Huxley

I watch her cheeks heat in a precious blush before she shakes her head furiously, as if she's trying to convince herself as much as me.

"Nope. I'm good. I'm going to shower." She says avoiding eye contact as she stands from the bed. I chuckle at her shyness as I watch her go, wishing we were at a point that I could join her.

I throw on a sweatshirt and go to clean up the kitchen while I listen to her sweet voice traveling from the bathroom as she sings in the shower. I smile a little to myself, enjoying this peaceful moment with her after the tempestuous last couple of weeks we've had together. My heart and head are still trying to reconcile the loss of her pregnancy. It's an ache in my chest, soul deep, every time I think about the perfect little girl that should be running around us right now. I've always wanted children, as many as Wren would give me, so I hope she's open to trying again some day, but I won't push it. Especially not until she's accepting of the fact that she's mine.

Because she is.

If she thinks I will give her space, ignore her, pretend she's not what she is, she's wrong. Last night won't be the last night I fall asleep with her in my arms. I'll give her time to let her come to the realization herself, but that girl will have my last name. That's a done deal.

I watch her as she walks into the room and hold out a cup of coffee for her. She gives me a little smile and crosses over to me, taking the cup and going to turn away, but I grip her hips and pull her back into my chest gently, tucking my face into her neck and pressing a gentle kiss against her skin, still warm from her shower.

"Huxley..." She murmurs in a warning tone and I can't stop my smug grin.

"Yes, my little bird?" I whisper against her neck and watch with amusement as goosebumps pebble across her flesh.

"What are you doing?" She asks, and I trail my lips up her neck, pecking a kiss to her jaw as her hands tighten on her coffee cup.

"Just saying good morning." I murmur against her ear, chuckling quietly as she leans into me. She pulls away quickly, escaping my grasp when the sudden movement takes me off guard.

"Good morning." She says with a chipper tone as she sips her coffee. "Thank you for the coffee. The tree is in the basement." She says dismissively and I huff out a laugh as I watch her try to fight what we both know is a forgone conclusion, but I'll let her do it. If it will make her feel better when she eventually gives in.

I spend the afternoon carrying up box after box of decorations, lifting things, setting things up, letting her boss me around. It's cute, really, the way she floats around hanging lights and ornaments. Her face lights up in a smile when I plug in the tree, the glow illuminating her small living room. I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my chin on her shoulder as we look at it, a peaceful quiet filling the room. She sighs a little and relaxes into my touch.

"Have you seen your dad since you've been back?" She asks me quietly and I nod slightly.

"A couple of times." I respond, picking her up and sitting on the couch with her in my lap. I push her hair back and lean in to kiss her neck gently. She leans into me and the movement settles something in my soul to the point that I let out a sigh of content.

"What about your parents?" I ask. "I haven't seen them around town?" I inquire and she lays her head down on my shoulder, closing her eyes as her arms wrap around my neck. No matter what she says, she can't fight this thing between us.

"They go to Florida when it starts to get cold. Dad sold the store and made a bunch of money so he and mom decided to retire early. They come back in the spring, but with Dad's bad knees he says he wants to be as far away from the snow and ice as he can get." She says and I chuckle a little, running my fingers through her hair.

I always liked Wren's dad, he's a straight forward guy. Doesn't bull shit, but he's kind and fair. When my mom died and my dad basically checked out, he taught me things every man should know. How to change a tire, how to hunt and skin a deer, how to treat a woman. Little did he know, I wanted to use those last pieces of advice on his daughter.

"Do they come back for holidays? Or do you go visit them?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"No. The diner is too busy and, honestly, I hate Florida. They have fucking alligators, Huxley. Whole ass dinosaurs. In the front yard. It's crazy!" She exclaims and I laugh at her. "But we do a friends thing, at the diner, for Thanksgiving. Liv, Jace, Russ, his grandma, Jim and his wife. We cook a big meal and eat together. You can come... if you want." She says and I smile warmly at her.

"I'd love to. Just tell me when and what to bring." I tell her and her face softens as she looks at me, I can nearly see the love growing in her eyes as I watch her. I tighten my hold on her and she rests against me, the two of us sitting in a contented quiet until the alarm on my phone goes off. I shut it off and curse under my breath as I look at Wren apologetically.

"I gotta get to the bar, baby girl. Old man Jesse can't miss Wheel of Fortune or else he gets pissy." I tell her and she tilts her head back to laugh, the sound so beautiful I could never get tired of it.

"Alright." She says as she climbs off my lap. "Thanks for your help today." She adds and I nod, scooping her up in a hug and spinning her side to side until she giggles and pushes away from me.

"Of course, little bird. Can't wait to do it again next year." I say with a sly grin and she rolls her eyes at me.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Hux." She says and I chuckle, leaning forward to press a kiss to her forehead.

"I can come back later, if you want." I say and she shakes her head.

"I'll be alright." She says firmly and I sigh a little, but nod in understanding.

"Text me if you change your mind. I have a new bartender starting tonight so I won't stay late." I tell her and she nods as she walks me to the door.

"Good night." She says and I pull her in for a firm hug. Her body tenses, but only for a moment before she relaxes and wraps her arms around my waist.

"Really, baby. I can come back. Just say the word." I mumur and she lets out a little sigh as I let her go. I peck a kiss to her cheek and turn to leave. I look back at her as she holds the door open, watching me.

"Lock the door." I say and she nods with an eye roll, but there's a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips that let's me know she enjoys my concern. I listen for the click of her lock before I drive away, my eyes flitting back to the little house, now bright with multi colored lights making it the warmest on the block. My body fights me every inch of space I put between Wren and I, constantly urging me to turn my ass around.

But I have to be a grown up.

With fucking responsibilities.

Bunch of bullshit.

I walk into the bar and it's a fairly busy evening. My new bartender is already behind the bar, flipping bottles like he's on the Vegas strip but the two chicks in front of him seem to be enjoying it so it doesn't bother me.

"Hey, Huxley." He says with a head nod and I walk up to him.

"How's it going?" I ask and he gives the ladies a wink.

"Very well." He says and the girls giggle, one of them looking me over head to toe in a way that makes my hackles raise.

"Huxley, huh? That's a sexy name. You like to hear it screamed while you're balls deep?" The girl asks and I nearly choke on my own spit. Another glance shows me that she is well and truly drunk.

"Cut her off. And make sure they take a cab home." I tell the bartender and he nods through his laughter.

"What, handsome? You not interested?" She asks and I shake my head no.

"I'm taken." I say firmly, and her eyes dart to my left hand.

"Not from what I can tell." She says and I grunt before lowering myself over the bar and getting in her face.

"I said I'm fucking taken." I murmur low and her eyes widen before she nods, grabbing her friend and walking towards a table.

I help around the bar a little, call a cab for the girls and check my phone for a message from Wren. After a few hours I figure one isn't going to come so I go into the kitchen to grab some dinner when the bartender pops his head through the door.

"Hey, boss? There's a woman out here looking for you." He says and I roll my eyes.

"It's not that shitfaced one from earlier is it?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"No. But she looks upset." He says and I drop my plate, heading out to the bar where my eyes land on a very nervous looking Wren.