Page 203 of As They Are
“It won’t happen again,” Tammy said. “I promise.”
“I’m sorry they had her come in,” I said.
“And to think I really thought she was being nice.” She sighed. “I should have known.”
“You gave her a chance andshelet you down,” Tammy said. “That’s on her.”
Wren did the last thing I expected. She burst into tears.
“I’msosorry for leaving. I should have tried to talk it out with you both, but I really thought—I let her get to me.”
I pulled Wren in for a hug and Tammy joined in.
“It’s okay, kid.” It was the softest she’d sounded all day. “We all make mistakes, and we all learn from them.”
“I’m so happy to be here. I hated being away.”
“Then I’m glad we came to get you,” I said as I pressed a kiss to her head. “We’d both do that and more.”
Shortly after we finished our conversation, Mollie called and begged us to come to the farm. She had so many curse words for Wren’s mom that Cain had to cover Eric’s ears. Once she was done going off, both of them were crying again. Mollie hated thatshe’d been out of town when it happened, and Wren regretted not speaking up more.
In the end, Mollie made it clear she would be there for Wren at any time, and Wren promised to tell her when something had happened.
It was late in the evening before we got back to my house. Wren showered and laid in the bed next to me. She was quiet, but I was happy she was here and in my arms. Things were right when she was here.
“Any time you need to be reminded how out of my league you are,” I said, “tell me.”
“I will,” she said. “But since we got back, I feel ... better. Like I’m not drowning in my own self-pity.”
“It’s what happens when you’re around the right kind of people. The ones who build you up and not tear you down.”
“You’re right. Just like you usually are.” Her arms tightened around me. “I just need my brain to stop talking sometimes.”
“You do.”
“At this point, just tie me down and make me forget everything.” She burrowed deeper. “I’d probably do it if you told me to.”
I had no idea if she meant it, but I could picture it. The first time we’d been together, I mentioned the very idea.
Even now, with all the stress of the day, it injected my body with liquid heat.
“Henry?” she asked. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” I replied. “We can talk about it later.”
Wren lifted herself up on her elbow, her hair falling down her back. “No, not later. Now. You know I’ll worry about it.”
“You said nothing bad.” I pressed my lips to hers. “I was thinking of something else and got lost in thought.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Care to share?”
“It was about me tying you up. And making you forget everything else.”
Now Wren’s eyes were wide. “Really? Even after today?”
“Yes, but this isn’t the time for that. You need rest?—”
“Fuck that. Are you being serious?”
