Page 72 of Taking Denver

I grin and hope he thinks it’s real. “You better.”

“Now get that cute butt downstairs. Your guests will be missing you.”

I make my way down the stairs and weave my way through people, hugging and kissing those I haven’t seen yet. The music is playing, the food is great, I have more gifts than I dreamed of, and my bag is packed.

“Denver!” Richard, the CEO of a company I can’t remember the name of, pulls me to a stop. “Where’s Ranger? He’s been hiding all night!”

“Busy taking over the world, no doubt.” I wink mischievously. “I’ll be right back. I have to at least look busy!”

I pull myself free, my smile faltering once I’m out of view, the heat and noise of the party behind me.

Is it easy pretending I’m excited to be going away with Wyatt? No. Am I going to keep pretending? Of course.

The disconnect was between us long before we lost Theo and has deepened into a void of silence. We still haven’t spoken about the son we lost or the betrayal I felt when Wyatt walked out of that hospital room without even saying goodbye.

But this trip will help. There has to be pieces of us left, buried beneath grief and heart-wrenching silences. Right?

“Denver!” Axel grabs my hand. “Can I drive after four glasses of champagne?”

“No!” I say. “And don’t you dare try! Where are you even going?”

He groans. “I want to make s’mores.”

“S’mores? Do you know how much food is out there?”

“But I want marshmallows.”

I narrow my eyes. “Are you high?”

“Yes,legally,” he says. “Not that legalities matter around here.”

I point at him. “Do not drive. Wyatt is sober. Ask him if he’ll go for you if you’re desperate.”

“Score. Thanks,” he says. “Oh, and Grim Reaper is looking for you.”

I groan. “Why?”

“As if he’d ever tell me!” Axel says. “He’s in his office.”

The last person I want to see is Ranger. He’s been complaining about me going away, and I’ve avoided him all night because of it. I’m twenty-seven now. I don’t need him to hold my hand. Not that I ever have.

I walk through the hallways, the music quietening as I reach Ranger’s office. I knock and wait.

“Come in.”

I open the door and lean inside. “You summoned me?”

He looks up from his desk, his suit jacket folded over his chair, a white shirt clinging to his strong body. He looks like he always does, but a shiver creeps down my spine when we lock eyes. “I need to talk to you.”

“Can it wait?” I point over my shoulder toward the kitchen. “It’s time for cake.”

“No, it can’t wait. Where’s Wyatt?”

“He’s upstairs. Axel is about to ask him to get marshmallows, though, so I hope he doesn’t miss cake…” I look back down the hallway.

“Denver,” Ranger says. “It’s important.”

“It’s always important,” I say. “Two minutes. Cake. Come and sing to me. Do you sing?”

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