Page 28 of Slow Ride

“For Cox-blocking me or for ghosting me five years ago after taking one last bang for the road?”She crossed her arms, refusing to accept his peace offering when he extended the flowers to her.

He couldn’t help but be amused by her wit and candor despite the fact that she was throwing daggers at him.“Both.I see you’ve only gotten sweeter over time.Unfortunately for you, I like when you bust my balls.”

It reminded him of how strong she was.Ten times more than him.

Jordan took a step forward, pleased when she didn’t retreat.Wren would always hold her ground.There was part of him that was mature enough to admit seeing her with Kason had reignited some of his possessive streak and a hell of a lot of his desire.That had never been the problem between them.

He didn’t mind sharing, but did Kason know now that Wren had been Jordan’s once, and would always be his in some way?

She scanned him up and down, her gaze landing on his.He let her see his suffering, his longing, and his confusion.Wren relented.She turned and waved him inside.So he went.

He decided he better start explaining before she changed her mind.

“I’m apologizing for hurting you.Then.Now.Whenever.”He set the lilies on the small table nearby.Then he reached for her hand and was shocked when she allowed him to clasp it gently in his.“Even though I lost you, I still consider it one of the greatest honors of my life that you loved me once.”

Some of the steel went out of her spine.Her shoulders slumped and she blinked a few times in rapid succession.“Don’t say shit like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I might believe you.”Wren sighed.“We both made mistakes, Jordan.Mine was letting you and Johnny pretend everything was fine between you when it wasn’t.If I’d spoken up—”

“That wasn’t your responsibility,” Jordan insisted.“I should have done it.”

“But when you struggled to, I should have stepped in and helped.”She raised her voice bit by bit.“How could things between us ever have worked out if you were so unwilling to believe I could be an equal partner?”

“What?”Jordan held his hands out.“You were more thanequal.You were the center of us.”

“No.That’s bullshit.You saw me as someone to shelter.Someone who wasn’t capable of dealing with conflict.Someone weak and fragile.”When he opened his mouth, she nearly shouted, “Don’t deny it when the proof is irrefutable.Why else would you have left me when you did?”

“Because I wasn’t good for you.Without Johnny…” He scrubbed his hand over his face.“I could never be enough for you on my own.”

“I forgive you for being distraught and illogical.I forgive you for choosing a future without me.I even forgive you for abandoning me to figure out how to cope with my grief on my own.What I can’t forgive is that you didn’t think I was strong enough to love you, and that you made the decision for me.If you gave a shit about me, you never would have done that.”

“I’ve fucked up a lot of things in my life.Of all of them, I regret hurting you the most.”Jordan struggled to breathe.

“You’re still not getting it, are you?”Wren pointed to the door.“You know what, you should have left.We never would have made it because you don’t believe in me.”

Maybe Quinn had been right.Jordan needed to give her more credit.How could he say he loved her if he wasn’t willing to acknowledge how resilient and tough she was?

He hesitated before saying anything else, lest he make it worse instead of better.What he eventually settled on was, “I hope Kason treats you right and gives you what you need.”

Wren narrowed her eyes at him.“What’s that supposed to mean?Just say what you’re thinking.I can see that you want to, so don’t bother with code.I.Can.Handle.It.”

Okay.Right.

“Has he ever said anything to you about being into guys?I googled him, but I didn’t find any stories about him being bisexual or ever having a boyfriend or anything like that.”Jordan wouldn’t have held it against the man if he had.It was sort of the opposite, actually.

“No, but I haven’t known him long.Why are you asking?”Wren tilted her head, trying to figure him out.

“I got a weird vibe from him last night.I probably imagined it.”Jordan couldn’t believe he was about to admit this, and to Wren of all people.

“You probably did, but tell me anyway.”She nibbled her lower lip.Was she that afraid of being wounded again despite what she’d said before?Probably.He hated that he’d made her wary.

“During ‘Secret Love,’ he sang the song directly to me and I felt like—”

“No.You’re wrong.He sang the song tome.”Wren shook her head.

“The beginning?”Jordan couldn’t believe she’d been anywhere near him.He would have noticed despite the crowd.He always noticed Wren.

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