Page 13 of Slow Ride

Trevon propped himself up, half-sitting with one booted foot planted on the floor and the back of his opposite thigh resting on the table.Quinn came around the other side and took Devra’s hand.“What’s wrong?”

“It turns out Agent Mikalski isn’t the saint I thought.”Devra seemed legitimately angry on Wren’s behalf.It hadn’t been her intention to turn these people against Jordan.He’d only done good things for them.

“Who is, really?”Wren asked, her shoulders slumping further.“It just happens that the one time Jordan decided not to live up to his standards of perfection, I was the one who paid the price.”

“You’re defending him?”Devra stared at her with wide eyes.

Wren supposed that’s what true love was.Even now, she couldn’t hate him.Be angry with him?Absolutely.Hate?Never.

“I’m not saying this because of some sort of bro code.If Devra says he deserves a swift kick or three I’m sure he does.”Trevon winced.“But Jordan is overall a good man.He risked a lot to help us.The only reason he would do something that hurt you both is if he thought it was for the greater good.I see that it wasn’t, but sometimes men are dumb when we’re in love.I made some pretty bad assumptions about what I thought Devra needed out of our marriage before Quinn helped me pull my head out of my ass.”

“That’s a very good point.”Devra turned to Trevon and kissed him sweetly, proving that she didn’t hold any grudges.

Quinn nodded.“I hate to pile on, but I think they’re right.I’ve seen the way Jordan looks at you.And he’s repeatedly told me to take care of you like he wishes he could.He loves you.I can see he did a piss poor job of showing you that and handling the shit in your past.I’m sorry.I bet he freaked the fuck out when your…”

“Boyfriend,” Wren supplied.She might as well be totally transparent.It felt good to finally have someone to talk to about this.People who could understand the complex dynamics of an even more complex relationship.It made her feel better that they didn’t automatically bash Jordan.Like just maybe she hadn’t been wrong to give him her heart and soul after all.“They were both mine.”

“But not each other’s?”Trevon asked with a raised brow.

She shook her head.“At least not when Johnny died.Maybe in time things could have been different…we’ll never know.”

Ollie sighed from where he leaned against the wall, one ankle crossed over the other.“Jordan flat out told me he’s been in love with you forever, but that he’d ruined his shot with you.He’s a hard man.The kind who might not be able to forgive himself if he thought he hurt someone he cared about.”

“Hedidhurt me.He took my heart—which was broken from losing Johnny—ripped it out of my chest, and stomped on in until it exploded.”She couldn’t help but cry then, even if she told herself they were angry tears.“He abandoned me when I needed him most.I’m glad he stays the fuck away from me because I despise him.”

Ollie cursed then and banged his hand on the wall.“Never mind.I’m going to beat the shit out of him next time I see him.”

Trevon shook his head ruefully.He took the edge out of the air when he stood and rounded the table.He saw through Wren’s rage to the pain beneath it.“Nah, you don’t hate his guts.You wouldn’t still be crying over him if you did.I think it says a lot about you that you still care about him even though he screwed up so spectacularly.”

He held his arms out, open.Wren didn’t think twice before leaning into him and resting her cheek on his abs.Even he, a man she’d only known a few months and certainly had never slept with, comforted her when the one who had supposedly been her soulmate had not.

Some things were unforgiveable.That didn’t mean she could change her own feelings, which had been and always would be genuine.“I wish I could hate him.”

“It’s hard for me to imagine the person you’re describing is the same man who fought so hard to help Trevon, Quinn, and I stay together.He risked everything for us.”Devra, always the optimist, acted like this was a fairytale with the possibility of a magical ending instead of real life.“Maybe he’s matured.There’s still hope.If you love him and he loves you…”

“Not gonna happen,” Wren insisted as she pushed away from Trevon and sat up straight again.“Sometimes, love isn’t enough.”

That bitter truth soured her stomach.

Wren stood, fingering the backstage ticket in her pocket again.At least that made her feel better.Kason had made her smile again.

“In that case, I definitely think we should hit up that concert.”Devra winked at Wren.“It’s time to find someone who makes you happy, don’t you think?Even if that person is yourself.”

Now that Wren could agree with.It was time to stop letting the past drag her down.

“Yeah, okay.I’ll go if you will.Call Kaelyn, Sabra, Sally, and Nola too.”Wren shrugged at the guys.“Sorry, but I’m feeling like a ladies’ night is in order.”

“Don’t worry about us.”Quinn grinned.“We’ve got Kason’s sweet ride to play with.We’re going to do such an awesome job on it that he brings all the rest of his collection here too.I hope you end up liking the guy, because I have a feeling he’s going to be spending a lot of time around the shop.”

Great, no pressure.

Wren had barely found a place she felt at home and another man had the power to wreck it for her.Fuck that.She thought of his gorgeous eyes, fast smile, and his willingness—unlike Jordan—to admit when he was wrong.

Maybe she should text him once, just to let him know they were coming after all.

Maybe, if she could work up the nerve.

But first, she had something more important to do.

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