Page 92 of Saving Ren

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Before the nightLauren left her home, she’d loaded some of her stuff into her car. We found everything she’d packed on the floor of her garage and the car gone. Ryder helped me load all of that onto my truck while Lauren went through the house and threw the rest of her stuff into the black bin bags we’d brought with us.

I didn’t go inside. If she’d needed me to, for her, I would’ve done it, but she didn’t ask, and I didn’t need to look inside the home she’d shared with another man.

It takes around an hour until most of what she owns is piled under the tray cover on the back of my truck.

I wouldn’t say Ryder and I have bonded during this exercise, but I think he gets that I’m into his mum and not going to fuck her around. If he doesn’t, then that’s for him to work through, I couldnotgive a fuck.

I get a chin lift from him as Lauren climbs into the passenger seat and he closes the door behind her. I’ve told him he’s welcome at our place whenever, so only time will tell whether he takes up that offer.

“Where to now?” I ask as we pull out of the drive.

“Was that really necessary?”

I know that she’s pissed off with me for laying it out there to her son about our relationship, so I don’t even bother acting like I don’t.

“I just thought I’d get in before you introduced me as Dick Head.”

“You could’ve given me a chance to explain things though, you didn’t have to give it all, ‘mate, I’m banging your mum, get over it’. You could’ve. . .”

“Mate, I’m banging your mum?” I question, trying not to laugh at Lauren’s shit impersonation of my voice and accent.

She turns her head from the passenger door window and glares at me.

“Well, whatever you said. I don’t know, can’t remember because I was too busy trying to dig a hole to bury myself in.”

“I said we were together, that’s all, Ren. Like I said earlier, he’s a grown man, I’m pretty sure he gets it.”

“Maybe I didn’t want him toget it. Maybe I wanted him to get used to the idea of his parents separating before I told him I was shacking-up with someone else.”

“And maybe I wanted him to know you’re living with me and you’re safe.”

My phone rings over the car’s Bluetooth system, and for a moment, I consider driving across the beach and straight into the bay when I see Alysa’s name on the dashboard screen.

Ignoring it, I remain silent until it rings off. A second later, it rings again.

“Best get that, she obviously needs to talk to you,” Lauren snaps.

Using the controls on the steering wheel, I answer.

“Lyss?”

“Mr Wild, you avoiding me?”

“Just answered your call, so apparently not.”

“First time in weeks. What you up to?”

“Just heading out.”

“Fancy calling into mine on the way back from wherever you’re going?”

“Calling into mine? Is that what it’s called now? Or did she mean ‘coming’ into mine?” Lauren hisses out from beside me. I ignore her.

“Nope,” I reply to Alysa, making the P sound pop.

“No? You sure?”