Page 80 of Make You Mine

“I need to go home,” I whispered.

“I’ll take you,” Ren immediately offered.

“No, I need to go home alone. Without you.”

For a moment, he looked stricken, but then he hid it. “Anything you need.”

“I’m not—I mean, this isn’t over, me and you. That’s not what this is about. That’s not what I’m saying.”

“I know.”But did he?

“Okay, let’s all back off and give them some space.” I smiled gratefully as Paige herded everyone out of the garage.

“This isn’t about you,” I tried to explain. “I mean, it kind of is. I’ve never seen you mad. I’ve never upset you, well, except for maybe right now.” I met his eyes, biting my lip to keep from crying. “What if I do something wrong? Do you yell? Do you go silent? Will you go crazy and say mean things like Richard? I can’t stop thinking about it.” I drug my hands through my hair and spun away from him. “I swore I wouldn’t do this. I promised myself I wouldn’t mix up what I have with you right now with the past. I never wanted to drag you into all the things that have hurt me, but I can’t stop the thoughts, Ren.” I turned to face him. “I need to get rid of them, and I have to be alone to do it.”

His eyes softened as he listened to me. “I get it,” he said gently. “You’ve been hurt, and it wasn’t that long ago, and it’s still going on. It’s inevitably going to color your perspective on what we have now.”

I felt a twinge of guilt. “I'm sorry, Ren. I never wanted to make you feel like I don't trust you. I just need to get my head on straight. I need my rational mind to come back before I go nuts.”

He stepped closer, pulling me into his arms. “Listen, I’ve done it too. I’ve lost a lot, and I rushed you. I was so afraid of losing you that I held on too tight. That is my issue. I understand what’s happening, okay? I’m not upset with you, sweetheart. I swear.”

“Do you know how amazing you are?”

He shook his head, mouth forming into a flat line of determination. “I know that I’m going to get Cody back, and you’re going home with Paige. Or your mom, or maybe you should stay here. You shouldn’t really be alone.”

“I can take care of myself. I know I’m a mess right now, but I have this handled. Jake has already sued for the bakery, and I’m going to call him about Cody as soon as I get home?—”

“I know you can take care of yourself. And I know you’re good at it. But maybe you could let me take care of this because it’s whatI’mgood at. In fact, I fucking love it. And I’ve had it with that asshole jerking you around.”

“This is kind of your life’s work, isn’t it?” I murmured.

“Yes. It is. Exactly. And since I don’t technically work for you as your attorney, I can do whatever I want this time without pissing off a judge and ending up in contempt of court. We both know that motherfucker won’t turn me in.”

“Okay, fine. Maybe go talk to him. It doesn’t look like I could stop you if I tried. I mean, thank you, Ren. Seriously. But don’t tell me you were going to do it anyway. That might make me mad and I don’t want that asshole to be the cause of our first real fight. Maybe you could call Jake to go with you.”

“No, he’s your attorney?—”

“Well, I’m not her attorney. Let’s go.” Hunter said as he stepped into the garage with Paige trailing behind him.

“Everyone else is at the bonfire. Waiting for you to come back.” She told me.

“And you had to listen in,” I accused.

“No, well. I mean, we heard some things, but I didn’t mean to listen. Fine, I was worried, okay? I’m sorry. Can I drive you home? Please? The kids are staying here tonight.”

“Yes,” Ren answered. “You go home with Paige. I’ll drop Cody off later?—”

“I don’t know if?—”

His eyes locked on mine. He was not backing down, that much was clear. “I’ll drop him off,” he repeated. “Then I’ll go home.”

“Okay…” I whispered.

“Take her home, Paige,” he ordered.

He pulled me in for a quick kiss on my forehead then he let me go and headed toward his car.

“I’m coming with you,” Hunter ground out.

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