34. Wren
34
WREN
Leaning against my bedroom door, my breaths are hurried. My eyes are filled with tears and my heart, my poor heart. It’s torn and confused. I did it again, I’ve crossed the line with a client. Something I vowed never ever to do again, but here I am. I’m a big fat liar, liar, wet panties on fire. My panties are soaked and all we did was kiss and a little rubby rub.
It was hard to ignore the desire building between us while we were chatting. I feel like I know Stefan on a whole new level now. I discovered his middle name is Maksym, that the White Claws in the fridge are his—no shit—and that one day, he wants to go to Australia and dive on the Great Barrier Reef. In return I told him I don’t have a middle name, that I knew the White Claws are his—hence why I keep replacing them—and that one day, I want to live in a house with a wraparound porch and every Sunday night I’ll watch the sunset with my husband.
Just now, I saw Stefan in a whole new light. I didn’t see the douchey hockey player; I saw a sexy man who just wants to be loved. This version of him is the type of person I picture myself settling down with one day. As he spoke, a part of me wanted him to be that person but he’s my client, I can’t do that.
Pushing off the door, I strip off my dress, unclasp my bra, pull on a tank, and fall into bed. As soon as I close my eyes, I’m assaulted with memories of Stefan kissing me. His hands caressing my ass. Rubbing myself all over him like a cat in heat. At the memory, that spark between my legs reignites and I know if I don’t sate the itch, I’ll die. That’s a tad melodramatic but if I don’t do something, I will never get to sleep.
Reaching into my bedside drawer with one hand, I grab my vibrator and with my other hand, I slip my panties off. Circling the purple tip around my clit, I turn it on and shiver immediately in the most exquisite way. Sliding the device down my slit, it easily slips inside. I’m embarrassingly wet but I really don’t care. Closing my eyes, I flick my wrist and fuck myself with the device. In and out I pump. Squeezing my breast with my other hand, I massage the plump mound as I continue to plunder myself.
That tingly feeling begins to develop low in my belly, and when I tug on my nipple, it’s like I lit the fuse and I begin to violently come. My toes clench. My body stiffens, and every nerve ending in my body erupts with a massive explosion. Covering my mouth with the hand from my breast, I ride out my orgasm as fireworks dot my vision.
Collapsing back into my mattress, I remove the vibrator and toss it to the side. Staring at the ceiling, my chest heaves as I try and catch my breath. I may have just come but my body is still tense.
The clicking of Stefan’s door across the hall garners my attention, and I hope with everything I have he didn’t hear me just now.
Rolling to my side, I close my eyes and try to sleep but my mind is racing. Eventually I succumb to sleep but my dreams are plagued with images of Stefan and what might have been had I not pushed him away.
My phone pings with a text and the sound startles me awake. The sun is shining, and when I look at the clock on my bedside table, I realize it’s after nine. Grabbing my phone, I smile when I see my message is from mom.
MOM
What are the plans for today?
“Hide from Stefan,” I mumble as I formulate a reply that doesn’t paint me as the hoe that I am.
WREN
We could head to the pier and then have a picnic on the beach. I could see if Fern and Bradford want to join us
MOM
Sounds perfect.
Shall we come to you?
Not wanting Mom to see Stefan just yet ’cause she will know something happened, I quickly send my reply.
WREN
You’d have to double back so I’ll come to you. Meet you in the lobby in 30 mins
MOM
**thumbs-up emoji**
Climbing out of bed, I quickly shower and once I’m dressed, I stand behind my closed door, psyching myself up to exit. Finally, I pull on my big girl panties and crack open the door but before I step out, I listen. I’m met with silence, beautiful silence and no roommate.
Walking briskly to the stairs, I quickly descend and sneak into the kitchen but I don’t need to sneak because Stefan isn’t here, according to the note he left me.
We need to talk , is never a good thing … even if we aren’t dating. No conversation that starts with “we need to talk” is ever good, and it definitely won’t be after making out with your client the night before. This is one conversation I do not want to have … ever. Wonder if I can avoid him for the rest of my time living here? Shaking off that silly thought, I grab a pen and write back to him.
Since I’m home alone, I quickly make myself a coffee. Wrapping my hands around the mug, I savor the caffeine goodness and enjoy my hug in a mug. Then I head off to meet up with Mom and Dad, shooting off a text, letting them know I’m on my way.
Exiting the house, I step out into the morning sun and lock the door behind me. The morning rays hit my face, and I smile as the vitamin D soaks in. It’s refreshing and for the first time since last night, I feel like I can breathe again … that is until later when Mom, Fern, and I are on the beach and they ask me about Stefan.
“Where’s Stefan today?” Mom asks, popping a grape into her mouth.
“Training,” I reply, then I shove a cracker with some cheese and salami into my mouth so I don’t have to talk anymore, but I should have known better. A mouthful of food will not sway my mom … or Fern. Introducing these two was a mistake, and I can feel the Spanish Inquisition about to commence in three. Two. One…
“What’s the go with you two?” Mom inquires.
Taking a sip of my drink, I try to bide my time but when Fern speaks up, I think it was a mistake. “Well, Mrs. B, if you ask me, what we have here is a classic case of enemies to lovers.”
“Enemies to lovers?” Mom furrows her brows, not understanding where my friend is coming from. Hell, I’m not even sure what she’s alluding to.
