Page 91 of White Raven
“Not unless you wanna throw ‘em a bone and have a public spat,” he smirked. “I bet you’d like that.”
Her eyes lit up, and there had to be about a thousand ideas flooding that red-headed mind of ways she could hurt him in front of a camera. “Hmm…raunchy.”
“Yeah?” he grinned, reaching around the back of her thigh and gripping it just under her ass. She swatted his hand and boggled her eyes, tilting her head towards the living room.“Don’t stress over it. I’ll think of something.” He winked, and handed her a plate for Sarah, who cleared her throat in the other room.
Well…this was already awkward.
They all took up spots on the couch, and Brent decided to break the sound of quiet chewing and address the elephant in the room. “Wren said this was Athan’s old place.”
Sarah’s skill with chopsticks was a talent he never noticed, and she shoveled noodles in her mouth, nodding. “It was,” she said through her food. “I’m sure he’s missing it tonight, too.”
“Oh? Bit of a saddle sore on that white horse of his?” Brent asked, playfully, making Wren snort. Sarah pointed between the two of them with her sticks.
“I take back everything I said about the two of you being chummy.”
“That’s the fruit of your own labor, friend,” Wren laughed, taking another bite—from a fork.
“Touche,” Sarah smiled. “And to answer your question, no…no saddle sore. Just fucking sick of being kept in the dark about important shit.”
The look she flashed him struck a nerve, and he lowered his fork, closing his mouth. “That felt a little personal,” he admitted.
Sarah shrugged, and Wren feigned oblivion next to him, looking anywhere but at the two of them while she continued to stuff her face. “Yeah, well…it kinda started with you, didn’t it?”
“I thought we were past this,” he clipped, setting his plate down on his lap. Sarah sighed and did the same.
“We are…sorry, I’m just—he pissed me off good this time. I’m not sure what to do about it.”
“Well, if you’re gonna kill him, I’m unemployed. Just don’t tell me. Can’t defend you if I know you did it. But I alsocouldn’t say I’d be unhappy about helping you bury his body,” he winked, smirking at her.
Wren’s fork clinked against her plate. “You know what? I might be the best friend, but I think you’re coming down a little too hard, Sarah.”
“You can’t be serious,” Sarah gaped. “Earmuffs, Brent. In case you get butt-hurt.” She turned her body towards Wren, and he intently listened. “When we were at the cabin, you didn’t have a problem telling me that Brent was a piece of shit for what he lied to me about and the things we found out he’d done. No lie is any sweeter than the other.”
“True, and true. But by that point, you already knew the truth about what Athan had kept from you, and I told you there was a difference in what he’d done and what Brent had done…sorry Brent,” Wren winced, patting his arm.
“Yeah, you said that difference was the fact that Brent knew exactly what he was doing, and chose to do it anyway, while Athan didn’t have any control over what he’d done to me. How can you say this time is different? He knew damn well!”
Knew what? Whatever it was had to be huge.
“Look, dude. I can’t imagine that a scare like that would be easy to explain to somebody that’s about to be his wife. Can you honestly say that you wouldn’t have completely lost your shit if he’d tried to tell you that Rhaena might be having his fucking kid?”
Wife? Kid?! Wait…
Brent threw a hand out, getting their attention. “Wait…pause. Go back.Wife?” Sarah’s face paled, and she swallowed. “You’re engaged?”
Her eyes shot to Wren, and Wren’s face flushed as she lowered it. “Sorry…I didn’t know that was a secret.”
“It’s not,” Sarah started, sighing again. “We are. He asked me on Christmas morning.”
Fuck…that was quick.
He thought he should feel some type of way about it but—he didn’t. And it looked like Wren was searching his features for evidence that it bothered him. He glanced over at her and offered her a soft smile before returning his attention to Sarah. “Look at you,” he grinned, meaning nothing more than a genuine congratulations. “I’m happy for you.”
“Oh, please,” Sarah scoffed.
“No, I’m absolutely serious. Congratulations.”
She eased herself back against the arm of the couch and stared at him, narrowing her eyes. “Thanks…”
