Page 108 of Vexatious Queen

“How do you do it,” I finally asked the question that had been driving me insane. “How do you just roll with the punches and act like it will all be okay?”

I looked at Ren, marvelling at her ability to face everything thrown at her head-on. We competed in everything, and for the most part, we were so similar that it was neck-and-neck as to who was better. But when it came to this, Ren was the champion, hands down.

Her lips pressed together, and her nose scrunched up. She was as cute as she was stunning, and it drove me crazy.

“I think you need to start treating the rest of your life a little more like you do when you race.”

Ren’s words felt like a smack to the back of the head with reality.

“When you’re on your bike, you go with the flow. You travel, you race, you take what the competition, the road, and the weather bring. You have ridden away from shoot-outs, left a cadre of cops and assassins, who were tailing us, in the dust, and chased down a psycho who nearly killed me.”

I knew what she was trying to do, but reminding me of everything that had happened to us in the last year made my head spin.

“Up until recently, you have kept the rest of your world in perfect order. But it’s not that simple anymore. My life was turned upside down the day Neil brought me to Wayward. I know now that he was trying to protect me. He brought me to someplace where I could finish school, make allies, and meet Dean Henry, who was a friend of my dad. For so long, I thought he didn’t care about Mum or me, but he sacrificed everything to keep me safe. That doesn’t change the fact that I’ve had to relearn how to be me. You know how to roll with the punches the same way I have. You just need to tap into Murk.”

I smirked, then laughed, and before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks. Picking up Ren’s hand, I kissed her knuckles.

“Thank you, that actually makes a ton of sense.”

“Pfft, did you expect…any…any…” Her smile faltered as she swore under her breath. “Anything less?”

“Rolling with the punches, remember,” I said, and she rolled her eyes, making me laugh again.

“Yeah, yeah. Come on, dinner should be ready,” Ren said, hopping out of the truck.

Getting out and going round the front, I stopped her before she could escape. I cupped her cheeks and lost myself in her silvery eyes before touching my lips to hers.

“I love you.”

“And I love you. I’m always here, whatever you need. I mean it.”

“I know.”

I kissed her again and let her sweetness seep into my bones. Taking her hand, we walked across the parking lot.

“Did Liam mention a weekend getaway?”

“He did, and I’m very excited,” Ren said.

“Same. You haven’t experienced a Liam vacation, but when he plans, he goes all out.”

Ren looked up at me as I pulled open Grillie’s door, and we were immediately assaulted with the scent of rich barbecue.

“How did we get so lucky?”

Smiling, I shrugged.

“Don’t know, but he’s one of a kind.”

The restaurant had two lines. One for pick-up and take-out orders to the right, and sit down to the left. We went to the right and got in line. Ren suddenly grabbed my hand, and I looked up to see a group of bikers coming inside. Right in the front was Merlin, sucking face with a girl who was definitely not Nora. Ren pulled out her phone and took a photo, then turned her back on them.

“What do you plan on doing with that?”

She shrugged, then whispered, “Don’t know yet.”

We stepped up to the counter, grabbed our eight bags of food, and walked right past the asshole making out without being seen.

“I’m not sure you should tell Liam,” I said when we got in the truck.