“You know, when they first meet and they hate one another but there’s a connection deep down and rather than face the love, they focus on the hate. However, as tends to happen with love, it simmers to the surface but both of them are too chickenshit to act on it until one day…”
“One day, what?” Mom asks, enthralled with Fern’s fairy-tale story.
“They give in. Finally kiss. Fireworks explode. Clothes get ripped off and they get jiggy with it.”
“That’s a very technical explanation there, Fern, and one that is a work of fiction.” Even if we did kiss last night and there were fireworks. My lips are still tingling, and I’m not just referring to the ones on my face. My vibrator did not sate me at all.
“Please,” she scoffs. “You and he are not a work of fiction.” She places emphasis on the word not, and with her statement said and done, she pops an olive into her mouth and takes a sip of her wine.
“She’s right, Wren. Maybe you and Stefan just need to kiss and get it over with,” Mom unhelpfully suggests.
“Personally, I think you two should just fuck and get it over with.” She looks to Mom. “Sorry for the language, Mrs. B.”
“It’s fine.” Mom waves her off. “I think that too but voicing about you-know-whating when it’s your daughter felt weird.”
“I get that, but seriously.” Fern turns to look at me. It’s with an intensity I’ve never seen before. “You two just need to bump uglies.”
“I’m right here, you know,” I protest.
“We know,” the two of them singsong together, and I just shake my head.
Mom and Fern start talking about classic enemies to lovers romances while I sit here and process what Fern said in relation to the definition of enemies to lovers. Stefan and I are one step away from being the clichéd enemies to lovers, but it cannot happen. Kissing is one thing, fucking is an entirely different story … even if I do want to fuck him.
The next few days pass by in a blur, and I have the best time with Mom and Dad. Stefan and I have hardly seen each other the past few days, and if I’m honest, I’ve missed seeing him and spending time with him.
He returned just as I was about to head off and get Mom and Dad to drop them at the airport. He offered to drive, and I accepted quickly because we all know how I feel about driving in LA—and heading to LAX is the worst.
Mom was excited to see Stefan when we got to the hotel, and I prayed with everything I have that she behaves around him. Maybe him driving wasn’t a good thing after all.
We arrive at the terminal and Stefan unloads their suitcases while I say my goodbyes. After hugging Dad, I turn to Mom. She pulls me in and holds on tight. Tighter than usual and when she pulls back, she stares at me intently. A smile graces my face, and I know Samantha Brookes is about to impart some of her motherly wisdom on me. “Sweetheart, I know he’s your client but when I see the two of you together, my heart stutters. I get all warm and fuzzy. He’s the milk to your cookie. You just need to jump and follow your heart.” She leans in and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll call you when we get home.”
With that, she walks over to Dad and the two of them walk into the terminal, leaving me standing next to Stefan’s car pondering her words.
“Ready to go?” Stefan asks. Turning to look at him, I nod and we climb in. The trip back to Venice Beach is silent and just as we pull into the driveway, my brother calls.
“What up, bro?” I say in greeting.
“Just checking to see if you survived the visit with Mom and Dad?”
“I did, give me a sec.” Pulling the phone away, I look over at Stefan. “I’m going to head to the beach to chat with Penn and then I’ll cook dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He goes inside and I do as I said and make my way down to the sand to chat to Penn, filling him in about the visit with Mom and Dad.
“You sound down, what’s up?”
“I’m f?—”
“Do not finish that statement, Wren.” I sigh and my brother chuckles. “See, not fine, what’s up?”
“You ever have feelings for someone but are scared of acting on them?”
“Ummm, hello, my face would be next to the definition of that in the dictionary. Did I not do exactly that when I met Tate?”
“Yeah, you did.”
“But he’s my client.”
“Ahhhh, so you’re finally admitting to your feelings for Stefan.”
“I-I, yeah, I think I am. We … we kissed the other day and, Penn, it was the best kiss of my life but I ran away like a chicken.”
“Why?”
“He’s my client.”
“So?” he refutes. “He’s a man. You’re a woman. There’s no law being broken if you two get together.”
“I know that but…”
“But what?”
“He’s my client and I vowed never to go there again. I can’t get a reputation for that.”
“Look, what happened with he who shall not be named?—”
“He’s not Voldemort , Penn.”
“Sucked,” he ignores my statement and continues as if I didn’t interrupt him. “And I will never see another movie of his again, but this time it’s different.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Sis, asshat was and always will be an asshat. Stefan is not an asshat. He might be a douche but he just needs the right woman to keep him in line and, Wren, that woman is you.” He pauses. “Sis, life is too short to be scared and not leap. If you want the ice cream, eat the ice cream. If you want to fuck the hockey stud into next year, fuck him … just use protection … I’m too young to be an uncle.” I laugh. “But seriously, Sis, just take the leap.”
“I wish I could be like you and leap, but I’m scared, Penn.”
“Life is scary, Sis, but take it from someone who lost the love of his life and got a second chance; it was worth the leap both times for me, and this leap will be worth it for you too.”
With his wise words imparted, we say our goodbyes and hang up. Bringing my legs up, I wrap my arms around them and sit here, staring out at the ocean. Wondering if it will be that easy and if I have the guts to leap.