Page 39 of There's Pumpkin About You
“I think you know by now that she has enough stubbornness set into her that she wasn’t caring about that.”
I watch her chest as it slowly rises and falls with each even breath. “She should have gone home.”
“She was worried about you, Auggie.”
“I don’t need anyone worrying about me.”
There’s a pause, but I don’t bother to look up at my brother. I know the expression I’ll see on his face—annoyance mixed with concern.
Worry.
“Everyone needs someone to worry about them, Auggie.”
“Well, it’s a good thing that I have you then, isn’t it. Now you can wake her up and tell her to go home.”
Like some twisted trick of fate, the main building shakes with a vengeance as thunder and lightning wreak havoc on Eaglewood.
“For fuck’s sake,” I say with a sigh. I lower my head until it meets my good hand. I let my fingers grab and pull at the strands of my hair. There is no way she’s getting back in this storm.
“You were saying?” Bash asks and I can feel the smug smile he is most likely shooting in my direction.
I refuse to reply as I pretend to look over the various paperwork that is scattered across my desk. As if of their own accord, my eyes keep flicking over to Wren’s sleeping form on the chair. Her features are even more pleasant to observe when they’re relaxed by sleep. There is no frustration that drags down her eyebrows, no downward tilt to her lips. Her nose twitches occasionally when she breathes out and even when she is asleep, she still bites her lip as she dreams of God knows what.
Even in the dim light, there is a glow to her brown skin that absorbs the light instead of reflecting it. She shines in a way that I’ve never seen another woman do before.
It pisses me off.
How dare she be so gorgeous whilst also being the biggest pain in my ass? It has my head ticking from one thought to another like it’s a goddamn metronome. The moment I left the barn earlier, I had been weighed down by the well-known feeling of rejection. I thought I had been used to feeling that way and yet when Wren had spoken to me the way she had, I found myself with a foreign arrow in my chest.
And despite that, by the time I had made it to the edge of our land, I had forgiven her. I had forgiven her ignorance because somehow, I knew deep down that it had been just that: a lack of knowledge.
I abruptly shoot up from my seat, my gaze still stuck on Wren’s sleeping form. There’s no way I’m getting her to the house by myself with my arm in this stupid-ass sling. I release my arm from it and my elbow twinges in protest.
“Woah, woah, what are you doing?” Bash jumps up, his features filled with worry as he looks at the orange cast on my forearm.
“She can’t drive in this weather. I’m taking her to the house.”
I move towards her, but Bash blocks my way. “And how do you expect to do that with a broken arm?”
“The bones have been slotted back into place and there’s a stupid splint. Now move.”
“Auggie, think logically. I get that you want her to be safe, but neither of you will be safe if you end up injuring your arm even more whilst you’re carrying her.”
“It’s pouring with rain out there. I can’t just take her out there without something shielding her.”
Bash sighs. “Honestly, when she’s safe in the house, we really need to have a nice long chat about how to know when you like someone.”
“Shut the fuck up and move.” I try to maneuver around him.
“No!” Bash shouts, causing Wren to shift in her sleep, the start of a frown pulling at her eyebrows.
I shoot Bash a warning look. “If you wake her, I swear to God I will shove my foot so far up your ass, you’ll be smelling leather for weeks.”
Wide-eyed, he holds his hands up in surrender.
I let out a resigned sigh because as much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. Doctor Shakari told me to keep my arm in the sling for at least the first four weeks, and it’s only been three weeks and two days. Plus, if I accidentally drop Wren, then I would never forgive myself.
Never.
