“Hey, Axel.” Collin extended a hand, and I shook it. “I thought you’d be at the wedding?”
“I left late last night after we finished up the reception, and I arrived this morning to surprise her.”
“I love surprises,” Chrissy said.
“Then perhaps I should surprise you with a smaller umbrella for tomorrow,” Charles said as he offered me a hand. “Nice to see you, Axel.”
I nodded and forced a smile. I didn’t like the pressure that her father put on her, but I knew this was her family, and I’d need to make an effort to keep the peace.
“Best surprise ever,” Wren said as her fingers intertwined with mine, and she took Wrax’s reins back.
“You should probably get him out of the heat,” Coach Sharky said to her father as they both watched the next athlete start. He turned to Wren. “I’m just hoping he’s got the energy to rally again tomorrow, because I have a hunch it’s going to come down to two people. You and Jacques. Just as I suspected.”
“We’ll be back,” Wren called out.
“No. I want you inside and resting. Out of the heat.”
She paused and then turned around. “I’m coming back to watch Jillian and Jacques. And then I’ll get out of the sun.” She held his stare.
Atta girl.
I couldn’t help but smirk at the confused look on his face, but he gave her a curt nod before his gaze met mine.
If he thought he was going to intimidate me, he was sorely fucking mistaken. I winked at him before I turned and walked away with my girl by my side.
And everything felt right again.
We left Wrax in his stall after she’d praised the hell out of him, and I did the same. Some professional groomers were there, all ready to give Wrax some well-deserved pampering. After a bit of conversation, we made our way back out there to watch a few of her friends and competitors.
At the end of the day, Coach Sharky’s calculations were correct. Jacques was in the first position, and Wren had closed the gap, her score just a tenth of a point behind his.
She’d dominated the cross-country phase, and it showed.
We had dinner with a few of her friends, and Collin came along with us. He was definitely trying to mend his relationship with his sister. I couldn’t fault the dude for trying.
“She seems a million times better now that you’re here,” he said to me as he sipped his beer.
“Yeah? Well, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“You make her happy, Axel.” He set his mug down on the table. “She deserves that.”
“She does.” My voice was unwavering.
“I’d like to play the big brother role and tell you that you best not hurt her, but I don’t seem to be in a position to be saying that.” He snorted.
“You don’t need to worry about that. It’s not in my DNA to hurt Wren. That girl owns me.”
“Yeah. She always has.”
Damn straight.
thirty-five
. . .
Wren
“Look at her go,”Axel said as we sat beneath our favorite tree. “Just like her mama.”
