Page 69 of Joyride
“I needed some fresh air. What’s up?”
“I wanted to check in with you. Sketch told us some of what happened with your ex.” He sits in a chair next to me. “How are you doing after all that?”
“Honestly?”
He nods.
“Sketch is the only one I’ve told, but my ex raped me,” I admit. Something about Cheshire has always made it so easy for me to talk to him. I have this connection with him. Not romantic by any means, but similar to my connection with Sienna. “I’m dealing with it, but some days are better than others.”
“Holy shit, Wren.” He throws his arms around me, hugging me tightly.
After a minute, I pull back. “Maggie noticed I didn’t feel well because of the smell of raw meat and mentioned I might be pregnant. Ches, how am I supposed to tell Sketch that I could be pregnant with my rapist’s baby?” The tears fall down my cheeks.
“He’s not gonna love you any less if you tell him. I’ve never seen that idiot so in love before. Whether it’s his or your rapist’s, he’s gonna love you and that baby regardless. But you have to tell him. Take a test, see a doctor, and go from there.”
The back door opens again. Out of the corner of my eye, I can tell it’s Sketch.
“Fucking Cheshire. You make my woman cry?” There’s irritation in his tone.
“Fuck you. She was telling me what happened with her ex,” Ches tells him. I’m thankful he left out the bit about me possibly being pregnant.
“Little Bird.” His tone is soft as he kneels next to me.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Cheshire says, walking inside.
42
Sketch
I walk outsideto Wren and Cheshire talking, and she’s crying. Of course, my first thought was him being an asshole and saying something to make her cry. I should have known better. She’s the first person I’ve known to have a real connection with him. Cheshire doesn’t get close to people. He’s somewhat close to all of us in the shop, but he keeps a lot of shit to himself. We’d all have his back, no questions asked if he needed it. But sometimes, I wonder how well any of us really know him. Wren, on the other hand, seems to have at least partially broken down some of his walls.
It’s no real surprise that she told him what happened. It just hurts seeing her cry over it. I did what I had to do for him to never be able to hurt her again, but there’s still the emotional pain she has to heal from. I know she will be able to, she’s strong as fuck. I also know it’ll take time to heal a pain like that.
“Sketch.” Her voice sounds pained. “I think I’m pregnant.”
“What? Really?” I can’t help but smile. Only, it fades just as quickly. “You think it’s Zack’s.”
She nods, not making eye contact. I sit on the ground, pulling her into my lap but avoiding my left arm. Tears are pouring down her face.
“Baby, even if it is, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll love that baby as much as I love you.”
“How? I don’t even know if I would be able to love it.”
“Because that baby would be a part of you, that’s how.”
My words only make her cry harder. I hold her, letting her get it out. Once her crying lightens up, she pulls back slightly, locking her eyes on mine.
“I’m so scared,” she whispers.
“We’ll figure this out together, Little Bird. One step at a time.” I give her a quick kiss. “Let’s go inside. You can lay down until dinner is ready,” I suggest.
She nods her head and stands, then holds her hands out to help me up. I get her inside and settled in my old room.
“I’ll come get you as soon as it’s ready.” I kiss her forehead.
“I love you, Logan.”
“I love you, too.” I head back downstairs and find Cheshire waiting at the bottom.
