“She looks happy,” Russ says as he passes, nodding toward her.
“Yeah.” I don’t take my eyes off her. “She does.”
“Different kind of happy,” he adds. “Not like the last time she was in here.”
My stomach sinks as the memory lands like a punch. At the reminder of him calling me to come get her and finding Wren passed out with her head on a table. New wounds were made as revelations poured like blood. It feels like a lifetime ago, even though it was only a few weeks.
As much as it broke us, it healed us the same.
“It was a rough night.”
Russ grunts, a silent agreement. “This looks a helluva lot better on her.”
We watch as Greer spins her, nearly crashing into a table. Their laugh is boisterous over the music, causing the corners of my lips to tip.
Yeah, happiness looks good on my girl.
Russ raps his knuckles on the table. “You two need anything?”
I glance at Levi, who shakes his head. “We’re good.”
I take another sip of my beer, needing something to do with my hands. My gaze is glued to her like gravity’s got me in a chokehold. But it’s not gravity, it’s love. Loving her feels like something my body figured out it needed in childhood, as if she’s my own personalized vitamin, long before my brain caught up. It’s in the way my shoulders relax when she laughs. In theway I track her exits without thinking, then immediately chastise myself.
Without thought, I glance around the packed bar, needing to make sure she’s safe. That there’s nothing out of the ordinary lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce. But I come up empty. Only a bunch of Silo Bay locals enjoying cold spirits and the holiday.
She’s safe.
Levi clears his throat, loud and pointed. “You gonna stare at her all night, or actually listen to me?”
I blink, dragging my attention to my friend. “You were talking?”
“Fuck you,” he says with a chuckle. “You’re such a bastard.”
I lift a shoulder. “Not telling me anything new.”
Levi shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest.
Pushing my beer aside, I give him my full attention, mentally chastising myself for taking the seat with my back to the dance floor. “Someone piss in your beer?”
“Talk to me when you have kids,” he grumbles, running his hand over his beard. “Audrey’s been at the festival all damn day. Sure, she’s been with friends, but it’s hard not to have her near. I know I raised her right, but…”
“You’re her dad and you worry. I imagine every parent with kids worries, especially when they gain their independence,” I pause before mumbling, “especially with our track record.”
Levi groans, deep in his chest, and I can’t help but chuckle. “You gave her a loving home with strong roots; she’s gonna be fine.”
He studies me for a second, then shakes his head. “How do you know what to say? You ready to pop out some babies?”
I splutter, waving my hands. “An outsider's perspective.”
“Uh-huh. You and Drummond gonna waste another ten years, or you going to give her the ring you’ve had for her?”
“Shut up, man. It’ll happen when it happens. Not trying to scare her off.”
I follow the movement of his eyes as they track Wren weaving through the crowd, cheeks flushed and eyes filled with joy. Her head snaps up as if she can feel my gaze on her. The smile taking over her face nearly has me melting in my spot. I love this woman.
“Don't think there’s any scaring that girl off,” Levi mutters as Wren gets closer.
I reach for her without thinking.
