Chaos and Control(54)

“I wish you would share more with me, too.”

I turn and lean against the sink, crossing my arms. “I’m an open book, Preston.”

He shakes his head and pushes from the table before making his way over and placing his plate in the sink with mine. Preston turns the water on and starts washing his hands.

“You are lots of things, Wren. But you are not an open book.” He lathers up past his wrist, rinses, and starts again. “You’re free in a way that I’ll never know. But you guard secrets, just like the rest of us.”

Preston’s words take me by surprise, and I pull my arms tighter around my body, my fingers fisting the sides of my shirt. No one has ever looked at me the way he does. He dissects me, sees through me, and suddenly, I’m not sure if I want him to.

“What do you want to know?”

He shuts off the water and dries his hands on a paper towel.

“Why did you really come home?” Preston asks.

He leans against the counter next to me, trying to pull my secrets out. I keep my eyes off his face, instead taking in every square inch of manly beauty before me. Memories of what he feels like beneath my touch, what he smells like, the way his voice coerces my body to respond.

“Wren?”

My eyes snap up, and I know I’ve been caught. Still, his expression is all business as he waits for me to respond.

I throw my hands up. “I got into a situation I needed to get out of. There. Are you happy?”

“No. What does that mean? What kind of situation?”

I cross my arms and shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. All my time on the road is right where I left it, out there.” I wave a hand toward the window. “I came back to Crowley to separate myself from that, to have something familiar again. Can we just leave it at that?”

Preston frowns but remains quiet as I push past him and disappear into my bedroom to get dressed. After a quick shower, I emerge to find the kitchen spotless, everything in its place.

We make it to the hospital, and I freeze when I walk in to find my parents at Bennie’s bedside. My father has his eyes closed, his hand holding Bennie’s, while my mother reads passages from the Bible. Bennie’s eyes are closed, but I’m not sure if it’s because she’s praying or doesn’t want to face them.

“Ben?” I ask.

My parents don’t acknowledge my presence, but keep up with the praying. Preston closes the door behind me with a soft click as Bennie turns to look at us. I raise my eyebrows, a silent question that she seems to understand. She mouths “I’m okay,” and I nod to show her I’ll behave.

Preston bows his head and wraps his hand in mine, and I think this is all very dramatic for a one-night stay in the hospital. My mother’s voice sounds exactly the same as it did when I was a kid. Its monotonous tone delivers words that seem emotionless and unsympathetic. When she is done, she closes her Bible and my father releases Bennie. An eerie silence fills the room now, and it sends a bad feeling to my gut. My parents make their way around the bed. My father gives me a curt nod, ignoring Preston completely, while my mother silently follows. The door slams closed behind them.

“Good to see you guys, too,” I say to the door. “Wow. A visit from the Reverend and wife? You must feel special.”

“I know,” Bennie says. “They just showed up this morning. I swear, there are no damn secrets in this county.”

“Yeah, but you knew that already. Remember when I stole that goat from the Carville farm?”

Bennie chuckles. “Yep. A deputy was in the driveway before you even finished unloading it from Sawyer’s truck.”

I take a seat in the chair next to her bed and lay my hand over Bennie’s. “So, our parents only show up during catastrophes? That’s comforting.”

“I’d hardly call this a catastrophe, Wren. I’m tired. That’s it.”

“Whatever. They’re jerks. They didn’t even acknowledge Preston,” I say, gesturing to the quiet man behind me. “I just don’t understand them, Ben. If they’re not preaching at me, they’re ignoring me.”

“It could be worse, kid.”

“It was worse, and you know it.”

Bennie nods, and her gaze drifts to the window. “Well, we made it to adulthood. That’s a blessing.”

I sigh and squeeze her hand. “How are you feeling today?”

“Much better. Just ready to sleep in my own bed where people don’t wake you up every hour to check your vitals.”

Bennie bitches and complains about being tied to her bed—which she isn’t—until they let her leave. The trip home is quiet, and after we park, Preston helps get Bennie upstairs and into the apartment. She waves us both off and goes to lie down in her room.

“You work tonight?” Preston asks as I drop Al Green onto the turntable. The gentle melody fills the room.

“Yes. What are you doing tonight?” I take a seat on the sofa and pat the space next to me. Preston looks a little uncomfortable but takes a seat anyway.

“Work in my shop upstairs.”

He’s wearing that plaid shirt again, the one with the pearl snaps that hugs his shoulders and biceps so well. Just one quick pull, and that shirt would come apart in my hands.

“Wren?”

My eyes shoot up to meet his, and I realize I’ve been wordlessly staring for a while. Heat floods my cheeks as my teeth scrape over my bottom lip.