Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Wren
My mind is amped up with too many conflicting thoughts—my mother, the nightmare, Theo, and his endless kind gestures. It’s leaving me with too much restless energy.
Today, I wake up before the sun rises. So I summon all my extra energy and pour it into making breakfast. When I saw his fridge, I wasn’t too surprised. I mean, at least he had eggs. I placed a quick order, and the groceries arrived in less than an hour. With music playing from my phone, I get started on making waffles.
Two out of three.
I turn the volume up, quieting the voice inside my head.
I mix the batter and turn the waffle maker on, focusing on muting my mother’s voice. It’s just me, these waffles, and?—
“Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift plays through the speakers, and I release a pent-up sigh. I mouth the words while gripping the edge of the countertop. When the chorus starts, I use the spoon as a microphone, sing the lyrics, and slowly start to dance around the kitchen island.
The chorus ends as the food sizzles. Swaying my hips, I put the waffle on a plate and start another. I close my eyes and continue singing, losing myself in the music. And when the final chorus begins, I put my heart into it.
I spin around, and my eyes land on Theo.
He’s watching me with an amused smile, his curls mussed from sleeping. Pointing at him, I beckon him forward to join me, and to my surprise, he does. He grabs my hand and twirls me. I tangle my hands in his hair and rile his wild locks. His eyes twinkle as we laugh.
As the song comes to an end, neither of us budge.
He keeps me against his chest, and we work on catching our breath. My chest rises and falls against his, and it’s then that I notice I’m wearing a thin white tee and cotton lounge pants.
He inches his hands down my curves, making the air in my throat hitch.
His hands are on my waist, strong yet gentle, and every nerve in my body hums to life.
I shouldn’t be thinking about how close he is or how good it feels to be pressed against him. But I can’t stop. My pulse races, and for a moment, all I can focus on is the way his fingers graze my skin, sending a wave of warmth through me.
This isn’t happening. It can’t be happening.
Theo locks his gaze with mine. My mind goes into overdrive—noting the intensity of his gaze, how his fingers press into my hips. . .
It’s just Theo.
But this isn’t just some playful dance. There’s something more in the air, something that leaves me exposed, vulnerable.
I’m reading too much into this.
He rests his forehead against mine, and his eyes, dark and full of something I can’t quite place, make me question everything.
What is happening? And why does it seem like he’s going to kiss me?
A laugh bubbles up in my throat, but I swallow it down.
There’s no way. Theo’s never looked at me like this before, has he? Or maybe I’ve been too oblivious to notice. But still, it’s Theo. Gorgeous, confident Theo, who could have anyone. Not me—the girl who’s always been too sick, too messy, too... much.
I’m not someone he would want. Not in that way.
We’ve been friends for so long. Surely, he’d have said something by now, right?
My heart slams against my ribs, torn between hope and disbelief.
Freeing my hand, I drop my arms to his chest without breaking eye contact. Music continues to play in the background, but it doesn’t faze me. I can only register two things right now. One: the butterflies that swarm my stomach and flutter straight to my heart. And two: Theo and his damningly gorgeous eyes.
I shouldn’t be reeling about how his hands feel against my hips, gently urging me closer. And I definitely shouldn’t be obeying his silent command.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?” he murmurs.
“Do you know what you’re saying right now?” I whisper back.
“I’m far too aware.”
I gulp past the lump in my throat. When he leans closer, I take in a sharp inhale as goose bumps take over my arms.
“You have no idea. Do you?” he asks.
“I—”
“Theo, what’s the holdup?”
Like nails on a chalkboard, her voice makes me shudder.
We separate in a panic. He drops his hands, and I return to the waffle I left cooking for far too long. Keeping my back toward them, I try to ignore their conversation and focus on the heat in my cheeks, willing it to regulate.
Putting on my brave face, I turn around and offer Amanda a kind smile. “Good morning.”
Damn, she hasn’t aged. Her platinum blonde hair is down to her waist, her eyes are as blue as the sky, and she’s just as fit now as she was when we first met. Her ass is perky, and her chest is full, although part of me wonders if they’re implants because they seem to hold themselves up with no support.
