A Redo (Sterling Shore 6)

We back out of the room, and Wren stares off into space before pointing to another room. “That’s the one I use when I stay here,” he says, but he doesn’t ask if I want to see it.

No way do I want to be in a bedroom with him right now. There’s no doubt that I’d act like a complete fool who has lost control of her hormones. Just to punctuate the point, my lips throb as if on cue, still swollen from the mouth-fucking. Yes. That’s what I said. It sure as hell wasn’t a typical kiss.

“What were you going to say in there?” I ask, ignoring the room comment.

“I… um… I almost told Angel that Carrie will be with us when we go to Aspen, but then I remembered that Angel wouldn’t be there.”

My blood chills in my veins. Angel might really want to go to Aspen. I’ve had six Christmases with her. It kills me to think of giving one up with her, but she deserves to have one Christmas with her father and new family.

“We can talk about that later.”

His head whips to me. “You’d go to Aspen?”

Me?

“I was thinking Angel could go. Most custodial agreements usually involve things like this—alternating holidays, I mean,” I ramble, not really forming a very well structured statement.

His fists clench at his sides, and he tightens his lips. I’m not sure what is wrong.

“As much as I’d love that, I couldn’t take Angel away from you on Christmas. I’ll come home before Christmas. I won’t stay the two weeks. And I’ll swing by your house on Christmas day if that’s alright.”

Before I can answer, laughter fills the hallway, and everyone is shouting for Wren to return.

Chapter 19

WREN

“Angel is asleep on the bed with Carrie,” Allie says with a smile as she, Rain, and Tria join us in the massive basement.

We’ve all hidden downstairs to escape the talk of politics, business, and real-world shit.

Raya lines up her next shot on the pool table, and I groan when she sinks it effortlessly.

“We can go if you want to,” I tell Allie.

She comes to my side, and her hand grazes my back. I swear we touch each other like a couple. Well, like a normal couple. I’ve never really felt the need to touch someone so much. It’s as disconcerting as it is fascinating. I want to explore it and ignore it at the same time, as logic and desire battle for dominance. I’m half afraid desire will win, just as I’m equally afraid logic will win, so I have no idea which one I’m actually cheering for.

“Your mother wants Angel to spend the night. I’ve never let her spend the night with anyone. But Melanie says we can stay, too. I wanted to see what you thought.”

I think that’s a fucking terrible idea. How am I supposed to keep myself from going into her room if I know she’s in the same house as me?

“It’s completely up to you,” I tell her, gripping the pool cue a little too tightly.

“I think I’d like to stay. Angel loves it here, but I don’t want her to spend the night with your mother before she spends the night with you. And if you’re here with her, then I won’t feel that way. Melanie already gave me something to sleep in.”

Ah, hell. Looks like I’ll be getting drunk tonight to keep myself from being able to walk to her room. Especially when she holds up a black lingerie bag. There’s no telling what my mother has put in there, because I can tell she’s fucking taunting me.

Does she not realize what a disaster that could be? Or is she just testing my limits? Or maybe this is some form of punishment. Because I know she’d kill me if I made a mess with Allie.

“I think that sounds like a plan,” I finally say, shifting uncomfortably.

“We’re staying, too,” Tag announces, kissing up the back of Ash’s neck. “As a matter of fact, I think most of us are.”

Rain and Dane are in some heated kiss, and I have to look away, trying not to get envious of all the couples.

Kode starts dragging Tria out of the room. “We’re heading up to our room now. We’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

I roll my eyes while Allie leans against me, yawning as though she’s exhausted.

“Those security guys are at the entrance of the hallway now. They said they’d be blocking that wing for the family only. I was going to sleep in there with Angel, but there’s no room. Plus, I think she really wants to have her own sleepover type of deal. She really likes Carrie.”

Carrie doesn’t speak often to anyone but a few of us. Well, she talks to Rain and Dane just fine, but the rest of us she’s still wary of. But, I don’t know the details of her life before she was adopted. Hell, she’s probably terrified of the huge family she suddenly found herself in. It’s a big adjustment for a six-year-old.