Huxley

I fume the entire way back to the bar, jumping on the back of my bike and taking off to the next town over. It has the closest gym and I feel the need to punch something.

I spend the whole drive seething over the way Wren played me like that. I should have known her easy acceptance of my return wasn't real. If there's one thing I know about Wren Collins it's that the girl can hold a grudge. As far as I know she still hasn't spoken to Becky Gibson since the fourth grade when Becky took her favorite pencil and snapped it in two.

But her flippant attitude was what really pushed me over the edge. Saying last night meant nothing. I scoff at the thought. Everything means something to that girl. She doesn't do a damn thing in life without getting attached to someone or something. I'll never forget the time junior year we were riding in Jace's car and he nearly hit a cat. Wren jumped out to save the thing even though we were on a busy highway. Her parents wouldn't let her keep the mangy thing and they took it to the humane society a couple of towns over. She cried for nearly a week, practically made herself sick.

I got so tired of seeing her that way I called them to check on the creature. They said it had a parasite and had died the day after it was brought in, but I didn't tell Wren that. I told her it was adopted by a family with a little girl. I couldn't stand to see her upset anymore. She threw her arms around me and hugged me, thanking me over and over for calling them. That's the kind of girl Wren is. Or was, I guess. Didn't take much to make her happy. She was always content, grateful for what life had given her. That's what drew me to her in the first place.

There was a strength in that, the way she could be happy no matter what. She wasn't one of those girls who wasted their lives pining to escape the small town life. You could pick Wren up, set her down anywhere in the world and she'd make the best of it. She'd make friends along the way, people who would die for her.

Just like I would.

I make it to the gym and find an open punching bag, going at it like it pissed me off. I try to work off the frustration. The anger.

I know if she would just listen to me, let me explain my side of things, that she'd forgive me. I knew she'd be a hard sell. I knew she'd be hurt, but what I didn't anticipate was all the anger. I've never seen it in her before. The defiance, the rage. The way she yelled at me, well fuck, I've never heard the girl raise her voice unless she was cheering Liv on at a volleyball game. The hurt, the betrayal. Seeing it all play out on her face was almost too much for me to bear.

I much preferred her the way she was last night. Smiling, groaning, yelling my name. The thought nearly makes me hard again and I tell my dick to simmer down. It doesn't want to listen and I can't blame it. Time has been nothing but good to my girl. She filled out a little, her hips thicker, her belly soft, breasts full. I was never into stick thin girls and Wren has grown into a goddess with curves I want to worship for all my life. Add that with her warm smile, button nose and bright blue eyes, damn I'm a fucking goner for the girl.

I'd do anything for her. Anything. But right now that means leaving her alone. Letting her process. I know if I approach her again like I did today she'll strike out at me like a caged animal again and that will get us nowhere.

I need to earn back her trust, and then maybe I'll be worthy of her love.

I work up a sweat, still not feeling all that much better even after shredding my knuckles. I drive back to the bar and go up to my apartment, stripping my clothes off as soon as I walk in. I head to the bathroom to flip on the shower spray and I look at myself in the mirror. I spot a small bit of Wren's red lipstick behind my ear and the sight makes me grin. Part of me doesn't want to wash it off but leave it there like the marks I put on her neck with my teeth.

I hope those last awhile.

I manage to stay away from Wren the rest of the day. My resolve nearly falters when I slip into bed and can still smell her there. It takes every ounce of my strength not to rush to her house and demand her to love me, even though I know it wouldn't work. I sigh heavily, inhaling the lingering notes of her perfume mixed with her natural scent as I drift into an uneasy sleep.

The next day I wake up early, feeling like shit from my terrible sleep. I get dressed and go down to the bar, starting the things that old man Jesse hasn't been able to handle the last few years. Fixing broken stools, replacing high light bulbs, pulling out equipment to scrub under them.

Before I know it, it's midday and I'm starving. I head over to the little diner for some lunch, sitting down in the corner and grabbing a newspaper. I'm perusing it when a sweet voice flits through my ears.

"What are you doing here?" Wren asks annoyed. My eyes widen in surprise, taking in her cute little apron.

"You ask me that a lot." I say joking and she rolls her eyes.

"Are you stalking me?" She asks and I can't help but chuckle.

"No, baby. I didn't know you work here. But there's not many places to eat around here." I say and her face hardens at my words.

"I don't just work here. I own it." She says and my brows shoot up in surprise.

"That's impressive." I say, looking back at my newspaper. "Doesn't change the fact that I didn't know you would be here. Can I have one of Jim's Reubens please? And a coke." I say nonchalantly hoping she won't kick me out.

I really am starving.

She growls a little under her breath and I watch her stalk off, not checking out her ass.

Of course not.

I read the paper trying not to stare at her as I wait for my food. I spent so long dreaming of being with her again, part of it still seems like a dream. But then my eyes catch her and sure enough this is reality.

A pissed off little bird that wants nothing to do with me. But at least she's close. I can hear her voice, smell her perfume, watch her smile. At other people anyway, not me.

She brings my food back and slams the plate down with much more vigor than necessary and I raise my brow at her.

"I'd rather not have bits of broken glass in my lunch." I say and she shrugs.

"It's what you deserve." She quips and I sigh, folding my paper up and putting it off to the side.

"So I'm guessing you're not ready to talk yet?" I ask her and she huffs out a laugh.

"No, Huxley. I'm not interested in your bull shit excuses. In fact, you can leave again if you want. No one would be hurt this time." She says and I feel an ache in my chest. I missed these people when I left. All of them.

"I told you, Wren. I'm not leaving. Ever." I say firmly and she shrugs before turning to walk away.

"Even if it's true, Hux, there will always be a part of me that doesn't believe it." She says, a tint of sadness to her tone and I feel like she's shoved a knife in my gut. I suddenly don't feel hungry. I stand up and throw some money on the table plus a generous tip and grab my paper.

"You're not gonna eat?" She asks curiously and I shake my head.

"Lost my appetite." I say and she gives me a sad look that wrenches my heart. I stop by her and press a kiss to her cheek. She doesn't pull away so I consider it a small victory.

"Have a good day, Wren." I say before practically running out of the diner. Her words felt like rope wrapped around my chest, not letting me breathe. I take in a few puffs of the cool air and walk back towards the bar wanting nothing more than a drink. Just as I'm about to push through the front I hear my name being called.

"Huxley!" I turn around and see Russ, my old friend.

Great. Someone else who's disappointed in me.