She purses her lips while scanning me with narrowed eyes. “Wren,” she says.
“Yes, sorry for the rude alarm. I can’t help myself when Taylor comes on.” I let out an awkward giggle.
“Cute.”
Theo glances between us. Tension spills into the room, and I really wish I knew why.
“Would you like some waffles?” I ask, and she clicks her tongue.
“I have to get going.” Standing on the edge of her toes, she kisses Theo’s cheek. “See you later, handsome.”
“Yeah, see you around,” he chokes out.
The door opens and slams shut, sending a shudder down my spine.
“She’s still delightful,” I say while fighting back an eye roll.
“That’s one way to describe her,” he grumbles, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Sorry if I interrupted anything. You could have told me to shut up or leave until you finished,” I say as the thought comes to mind. When he doesn’t respond, I keep blabbing. “I would have understood. I mean, she’s stunning. I would have kicked my ass right to the curb, too.” I take a break to pick up a waffle and take a bite of it without syrup. “I’m the intruder here,” I say with my mouth full. “I’m the one screwing up your routine.”
“Wren, that’s enough.”
“You didn’t ask for any of this. I would have walked out and?—”
“Wrenly,” he states in a firm tone, stopping me from continuing. “I would never kick you out. You mean more to me than you realize. Besides, Amanda isn’t someone I want around.”
I tilt my head as I ponder his words.
He sighs while placing his hands on his hips. “You and I both know she’s a horrible person.”
“Then why was she here?”
With a soft smile, he grabs a set of plates and forks. After placing some waffles on each plate, he spreads butter and drizzles syrup over them before offering me a serving.
“I didn’t have much of a say,” he murmurs.
Before I can say something, he adds, “And no, I don’t mind that they’re gluten-free.”
“It’s not fair that you know what I’m going to say before I do,” I tell him while cutting the food on the plate into equal pieces.
“It’s my superpower.” He throws a wink at me, and my smile widens.
“So.” He hops onto the counter to sit. “What are our plans today?”
“Our?” My brow raises.
“Yes, our. ”
“I was going to stock your fridge and pantry with more than just pancake supplies.”
He frowns. “You should be resting, not grocery shopping.”
I don’t respond. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m nervous that if I utter a word, tears will come next.
“I don’t need to rest,” I mutter.
“Then I’m going with you, and afterward, we’ll get lunch and take a nap.”
I roll my eyes and say, “Fine, but only if we can get caffeine first.”
I’m not a difficult girl to please. Give me a good book, some tea, any form of rice, and I’m good to go. Theo knows this, so he doesn’t fight my request for caffeine.
“Can I get a large—” He looks at me and repeats what I say, “Ice vanilla chai latte.”
I give him a thumbs-up, and he chuckles before ordering his usual iced macchiato.
The girl at the window stops dead in her tracks when she sees him. He doesn’t notice because he’s opening his wallet for his debit card. I’m not embarrassed to be seen with Theo, but knowing how people know him makes it slightly awkward.
They’ve seen him naked, having sex with other women or pleasuring himself. I wonder if anyone has ever asked him for a quickie, or even if they could participate, and if they have, has he ever agreed? He must have sex for fun and not just for recording purposes, right?
My stomach tumbles, and I fucking wish it didn’t. Releasing a tiny groan, I shake my head to force the thought from my mind. Theo and I will never be anything more than friends. I shouldn’t be thinking about such things. The girl smiling at him as she hands him our drinks shouldn’t stoke envy in my veins. And I most definitely shouldn’t be scrunching my lips together in irritation.
“Are you okay? It looks like you’re fighting off an aneurysm,” Theo says as he hands me my drink.
“I’m great. No aneurysm here.” I lie to him, plastering a fake smile across my face.
I’m half expecting the woman to ask him for a picture. While sipping on my iced chai, I debate the endless possibilities as Theo drives toward the grocery store. His gaze wanders to me every now and then, but he doesn’t ask any questions.
After pulling into the parking lot, Theo parks the car and downs his drink before bouncing in his seat. I chuckle and smile at him as he turns to face me.
“Chug that tea, woman! We’ve got places to be!”
“Chai is meant to be savored.” I sass him.
