Page 20 of Back to You
Ronan remembered the man.“I have.”Meeting Braden felt like it happened a lifetime ago.It was before Ronan found out that Vincent was alive.
“He’s not a pack member, so he’ll stay impartial.I’d like to ask him to look into Vincent.That way, we can be one hundred percent sure that he had nothing to do with what Fulton did and that he’s not planning anything to hurt the pack or you.”
Ronan felt guilty about saying yes, but he didn’t have a choice.Besides, that felt fair.Cam had to think about his pack, and Ronan knew that Vincent wouldn’t mind.If he had nothing to hide, he’d be fine with Braden or anyone else looking into his life.
Ronan prayed he would be.
* * * *
VINCENT DIDN’T EVENhave the time to leave his bedroom when he heard a knock on the front door.He turned from where he was staring inside his closet, and the door opened.Only two people had a key other than Vincent, and his mother was on a cruise right now, so it couldn’t be her.
“Ready to talk about what happened with Ronan?”Peter asked as he walked into the bedroom.“I didn’t bring alcohol this time, but I can run downstairs to the store if you need me to.”
Vincent was pretty sure that his smile told Peter everything he needed to know.Peter frowned and cocked his head, staring at Vincent for a moment before nodding.“Alcohol not needed.Must be nice.”
Vincent didn’t like those words, but he didn’t have the time to worry about them right now.“It went well,” he confirmed.So well that they were meeting again.He turned back to his closet.“I don’t know what to wear.”
“What’s the occasion?”
Vincent sighed.“It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it, then.I need to know what you're dressing for to help.”
“I’m seeing Ronan today.”
“Seeing as in you’re just going to see him?Or seeing as in you’re going to see more of him than I would ever want to?”
The words startled a laugh out of Vincent.“I don’t think either of us is ready for that.”
“Why not?You’ve been together for years.”
“Weweretogether for years.We alsohaven’tbeen together for years, and he thought I was dead.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with anything.Clearly, you’re very much alive.I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want to jump back into bed with you.”
“MaybeIdon’t want to jump back into bed with him.”
Peter snorted.“Please.”
“Okay, I do want that, but not before we’re together again, and for that to happen, we’re both going to need some time.I still have some resentment over what happened, and again, he believed I was dead for years.I won’t push him into something he’s not ready for.”Vincent sighed and sat on the edge of the mattress.“And then there’s what my father did to him.It’s a miracle he survived, Peter.”
“You can’t allow your father to continue ruining this.He did enough damage already, and he’s dead.”
“I’m not allowing him to do anything.I’m scared.”
Peter’s expression softened, and he dropped onto the bed next to Vincent.Vincent grimaced at the thought of Peter’s clothes on his sheets, but Peter rolled his eyes and squeezed his knee.
“I’ll change the sheets when you leave,” he promised.“You’re leaving soon, aren’t you?You have a date with your mate.”
“I’m tempted to stay home,” Vincent muttered.
“You’d regret it if you did.You want to go on a date with Ronan.You want to see him and to get your relationship back.”
“What if we can’t?”
“I think it’ll be different.You believed that he left you for years, so of course, you’re hesitant, but now, you know that he didn’t go willingly.He wanted to stay, and the two of you can have a second chance.I know you, Vincent.You don’t want to waste that chance.You’ll do anything in your power to make sure that you don’t.You just need to give yourself time.”
“You just complained that we’d given ourselves enough time already,” Vincent pointed out.
