A Redo (Sterling Shore 6)

“I was worried after I called Wren,” Bella says, not even bothering to hide her ridiculous, taunting, I-know-what-you-have-been-doing smile. “Obviously everything has worked itself out, though.”

Wren chuckles softly before tugging my back to his front, wrapping his arms around my waist while resting his chin on my head. The effortless grace in which he tucks me against him, and the comfortable intimacy we have makes it seem as though we’ve done this hundreds of times.

Wren kisses my hair, and I relax against him, no longer caring that Judgmental Benjamin is still frowning at us.

“I’ll explain later,” I say when I realize Bella is still waiting on an explanation of some sort.

“Yes. You will. Details are expected,” she says, smirking as Wren snickers more.

“Some details,” I quickly add, subtly telling Wren that I don’t share everything with Bella.

Well, at least he’ll think I don’t tell her everything. I can’t wait to tell her everything, and then beg her to keep me from over analyzing it.

“We should get going,” Bella says to Benjamin.

Wren’s arms leave me as Benjamin walks out, and Bella pulls me to the side as Wren walks toward the living room, a paper in his hands that seems to have his attention.

“Please tell me it was done when I interrupted,” Bella whispers, practically beaming and dying for info.

I glance over my shoulder, watching as Wren heads toward the living room, his focus completely trained on whatever he’s reading. He’s smiling. What’s he reading?

“Allie!” she whisper-yells.

I snap my head back, grinning because I can’t help it, and she smiles back.

“Good enough. If you’re smiling like that, then he must have finished dusting the cobwebs out of your… never mind. You can give me the details later.”

I glare at her, but then nod, mostly because I’m afraid of what I’ll sound like if I try to speak. She laughs lightly while rolling her eyes. But then seriousness returns.

“Was Billy still here when Wren arrived?”

My smile falls, and I sigh. “Yeah. That’s definitely something we’ll talk about later. I think… I’ll just… Later.”

She frowns but doesn’t push the matter.

“Bella, you coming or what?” Benjamin says from the front door, even though we can’t see him.

“I don’t like him,” I tell her honestly, just like I always do.

“Neither do I,” she groans. “I keep telling myself that it’s because I’m too shallow and stupid since I only want boys that are bad for my health, but I really think it’s because he’s an ass.”

I laugh just as she does.

“I’m ending things tonight. The ass owes me dinner since I paid for our last one. Don’t ask.”

She rolls her eyes and walks off, tossing a goodbye to Wren on her way out. Wren reciprocates, but he’s lying on my sofa, looking all too perfect there, and he’s still grinning at whatever he’s reading.

“Why are you smiling?” I ask once I hear the door shut.

He looks up, and I swear he’s mocking me for some reason.

“I’ve never been the subject of a pro/con list before,” he says, amusement sparkling in his endless blue eyes.

He really is too sexy, and he needs to put a shirt—

Whoa. What? No!

“What?” I squeal, my face reddening and my entire body going stiff.

He glances back down, and seriousness takes over his face as he continues reading the proof that I’m bat-shit crazy about him. So crazy that I’m making pro/con lists like the nerd stalker from hell.

“I’m not overly fond of the con list. But I think I can wipe some of these away. Starting with confusing and frustrating. The rest we’ll take in stride. I have confidence that I can prove myself to you.”

He laughs when he sees how red I am from head to toe—yes, my entire body is blushing right now. I. Could. Die.

He tosses it aside before standing, and he walks to me with a sexy saunter, deliberately tempting me. My eyes run down his very sexy, very ripped body, and it reminds me why smart girls turn dumb for hot boys. Damn that V. Why does he have to look like that?

Words, Allie. Speak.

“You weren’t supposed to see that,” I lamely say, stating the obvious.

He smirks just as he reaches me, and he tugs me to him before tipping my head back.

“Tell me what I have to do to make you stop looking like you’re ready to bolt. I swear you resemble a terrified kitten right now.”

I start to speak, but the words die in my throat. Kitten? I don’t want to be a kitten, damn it. Before my brain and mouth start working together to formulate coherent sentences, Wren speaks again.

“We’ll keep it quiet for a while. Angel doesn’t have to know. You and I are mature enough to separate our relationship from our relationship with her. But, Allie, I meant it when I said I was sick of fighting this. Since I met you, my life has been turned upside down. I don’t know what it is you do to me, and sometimes I’m not sure if I love it or hate it. You strip me of my damn sanity sometimes. I’m not used to feeling so much, and with you and Angel… It’s like I can’t stop feeling.”