Page 89 of Bad Wolf

“Wren, can I just get your advice on this?”

“Bro, we need to talk.”

My gaze ping-pongs between the two of them, but it’s like Scott is yelling at me with his eyes, so I pop a kiss to Wren’s exposed shoulder and hop off the stool, heading into Scott’s room. When I turn, he’s closing the door behind me.

“What the fuck, man?”

I look at him like he’s nuts—because he is, “What?”

“Have you talked? Like at all?”

I mean, I can only guess this is about Wren, “Well, yeah.”

He scoffs and I shake my head.

“Break this down for me. What the hell have I done wrong? You knew I spent the night, you were just making breakfast for her.”

He rolls his eyes in that way only a big brother can do, like I’m the idiot, but I still don’t know what the problem is.

“In one night, you’ve both managed to unpack not only that night, but six years’ worth of absence in each other’s lives? And now you’re starting off the day as if the party never happened?”

My eye twitches involuntarily at the notion that he thinks I don’t understand how much work Wren and I have to do to even begin to rebuild our relationship.

Like I don’t know that we can’t jump straight back into it, but also, that falling asleep with her in my arms last night felt like the world had finally stopped spinning in the wrong direction, and that raging fire of warring emotions in my gut had finally settled.

That my heart is now beating normally and not skipping out of rhythm like it was missing its other half.

He folds his giant forearms across his chest, waiting for me to answer him.

I rub my hand over my face and sigh, but I look him dead in the eye so he knows I’m serious when I give him my answer.

“Look. Did we jump the gun sleeping with each other?” I nod, “Yeah, we probably did. That’s on me though. Once I gave myself the green light, my dick stepped on the pedal and before I knew it, I had her pinned to the back of your door.”

That garners a narrowing of his eyes,

“But don’t, for one second, think I don’t know how far we need to go to truly fix what’s broken. There are things I need to know. Things I want to tell her, but when I woke up this morning, I didn’t need to do the mental math of adding yet another day to not being with her. The slate was clear. This wasn’t morning 3,778, Scott. This was morning 1.”

His face completely softens and he unfolds his arms, coming closer to me. He pulls me roughly by the neck and gives me a quick hug.

“Just promise me you’ll work through the shit. You both got hurt, and you’ve been fighting yourself for months. Take things slow, don’t fucking go all ‘Ace’ on this.”

“Goall Ace?” I arch a brow at him.

“You know what I mean. Take a breath to appreciate the time you spend together, but enjoy the anticipation while being away from each other too. Don’t jump headfirst into this. Enjoy the journey.”

I blink at him, stunned. “Where—where the fuck did that just come from?”

He laughs, “Ah, man. I have no idea. When did I turn into Casey? It’s fucking gross.”

I smile at him, “Come on let’s get back to our girls.”

He nods and I don’t miss the way he doesn’t dispute Jenna isn’t his.

* * *

Ileave Scott’s apartment once we’ve eaten and I’ve said a drawn-out goodbye to Wren. I had to fight the urge to stay any longer. I could have sat propped up against the headboard all day, catching up and filling in the gaps with her.

Or fucking her into the mattress.

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