“I might have fucked that up a little. It was right before we ran, and I had to focus on Gavin and getting us in here to be safe and…” he sighs, dropping his head into his hands as his shoulders slump.
“I didn’t mean to let her down, but I did, and then she showed up here, and it was like I had another chance, but I knew if I told her she would be upset, and I just…”
“Bitched out?”
Dimitri turns to glare at Titus but doesn’t argue with him.
“You either need to break it or tell her,” I tell him, feeling like it shouldn’t have to be said, but here we are.
“I know.”
We talked a little more, and by talked I mean argued about how Felix needs to stay away from Wren before he simply disappears, ignoring us, and honestly, I’m not surprised.
“I’m not sure why he’s so drawn to her, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to stop him. We’ll just have to continue to keep her away.” I wipe a hand down my face, already exhausted at the thought.
I’ve never seen Felix want something for himself. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s either been all about his family or alone. This is new territory, and something tells me his stubborn nature runs in the family.
“That didn’t seem to work out great last time,” Nolan says as he stands from the couch, gently setting her feet back on the couch where he just was so as not to wake her.
“No, but we don’t have much else we can do, and he’s dangerous,” Titus says as if we don’t know that.
And we do. We all know why Titus is so set on keeping him away from her, but what if…
No, we don’t have time for what-ifs right now, especially when being wrong could put her in very real danger?
“We’ll do what we can.” Dimitri pushes to stand, going over to the coffee pot to pour another cup.
“We? So, are you going to tell her?” He pauses at my words, and I see the way his posture goes rigid before he slumps in defeat.
“Yeah, I will. Let’s just get through the showcase first.”
I don’t love that answer, don’t like the idea of us keeping things from her, but I also know she’s already going through so much.
How much is too much? I can’t say I want to find out. No, I’d rather shelter her from everything, but I also know that’s not possible either.
“Fine.” I turn to Nolan, and he gives me a nod that lets me know he agrees, as does Titus.
At least that’s something, I guess.
“Headed to your meet?”
“Yeah, just preliminaries today. I’ll be back later.” He waves me off as he walks out the door. I know that means he doesn’t think it’s worth wasting our time on. Unfortunately, that’s no longer up to him or even me for that matter.
Our girl has been spending a lot of time with him, watching him swim, giving him tips, and taking all the pictures.
No way will I let her sleep through this.
For the first time in, well, ever, my first thought isn’t swimming even as I change into my suit and go through my stretches.
No, my mind continues to wander back to the tiny girl who not only dominates my every waking moment but now my dreams as well.
I’ve never dreamed before; usually, I have nothing, or my mother or siblings visit me, which is never a good thing.
Seeing Wren in sleep is definitely preferred.
“Nolan!” I turn to find Coach standing near the door, a peeved look on his face that tells me this wasn’t the first time he called me. “You’re up first. Let's go.”
“What? My heat is usually last,” I say, but I follow him nonetheless.
