Page 40 of Bad Wolf

Then all traces of Wren will be gone.

“You Give Love a Bad Name” starts playing on whatever station the car is set to and I turn it up.

Yeah, Bon Jovi knows how it is.

CHAPTERTEN

WREN

“Come on then, Wren,”Scott says as he finishes his soda and places it down on the coffee table. “I’m on shift tomorrow morning.”

“Are you sure about this? I’ve caused enough trouble already. I don’t want to come between you and Knox.”

He stares at me as he pushes out of his chair, “I’m dead, sure, but Knox will come around. Don’t worry about us.”

“Okay,” I gulp, even though all I’m doing is worrying. “I could just as easily find an Airbnb for a while.”

It would be a stretch and I’d need to dip into the money Casey left me again, but I’m keeping a note of what I owe him.

He’ll get every penny back.

“Wren, just get your stuff,” he gruffs out and heads for the door, keys in hand. I guess when it’s time to go, it’s time to go.

I smile as I follow him, “Okay then, thank you.”

I say goodbye to everyone, and Anna and I arrange to meet on Monday. She’s going to come into the city to discuss a possible job opportunity within the foundation she and Casey are setting up and I’m thrilled.

Also, grateful.

A job, even if it’s temporary, would be a huge advantage. Every day I’m not dancing, I’m not earning, and I at least need to support myself while I’m here.

Twenty minutes later, after a quiet car ride, Scott is carrying almost every possession I own and jamming the button that calls the elevator.

“Scott, I can’t even tell you how happy this elevator makes me.”

He scrunches his face up like I’m insane, but doesn’t probe, and I don’t offer up the information that my dad and I lived in a total shithole.

I’ll try and use the stairs as often as I can, but the thought of not having to carry groceries or garbage down a million steps is a plus in my book.

I need to stay positive, find all the good things, because the look on Knox’s face when he saw me climbing out of the car has me racked with dread. The anguish I saw streak in his eyes, the torment.

It makes me shudder, and I mentally have to reel myself back in. Remember all the advice I’ve received this afternoon.

Being in the company of the Maddens, even without Knox, even for just a couple of hours, has made me feel better than I have in a long time.

Knox just needs time to adjust. I’ve been gone for a really long time, so for me to just appear out of nowhere must be jarring. Especially with him thinking I brutally hurt him.

I’m going to stay focused and remember to give him the time he needs. I’m playing the long game after all. The sensible thing for me to do is just get settled and out of Scott’s way, fast.

The Maddens are kind to a fault, and I don’t want to take advantage, but I’ll gratefully take him up on his offer of letting me crash for a few days.

He juggles the bags, twisting the key in the lock, and opens the door into a loft apartment.

He throws on the lights and I’m shocked at the size. It’s spacious for where we are in the city, and sohim. A giggle pops out of my mouth before I can reign it in.

“What’s so funny over there?” he asks, taking my luggage further into the space.

“Just how veryScottthis apartment is.”

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