“Edwin is an exception. He’s been asking me out for two years. He’s only interested because I keep saying no.”
“Fuck. I did not hit that guy hard enough.” I should have known Wren had a guy hounding her. It was my job to keep her safe. How had I missed that?
She giggled, and the dulcet sound was enough to calm me down. “Well, I know I’ll never look at this dress the same again.”
Wren rolled onto her back, pulling her dress over her breasts along the way. She sighed at the ceiling, her eyelids drooping slightly.
“I’m tired.”
I laid my hand on my stomach. “Sleep here.”
Her head turned, and something behind her eyes shuttered. “I can’t.”
“You can.”
Chewing on her lip, she let her eyes sweep over me. “There’s something I need to tell you. I planned to tell you before we did...this, but…um—”
I knew what she wanted to tell me. The topic I’d avoided thinking about. Of course I knew Wren had a child. A son. I’d seen them together a thousand times. But my brain compartmentalized that facet of her life and tucked it away, so when we were together, she was just my Wren. I didn’t share her with anyone else.
“Tell me.”
She sucked in a deep breath, averting her eyes. “I have a son. He’s three. I know I should have told you, and I’m so sorry. It’s just that—”
“Okay.” I turned her head toward me and touched my lips to hers. “It’s okay.”
“Um…” she blinked a few times, “okay?”
“Yeah. It’s okay. That doesn’t change anything.” I propped myself up on my elbows, dragging my finger along her cheek. She really did look tired. If she wasn’t staying with me, then I needed her tucked snug in her bed. “I should take you home now.”
“Oh.” Her face fell, crashing straight to the ground. “Of course. I need to go to sleep. You don’t have to take me. I’ll get an Uber.”
“Wren.” I rolled on top of her and covered her mouth with my hand. “Quiet. Nothing has changed. You’re tired. We’ll talk more tomorrow once you sleep.Nothinghas changed. Tell me you hear me.”
She nodded, and I moved my hand to give her another kiss.
“Say it.”
“I hear you. Nothing has changed,” she repeated.
We both got dressed, and I gave Wren a hoodie so she wouldn’t freeze without her coat. I held her close on the ride back to her house, feeling pretty fucking forlorn I had to allow her to walk away. Too bad kidnapping was off the table.
For the moment at least.
She didn’t get out right away when the car pulled up to the curb. Her arms were crossed at her middle. “Will I see you tomorrow?” Her voice had gone tiny.
“Yeah.” I scrubbed my face with my hand. “You will. I have a feelin’ I’ll have to deal with my manager, but you’ll see me. We’ll talk.”
Her nod was sharp. “Okay. Well, thank you for rescuing me. And everything else.” Even in the dark, I could see her chin tremble. “It meant a lot to me.”
“Wren.” Palming her crown, I drew her into my chest. “Nothing has changed.”
“Okay.” Her arms came around me, hugging me tight for a breath before she let go. “Good night.”
I took her chin in my hand, holding her still so I could press a hard kiss to her lips. “Good night.”
I watched her until she was inside, then asked the driver to stay another few minutes. I’d had my little bird completely tonight, but I still needed to sit here and peer up at her window to calm my beating heart. Old habits never died, especially when I had no intention of ever giving them up.