s pierced.”

I nearly choke. “What?!”

“Yep,” she says proudly, puffing and passing again. “I wonder what that is like?”

I stare at her, the joint halfway to my lips. “You’re the horniest person I’ve ever met.”

“And you love me for it.”

We both dissolve into laughter, sipping our margaritas and letting the buzz sink in.