Page 124 of When We Were Us
“Hudson. Who the fuck is it?” The tone in my voice has Wren crossing back to the bed to pull on her panties and bra.
“He wouldn’t give me a name. He started yelling, calling me names and shit. So, I told him to leave. He said he wasn’t leaving until he talked to her. I told him I was calling the police, and brother...I hate to say this to you, but fuck—” Hudson hesitates.
“Spit it out,” I bark. Wren’s half-dressed now in her cutoffs and bra, while shoving her feet into her shoes from where she’s perched on the end of my bed.
He blows out a breath, lowers his voice, and says, “Hank, he says he’s Wren’s fiancé.”
My blood thrums in my ears. I stare at her from across the small room as she pulls her tank top over her head, and her eyes are wide as she watches me. She shoves her arms into my jacket, zips it over her clothes, and then comes to stand in front of me.
My throat is suddenly dry, but I manage to clear it and push out four words: “Is he still there?”
“Fuck yeah, he is. Wren’s rental is in front of his and I’ve got him boxed in with the ranch truck. He’s just up there sitting on her porch. And, dude, he’s old as fuck.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and try to rein in my anger. I have no idea what this asshole is doing here, but there is no way in hell I’m letting Wren go there alone. And if this fucker thinks he can treat her the way he has andget away with it, he’s got another thing coming.
I’ve seen the shit he’s been texting her. Just yesterday, she’d shown me his latest string of texts of calling her names and threatening to make her see that she would only ever be his. Let’s just say, if he’d been standing in front of me, he'd have a mouthful of my fist and decidedly less teeth. Wrenley insisted he was harmless, but now that he is here, I’m not so sure.
“Not really the most pressing issue at hand, brother,” I bite out.
“I know, I’m just saying. I could take him.” He pauses. “You know, if I have to.”
I chuckle darkly because we really are brothers. Hudson wants to kick this guy's ass six ways from Sunday, too.
“We’re on our way.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
wrenley
The silencein the truck is deafening. I stare out the front window as Hank drives toward my place. His grip on the steering wheel flexes and he glances over at me, then reaches across the seat to take my hand.
“Come here.” He pulls me over to sit in the middle of the bench seat, just like I used to. My feet straddle the gear shift on the floor, and I press my thigh into his. It grounds me.
“This changes nothing, Wrenley.” He glances at me, then back at the road. “What just happened between us, that’s what matters. You hear me?” His voice is steady, sure.
I nod and rest my cheek on his shoulder, our hands clasped together on my thigh.
“You don’t even have to talk to him if you don’t want to. Hudson and I can get rid of him.”
I laugh then. “My heroes.” And I mean it. I’ve never felt more safe, more loved, or more protected than I do right now.
He huffs out a laugh, but it's tight and he nudges me with his shoulder. “I’m not looking to complicate shit for you, Wren. But Hudson said this guy’s pretty pissed, and if he’s here, he wants something. You say the word and he’s gone.”
“Iknow. I love you for it.” I squeeze his hand and press a kiss to his shoulder.
When we pull into the driveway behind Hudson, he and Finn step out of the truck and walk back toward my granddad’s truck. I stay where I’m seated, and I can see Derek sitting on the top step. His head comes up when Hank kills the engine and shuts off the headlights. Hudson and Finn approach the driver's side window and she smiles at me from across the space.
“You ok, girl?” Finn asks in a quiet voice, and I nod, staying pressed against Hank.
“You want me to wait here?” Hank turns to look at me and runs a hand down my arm.
“No, I want you with me,” I say, and he nods, opening his door and climbing out. He reaches for my hand to help me out past the steering wheel.
Once I’m on my feet, he pulls me into him with an arm around my neck and presses a kiss to my temple. I wrap my arms around his waist. I’m not sure if Derek can see us from here, being that it’s so dark, but a small part of me hopes he can. I want him to see me seeking comfort in a man who isn’t him. He might not care, but it feels good anyway.
Hank breathes out a long sigh as he holds me. “You sure you want to do this now?”
I lift my head from his chest and look at him. “No, but it’s gotta happen eventually. Might as well be now.”
