Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
His fist plows into my jaw with the force of a goddamn wrecking ball, snapping my head back. It hurts like a motherfucker, but I don’t retaliate. It’s not like I didn’t earn that shit. In his shoes, I’d hit me too.
“Goddammit,” Jordan growls, finally hauling him off me.
Micah tries to lunge for me again, but Logan steps between us, blocking his path. He holds out a hand to help me up. I wave him off, sitting up on my own before climbing to my feet. My fucking jaw hurts like hell.
“You married her while she was drunk in Vegas, you asshole!” Micah roars. “Did she even know what the fuck was going on?”
Logan mutters a curse. “I know damn well that I’m going to regret this shit,” he sighs to himself before glancing over his shoulder at Micah. “She wasn’t that drunk, Micah.”
“How would you know?”
“Logan,” I say quietly, trying to warn him off. He doesn’t need to get involved. This is between me and Micah.
Logan ignores me. Naturally. “Because I ran into them while they were making out in the elevator,” he says. “Wren was lucid and knew what was happening. You know I wouldn’t have just walked away and left her with him if she weren’t.”
Micah snarls a curse, pissed at both of us now.
“He’s right. I knew.”
We all turn at the sound of her voice to find her standing beside a taxi a few feet away, her arms wrapped around herself like she’s cold. I stare at her for a long moment, shocked that she’s actually standing here in front of me.
“Wren,” I rasp, rushing toward her to pull her into my arms.
She takes a step away, shaking her head at me.
“Baby?”
“You founded Helping Hands, didn’t you?”
Fuck.
“I can explain, little bird,” I murmur.
“Really? Because you had a chance, Archer,” she says. “And you didn’t say a word. I thought you’d told me everything, and then I find out that you still have secrets. Why?”
I’m not sure I have an answer, at least not one she’s willing to accept. But I can’t lie to her any more than I could lie to Micah. She deserves more than that. “Because I was fucking terrified you’d walk away if you knew how far I’d gone to keep you close,” I admit. “If you knew just how deep this obsession runs.”
She sighs softly, glancing down at the ground. “You should have told me.”
“I know.” I sigh heavily. “I meant to tell you when we got out of the shower after ice skating, but you were already asleep. I planned to tell you when I got back, before we told Micah about Vegas. It’s not an excuse, Wren. None of it is. You deserved to know before I put that ring on your finger.”
“Jesus Christ,” Micah growls, shaking Jordan off before stomping toward us. “You didn’t even tell her?”
Wren stares at her brother with wide eyes. “You knew.”
He jerks his chin in a nod. “Thought he did it as a favor to me,” he mutters. “Guess we were both fooled, weren’t we? He was just keeping you around so he could get you drunk and take advantage of you.”
“Stop it, Micah,” she snaps. “Just stop it! He didn’t take advantage of me. He hasn’t done a single thing to me that I wasn’t fully on board with. And you kept it a secret from me, too. If he should be ashamed, so should you. And fighting?” She shakes her head at both of us. “Do you really think this is what I want?”
“You married him in Vegas and kept it a secret, Wren,” Micah growls. “How the fuck was I supposed to react to that?”
“Like an adult with sense!” she cries, stomping her foot. “Did you ever, for once, stop to ask yourself why we felt like we had to hide it? It’s because of you, Micah. Because we both love you! So much so that the last year has been hell for both of us because we were trying to keep you happy. And the first time we finally decide to put ourselves first, you act like this.” A tear slips down her cheek. “What happened to the brother who told me that he wanted me to chase my own dreams? Where is that guy right now?”
His face falls, guilt stamped all over his face. “Wren…”
“No,” she cries. “Whatever you have to say, I don’t want to hear it. I’ve idolized you for most of my life. But this version of you sucks! I want my brother back, not whatever madman inhabited his body.”
I take a step toward her to comfort her, but she whips her head in my direction, her eyes narrowing on me. They practically scald me they’re so fucking fiery. “And you,” she growls. “You should have told me the truth. I accepted everything else. I didn’t even bat a lash because I know exactly how it feels to want someone you can’t have and go to crazy lengths just to be close. But I deserved to hear this from you instead of being ambushed by some reporter.”