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I mash my lips together despite how much I want to admonish him for not warning me off Dot. Although he’d already left town when I started dating her, and as much as it leaves a foul taste in my mouth, this was all my doing. I was the one who looked at Dot as someone to have fun with and instead ended up with a whole lot more heartache.
Pop shakes his head and glances around our small group. It’s plain to see he’s struggling with something. “I know you’d told me, but hearing you say it out loud, like this…” He breaks off and clenches his jaw. Knowing this man the way I do, it feels like he holds some responsibility for my predicament. While honorable, it’s misguided. “I wasn’t there for you. While you didn’t come around, I should’ve sought you out?—”
I can’t stand to see him like this and cut him off, aiming to put him out of his misery.
“Yeah, the past couple of years were rough, but I’m somewhat to blame. I now realize I should’ve acted a lot sooner. I could’ve spared Wren the anguish of facing off with Dot.”
His head swings to his daughter, and Percy blurts out before he can say anything, “What did Dot do?”
Her sister breathes fire and her father echoes the sentiment, both clearly ready for battle. Wren smiles warmly. “Hey, it’s all right now.”
While it seems like she wants to end it at that, exhausted with rehashing the ordeal, her family isn’t going to leave things there. Wren then wades into Dot’s attempt at blackmail, carefully skirting her sighting of Kellen and Dot, and wraps up with her conversation this morning with the mayor.
We talk for a few more minutes, although Wren becomes unusually quiet, and finally Pop and Percy return to work.
“Well, I should get going too.” Maddox drops a few bills on the counter and slides his arms around both of us for a group hug. “I love you guys. I’m so glad you finally got together. It’s about time.”
We laugh and say our goodbyes, and as soon as he’s out of earshot, I lead Wren over to a corner. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just want to make sure you’re okay with what you did.”
We both scan the restaurant and tongues are still wagging, with a few people still watching us from afar.
I take both her hands in mine. “I was doing a disservice to the Winslow name by keeping quiet. What kind of man would I be if I let Dot continue to torment you?”
“Oh, look at you, being all chivalrous.” Her flirty smile fades as her expression softens and so does her tone. “She was tormenting you too and for far longer than me.”
“It no longer matters. We’re finally rid of her. Let’s go back to where you were calling me a white knight.” I wink to get a giggle out of her and it works.
“Those weren’t my exact words. Even still, what I love the most is…”
I draw her flush against my body, and the words stop pouring from her mouth. At first, she stiffens, conscious that we’re in a public place. It’ll take some time for both of us to relax and just be together when around other people. But with the gentle kneading of my fingers on her waist, she relaxes into me.
“Tell me, what do you love the most about me?” My smile, untamed and far too big, takes over my face.
Wren looks up at me and smiles. “You don’t fight my battles for me.”
Before she can say more, I finish for her. “No, I fight next to you.”
We kiss and she pulls away to look up at me, hands still clasped behind my neck. “While you already have a key, I want to do this the right way. Make it official and all.”
“Official? I’m listening.”
“Oliver Winslow, move in with me.” Her lips softly tease and taste mine, and I swear the earth quakes and my insides melt.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Chapter20
Wren
“Hey, would you move? I’m watching the game.” Maddox swipes his hand at Percy from my father’s armchair.
While there’s no heat to his groan, my sister sticks out her tongue at him and drops onto the sofa beside me. “Who invited you anyway?”
“Hey.” I tap her knee in admonishment. “Oliver and I did.”
“Ooh, look at you.” She holds up air quotes and sing-songs, “Oliver and me.”
