AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was already preparing a counter-argument, so his words are the last thing I expected. I stumble backward, shocked. Rhett places a hand on my back to steady me.
He thinks I’m...right?
“Jesus,” Oliver mutters. “You can reason with this fuckwit? Shit. Now we’re never letting you go.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
RHETT
“YOU’RE AN idiot, you know that?”
Elliot lets out an unamused laugh. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”
We’re both standing off to the side of the kitchen, giving Oliver and Wren a little privacy while they say goodbye. She decided she wants to spend the night at her apartment since she has to get up so early, and I volunteered to drive her home since my vehicle handles snow the best.
The thought of leaving Wren at her apartment for the night is like a punch in the gut. We’ve only had her for two days, but they’ve been so fucking perfect. I’ve always had Oliver and Elliot, and I always will. But none of us can deny how easily she fits in with us—like she was made for us.
When Oliver finally pulls away from Wren with one last kiss, I shove Elliot forward.
“Make it fucking count.”
As Oliver moves to stand next to me, Elliot stays frozen, staring at Wren. She gives him a watery smile, and only when she holds out her arms to him does he step into her reach.
I don’t know what they’re saying to each other, but based on the look of relieved adoration on Wren’s face, they’ll be okay—with time.
And we’ll make sure we have it.
A chance—that’s what we all agreed to. It’s too early to jump into any type of commitment until she gets to know us better, and vice versa. But all of us are determined to make this work, Elliot especially.
He just needed Wren to set him straight first.
Oliver checks his phone, sighing. “You shouldn’t have any trouble tonight. But at the first sign—”
“How about this?” I kiss him on the forehead. “I’ll call once Wren is in her apartment, regardless. And you don’t leave Elliot alone to his thoughts. Pretty sure he’s feeling like shit right now.”
He nods, and I squeeze his shoulder. “I’ll see you soon.”
Wren finally lets Elliot go, and I let out a relieved breath at the lack of tears in her eyes. If she ends up crying on the way home, I’m not sure what I’ll do. The best I really can do is hold her hand and try not to panic.
Shouldering Wren’s bag, I grab Elliot before he walks away. He avoids my gaze, but I guide his chin up with two fingers. Yup—definitely feeling guilty.
I leave him with a kiss and a murmured, “Let it go.” Then, with Wren’s hand in mine, we head out to the garage. She holds on until the last possible second before climbing into my truck.
“Thank you for taking me home,” she says as we pull out.
I just give her a smile, reaching over and putting my hand on her leg. With a happy sigh, she settles back, and we stay like that for the whole ride.
When I pull into her apartment building’s parking lot, Adam’s car is absent, as I ensured it would be yesterday afternoon. Still, I walk her up and check the place, just to be safe. Only then does she let out a relieved sigh.
But the tension in her shoulders returns a mere second later. Her gaze snags on a small table by the door. “Oh no,” she murmurs.
“What?”
“He broke my vase. It was my grandmother’s.” Tears form in her eyes. “She gave it to me as a graduation present. Adam knew how much it meant to me.” She looks to her torn-apart copy of A Tale of Two Cities. “Those are the things he seemed to have gone for first.”
I already felt like the beating I gave Adam wasn’t enough. Now? I told him to leave, but I might just hunt him down anyway.
Wren sniffles, wiping at her cheeks. “It’s just so heartless. He’d hurt me enough already. Why this?” She gestures to the empty table. “That vase was all I had left of her.”
