She’d insisted that losing him was proof that she couldn’t have a normal relationship. Sophie listened patiently before dismantling that assumption piece by piece.
One mistake doesn’t define your worth, Wren.
Feeling anxious doesn’t make you incapable of love.
Healthy relationships aren’t built by never making mistakes. They’re built by repairing them.
Sophie had challenged the idea that Wren needed to be perfect before allowing herself to be loved.
That thought had lingered with her ever since.
Then Lark had shown up last night, demanding a complete retelling of the kiss—after which, her sister had basically lost her mind, declaring Grayson was her ideal match.
That assertion felt good and bad at the same time, as Wren was certain she’d screwed up any chance she may have had with Grayson. However, she didn’t voice that opinion. She just reminded Lark that she thought Grayson was a grumpy bastard.
Neither Lark nor Sophie had managed to pull Wren completely out of the sadness she’d fallen into after Grayson walked away. Nothing had truly changed that. Not the therapy or the logic or the book club or Lark’s relentless determination to drag her to the Harvest Dance.
Those feelings hadn’t evaporated until Grayson crossed the room tonight and asked her to dance.
Outside, warm autumn air greeted them as the noise of the festival faded. Wren released a long breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.
“Better?” Grayson grasped her hand in his.
“Yes. I’m not a fan of crowds.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “Me either. I’m just as glad to be out of there as you are.” His thumb brushed over her knuckles.
They started down the sidewalk together, the streetlamps illuminating their way. Pumpkins decorated the storefronts and leaves rustled in the trees lining the street. Everything felt peaceful and for several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Wren didn’t mind.
Silence with Grayson felt different than silence with other people. It was easy and comfortable, and she didn’t feel any pressure to be anyone other than herself.
“Will your family miss you?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I didn’t go to the dance to hang out with my family.”
She frowned. “Why did you go?”
He chuckled as if it should be obvious. “To see you.”
“Just me?”
“Just you.” The certainty in his voice wrapped around her like a blanket. “Why is that so surprising?”
“You were so mad the last time?—”
Grayson tightened his grip. “I’m not mad anymore. In fact, I’m sorry for that day too. I reacted badly.”
Wren started to shake her head, but he wouldn’t let her refute his comment.
“I should have let you explain,” he continued. “And I shouldn’t have made a mountain out of a molehill.”
Wren laughed. “My dad uses that expression all the time.”
“Lark told me.”
Wren wasn’t sure what to make of that. She hadn’t asked her sister for too many particulars regarding her conversation with Grayson. She’d been too afraid to know, to hear that he hated her.
