Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
From the texts of Barrett,
Drew, and Christian McGuire
BARRETT: Apologies for interrupting your work (and vacation), but I need advice, and I don’t have much time. And yes, I’m aware that I never ask for advice, but I am now. So, I’d appreciate a minimum of giving-me-shit and a maximum of helpful feedback, please.
DREW: Hey! No worries, Tatum and I are just having lunch at the airport before we fly home. What’s up?
BARRETT: It’s Wren. She’s offered me a do-over for what happened in February. Tonight. I need to plan something unforgettable. But in a good way this time.
CHRISTIAN: Oh, yeah? A do-over for the thing you told me didn’t happen? Even though we all know you and Wren hooked up right before she left town.
BARRETT: How do you know about that? Drew?
DREW: I didn’t tell him! I promise.
CHRISTIAN: No, but you told Binx, who told Melissa, who told Matty, who told me. But don’t be mad at them. Binx was distracted by a big poker night win when she told Mel and Mel tells Matty everything because they’re twins. And Matty tells me things because we work on bikes together.
BARRETT: And because you’re the biggest gossips in the family.
DREW: Actually, I think that’s Mom. But she doesn’t know anything’s up with you and Wren. If that gives you any comfort, Barrett.
CHRISTIAN: But she suspects. Because she’s Mom. And because you adopted a dog and that’s not something you’d do unless you were under the influence of drugs. Or love. Or both. And for what it’s worth, I think you could totally make marriage work with Wren. She’s patient, kind, has a great sense of humor, and knows you’re all bark and no bite. All things Lane was lacking.
DREW: Not to say anything against Lane—I know you’re still friends, Barrett—but Christian’s right. Lane never saw you for who you really are. She took you at face value. She didn’t realize all the things she felt she had to look for outside your marriage were there all along. She just needed to dig for them a little.
BARRETT: I don’t want to talk about Lane. And I don’t want to get angry that Christian knew I was intimate with Wren and still asked her to that fucking ball.
CHRISTIAN: You can’t get mad at me! I asked you if it was okay and you said yes. After you lied to me about having romantic feelings for the woman. If anyone should be mad, it’s me. I’m the injured party here.
BARRETT: I can arrange for you to be injured.
CHRISTIAN: From the guy who tapped out after three reps on the leg press this week.
BARRETT: I was lifting nearly a hundred pounds more than you were, baby brother.
CHRISTIAN: Only because I tweaked my knee running the day before.
DREW: As fascinating as this gym rat detour is, maybe we should get back to the helpful advice part? Since Barrett said he was low on time, and we love him and want him and Wren to be happy? (Tatum also wants you guys to be happy, by the way, and is very excited by this text thread.)
BARRETT: Fuck. Please ask her not to tell Wren about this. I don’t want her to know I need help being normal.
CHRISTIAN: You’ll never be normal, but that’s part of your charm. And part of why Wren likes you. Just be yourself, but…less grouchy. Try to look on the bright side a little more and make more jokes. And smile, a real smile, not that tight little smirk thing you do.
BARRETT: So, become a completely different person in four hours. That sounds doable. Thanks, Christian.
DREW: You don’t need to become a completely different person. You just need to keep Wren’s feelings and needs top of mind, and make sure she knows how you feel about her. Let her know that you admire her and respect her. Make it clear that you think she’s beautiful, special, one of a kind. (This feedback is mostly from Tatum, who knows Wren and what women want way better than I ever will. And she promises she won’t tell Wren that you texted. But she also said that Wren wouldn’t judge you if she knew. She’d be honored that you opened up to us in the name of making things right with her. She’d understand that this kind of vulnerability is hard for you, even with family.)
CHRISTIAN: Vulnerability. That’s it! That’s what you need.
DREW: And he’s not the only one. Maybe if you shared a little more of your authentic self, Chris, you’d be able to make it past the three month point with one of the women you date.
CHRISTIAN: You’re assuming I want more than three months. Three months is plenty. You get all the fun of dating with none of the sticky parts and part ways as friends. Easy, low-stress, and not likely to interfere with my ability to function.
