Page 9 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two

When Rhett and Oliver come back, Oliver is wearing some of his favorite pieces of jewelry. A couple rings, a bracelet, and then two necklaces. One is a silver chain and the other is a necklace that has a coin hanging from it. It’s from the first international trip the three of us ever took together.

“Nowwe’re ready,” Rhett says, giving Oliver a pointed look. Then he moves his gaze to Wren, like he’s waiting for her to say something, but she’s so fixated on Oliver that she doesn’t notice.

For a second, it looks like she wants to talk, but she doesn’t.

“Let’s go.” I reach for my keys, but Rhett grabs my arm.

“I’ll drive. You need to relax.”

In Rhett’s truck, I take the passenger seat, and Wren and Oliver get in the back. Once we’re on the road, I settle against the seat and close my eyes.Damn.Rhett is right—I didn’t realize how tired I was until he pointed it out.

“I love you for who you are,” Wren says quietly enough that she probably thinks Rhett and I don’t hear.

Oliver stays silent for a minute. Then, “I’m just…”

“You.You’re you, Oliver. You’re not Elliot. You’re not Rhett. And I don’t expect you to be, just like I don’t expect them to be you. You’re charming and funny and cool and sweet and caring andyou.And every time I discover a new part of you, I fallmorein love with you.”

Oliver sighs. “I guess I just figured that since you were attracted to Ell first, he was more your type.”

“Kindness is my type, and you fit that perfectly,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “And I was actually attracted to all three of you the first time I saw you. Ell didn’t come first.”

“Oh,” Oliver mumbles.

“Come here,” she says, taking his face in her hands and kissing him lightly. “Don’t ever feel like you have to hide yourself from me. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Hearing Wren’s reassurances takes a huge weight off my chest. And when Rhett’s large, warm hand rests on my thigh, I’m lulled even deeper into a state of peacefulness.

The last thought I remember before nodding off is that Rhett has been touching me more lately, and that I hope it’s because he’s doing better.

***

Walking into an art museum’s brightly-lit lobby isn’t the most appealing thing to do after waking up from a nap. My head feels foggy, and my eyelids are still too heavy. But Rhett heads to the museum’s cafe as soon as we arrive and grabs me a coffee.

As we wander through the museum, I sip it, welcoming the energy the caffeine gives me. The four of us have a lot of fun, going from exhibit to exhibit and exploring together. By the time I’ve finished my coffee, I’m fully awake and happier than ever.

Rhett was right to suggest this. We all need space to reconnect. Getting out and doing something with them instead of holing up at home and prepping for Florida is a nice change of pace.

“I like this one,” Wren says, gazing at a large European painting high up on the wall.

With a snort, Oliver points to one of the people in the background of the painting. “He looks like he’s taking a really bad shit.”

“OLIVER!”

“What? Tell me I’m wrong, princess.”

I hide my smile by pretending to take a sip out of my empty coffee cup. That’sexactlywhat the guy in the painting looks like.

Grumbling out an admission that Oliver is right, Wren grabs his hand and pulls him to the next painting. Even with a grudging frown on her face, I can’t peel my eyes off of her.

Of course, Rhett notices. Whatdoesn’the notice? He chuckles as I follow after Wren.

“What?” I say. “It’s not my fault she looks like a goddamned dream in forest green.”

“As I’ve said before, you think she looks like a goddamned dream in anything,” Oliver calls over his shoulder. Then he winks at Wren. “Or nothing.”

I can’t even pretend he’s wrong. Wren shoots me an amused smile, swaying her hips slightly as she walks.