Page 118 of I Knead You Tonight

“Slow your roll, turbo. We aren’t even officially dating yet. Marriage isn’t on the table.”

“Not everyone is as insane as we are and gets engaged after less than a year of dating,” Foster tells her.

“Yeah, but you’ve always had a pizza my heart. That’s different.”

“Did you really just say pizza?” I curl my lip, leaning away from her insanity. “That’s it. I’m really leaving now.” I hop off the bed of the truck and head toward my car. “See you guys later.”

“Win, wait!”

I turn and Wren jogs toward me.

“Look, I know I’ve been razzing you about Drew, but I’m happy for you. I really am. I think you two work together. You push each other in the best kind of way. But, please, get your shoulder looked at. If not for yourself, for Drew.” She gives me that same look Foster did—pity. “Please. I think something is seriously wrong.”

“You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t known that for the past few years? Why else do you think I’ve been smoking myself silly?”

She tilts her head, pursing her lips.

“To mask the pain, Wren.”

“Oh. Huh. I just thought you were a super stoner or something.”

I chuckle. “Nah. Well, I mean, yes, but also no. It was the only thing that helped me get through.”

“Helped?”

“Yeah. I, uh, quit.”

I don’t know why I whisper it, like I’m ashamed or something.

There’s nothing wrong with weed, nothing wrong with letting that buzz wash over you, but Drew was right when she called me on my shit.

I wasn’t smoking because it’s fun or because it was my only choice. I was doing it to take the easy way out, because I didn’t want to work for my recovery, which is really unfair to myself and the people whohaveto use it to get by. I was making a mockery out of all of us.

Weed is a drug that is to be respected, and I was abusing the hell out of it.

“For Drew?” Wren asks.

I nod. “And me. I didn’t like who it was making me.”

Wren’s eyes soften. “I’m sorry. I feel like I failed as your twin. I didn’t realize you were hurting so bad, Win.”

I shrug. “I didn’t let anyone know. I shut down, shut everyone out.”

“That part I did notice. You’ve been so…mean.”

I wince. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t me. It was the pot. I love you. You know that, right?”

She cringes at the mushy moment but says, “I love you too. But if youreallyloved me, you’d get your shoulder looked at.”

“You and Drew really are best friends. She’s been riding my ass about it too.”

“See? That’s two people who give a shit.”

“Three!” Foster yells. “That’s three!”

“Oh my god, quit eavesdropping before I come over there and beat your cheeks!”

“Did you just threaten to fuck him in front of me?”

---