DREW: I know the breakup with Ashland wasn’t easy, but that was four years ago. Don’t you think it’s time you gave real feelings another try?
CHRISTIAN: I have to go. Kane’s here for a Furry Friends fundraising meeting. Good luck, Barrett. You’ve got this. I really believe that. You’re a smart guy and can do anything you set your mind to. Talk to you two later.
DREW: Bye, Chris.
BARRETT: Thanks, Christian.
From the texts of Barrett and Drew McGuire
DREW: Starting a new chat so Christian can’t see me ask if you think I pissed him off with the Ashland thing. I mean, she was a nightmare, but not every woman he dates for more than three months is going to be.
BARRETT: Of course not, but at this point, he’s made a habit of avoiding pain and risk. And habits are hard to break.
DREW: But he’s also avoiding happiness and love. And getting grouchier with every passing year. No offense, but he’s starting to remind me more of you than the laid-back guy he used to be.
BARRETT: No offense taken. I’ve been grumpy since the divorce. More closed off. I told Wren that, but I’m not sure she understood why I’m having such a hard time moving past those feelings.
DREW: Why are you having such a hard time? If you don’t mind sharing? I know finding out Lane was having an affair was horrible, but I thought you two had moved on and were okay now.
BARRETT: We are okay. But I don’t know if I’d be okay if it happened again, especially with Wren. I already feel things for her that I didn’t for Lane, not even when things were at their best.
DREW: You love her.
BARRETT: I do. But I’m not sure it matters. If I can’t make her feel it, what good is that? We’ll be doomed from the start. And she’ll end up doing the same thing Lane did—looking for someone outside our relationship who makes her feel the way she wants to feel. Maybe I should call off this do-over. Tell her it’s not her, it’s me, and beg her not to quit the practice.
DREW: Can you be happy with that? With Wren as your head nurse and nothing more?
BARRETT: She might still consent to be my friend. In time. She’s a good person like that. Very forgiving.
DREW: Okay. Say she does. Imagine you and Wren in a few years, still just two good friends who work together, and nothing more. Maybe she’s even invited you to her wedding. Or her baby shower. How do you feel about that?
BARRETT: I want to track down the man she married and cut his dick off.
DREW: Then I think you have your answer.
BARRETT; Fuck. I can’t screw this up, Drew. One do-over is already pushing it. If I need a second one, even Wren is going to start to lose patience.
DREW: Don’t stress. I have a friend in Excelsior. I’ll text him and get some recommendations for good places to go out.
BARRETT: Ask him about dance clubs. Wren wants to go back to the moment things went wrong and rewrite the ending.
DREW: Which is a good sign! It seems like she wants this to work out as much as you do.
BARRETT: She also made out with me in her bathroom this morning.
DREW: That’s an even better sign!
BARRETT: Not really. She got angry with me. After. She kept pushing to know why I left without saying goodbye that night. I told her I felt like it was best to leave on a high note, but the more I think about it, the more I know there’s more to it. I was just…overwhelmed. I had no idea I was attracted to Wren until that night, let alone that I had all these other feelings. And if I didn’t know that about myself, what else don’t I know?
DREW: Is that why you started therapy? Don’t get mad, but Mom saw you going into the Victorian office building on Elm and the only thing in there except the crystal store on the ground floor are counseling practices. She texted me to ask if I thought you were okay or if we should ask you about your feelings.
BARRETT: And you told her not to do that. Ever.
DREW: I did. I know you, brother. And I know you can figure this out with Wren. You don’t have to become someone else; you just need to be a more communicative version of the man she already cares for. Okay, just got a few suggestions for dinner and dancing from my friend. I’ll text those over now.
BARRETT: Thank you, Drew. I appreciate your help. And congratulations again on your engagement and the baby news.
DREW: Thanks, man. And Tatum wants you to know her decision to use a midwife isn’t personal. She just doesn’t want to get undressed in front of her brother-in-law on a regular basis. Even if he is the only OB-GYN in a fifty-mile radius.
BARRETT: Understandable and no offense taken. But I’m always here if you have questions or need me for anything at all.
DREW: We appreciate it. And good luck tonight. Tatum and I both have our fingers crossed for you.