Page 61 of Tall, Dark, & Ginger

Blinking my eyes open, I focus on the hazy smile and ginger curls hovering above me and smile.

“Morning,” Wren says. “I made coffee.”

I push myself upright, scratching my head. Wren is naked, sitting cross-legged and holding a mug of steaming liquid. I take it, inhaling the scent first, then sipping the fresh coffee.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I figured you’d want to get up since it’s a little after ten.”

“Shit. Really?”

He nods. “I’ve only been up a little longer than you.” He reaches over to the nightstand for his own mug. “Sorry about last night.”

I search my memory for a second, coming up empty. “Sorry for what?”

“Being asleep when you got home. That’s probably not what you meant when you told me to be waiting in bed for you.”

“I didn’t mind. Truth is I thought it was cool that you were sleeping so well.”

“Are you sure? It must have been kind of weird for you.”

“It wasn’t, Wren.” I rub his knee. “If you want me to be honest then I’ll tell you that I liked it. I enjoyed cuddling up next to you. It felt nice.”

His cheeks blush pink as he focuses on his mug. “I want to tell you where I went yesterday.”

“Sure.”

“I started therapy.”

I nod. Wasn’t expecting that, but cool. “Yeah? Do you want to tell me more?”

Wren stares into his mug for a second before his pretty eyes meet mine. “Obviously my last relationship did a number on me, but it’s not just that. There’s been a lot of guys like him. I cling to people who aren’t good for me, and I don’t want to anymore.”

I nod, trying not to read into his words. I hope this isn’t some roundabout way of telling me we’ve gone far enough.

“I’ve worked really hard to get where I am right now,” Wren continues. “Finally I can see the future I’ve been chasing for years. I have this amazing job and really cool bosses, who I think are becoming friends.”

I nod in answer to the question in his voice.

“I have a nice place to live and for once I’m not being dicked around by some loser guy. In fact, um…” He blows out a breath as pink blotches spread from his cheeks to his neck.

“You can say whatever you want to say to me, Wren.”

“I know.” He nods, nibbling his bottom lip for a second before clearing his throat. “I like you, Ridley. I like the way we spend time together. I like that there’s not a lot of expectations or demands around it. I’m scared of messing it up.”

Oh. “How would you mess it up?”

“I don’t know, but I always mess it up. You’re not like any guy I’ve messed around with before so it’s new territory. I want to go with the flow, the way we said we would, but I’m not really sure I know how. It’s fine now, but what about in a month or three or six?”

“Or twelve.”

His eyes widen for a second. “Or twenty-four.”

I set my mug down and scoot closer to him so our legs are touching. “I like you too, Wren, and I like the way we are too. I know it’s only words, but I’m not gonna push you to move any faster or slower than you’re ready for. I’m scared too.”

“Of what?”

“The day you wake up and decide you want a guy who’s ten years younger and ready to put a ring on it.”

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