Those dark eyes bore into me. “I know someone else who’s meant to be savored.”
I side-eye him as he smirks, trying my best not to crack my own smile. I finish my drink in a few gulps, and we hop out of the car to start toward the store. We step through the automatic doors, and a cold breeze wraps around us. It’s April, and the temperature is getting hotter and hotter. But hey, global warming is a hoax. . .
Theo grabs a cart and follows me through the produce section. I wrote a list on my phone’s notes that included meals and snacks. Most of it is naturally gluten-free, while some require some tweaking. Theo won’t mind either way.
“When was the last time you went food shopping?” I ask while bagging some tomatoes.
“Huh, you know, that’s a good question.” He tilts his head side to side, as if he’s counting. “Two months?”
I trip over my feet as I stop. “Two months?” I repeat.
“Maybe three?”
“Three!? How are you still alive?” I poke his stomach, and he flinches.
“I get my protein in other ways,” he says with a wink. Locking eyes with him for a moment, I smack him upside his head, and he winces. “Yeah, I deserved that.”
“You’re such a perv,” I sigh while grabbing a bunch of bananas. “Don’t.” I point at him, and he raises his hands in surrender.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Uh-huh, sure you weren’t,” I say while placing them in the cart.
“My mind isn’t always in the gutter,” he says while we walk toward the next aisle.
“That’s the biggest lie of the century—” I squeal as Theo pulls on my hood, making me stumble back. “What are you—” He covers my mouth with his hand and peeks around the corner.
“What’s wrong?” I murmur.
All of a sudden, the fluorescent lights buzz, too bright, too sharp. My feet are stuck to the dull linoleum floor as the cold air from the aisle wraps around me.
And then I see her. Mother stands at the end of the aisle by the jars of pasta sauce. Her face is sharper than I remember, her eyes locked on mine like she knows my darkest secrets. My chest tightens. I take a step back, bumping into our cart.
“What’s wrong?” Theo’s voice is low, concerned.
He steps closer, but I can’t take my eyes off her. She hasn’t moved, but at the same time, it’s like she’s pulling me toward her.
“Do you see my mother?” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
Theo freezes for a beat. “What? No,” he says slowly, like he’s trying to puzzle me out.
But I barely hear him. My hands are ice cold, trembling as I grip the the cart. She’s too still, too solid, like she’s waiting for me to break. My stomach churns, the edges of my vision blurring.
“She’s here,” I murmur, barely able to force the words out. “She’s right there. By the sauce.”
“Wren, that’s not your mother.” His voice is firmer now.
“She’s standing right there! Can’t you see her?”
Theo’s eyes follow my trembling finger, scanning the aisle. The silence stretches, too long, too heavy.
My chest heaves, waiting for him to see what I see.
When he finally speaks, his voice is soft, almost hesitant. “Wren?” he says, glancing back at me, his brow furrowed. “No. It’s my mother.”
I blink hard, my breath hitching as the figure sharpens. The hair is wrong, curlier. The face is softer somehow. My throat tightens as realization crashes down.
It’s Theo’s mom.
Not mine.
My knees almost give out as I grip the cart for balance. Theo’s gaze on me, his presence steady and warm, grounding me even as my mind spins.
Theo steps closer, his hand brushing mine on the cart, his voice low and steady. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
But I’m not. I can still feel the ghost of her eyes on me, even though she was never really there.
I clear my throat and square my shoulders. “Sorry about that.”
“Hey, it’s all right.” He squeezes my forearm, and I force a smile.
Malory Torres is the mom I never had. She took care of me, fed me, and ensured I felt safe in her home. From the moment I met her, I knew she had a genuine soul. If this were a normal day, I would run toward her and hug her until my arms gave out. But this isn’t a normal day, and this definitely isn’t a usual circumstance.
Mal has made her stance clear. She wants Theo and me together. From day one, she dropped hints, saying we would have cute children. Since then, it’s gotten progressively worse. If she sees us together shopping for food, she’s going to ask questions. And neither of us is ready for the storm that is Malory Torres.
“We should leave,” I whisper.
“We can’t leave,” he responds.
“Why not?”
“I’m looking forward to the dinner you have planned.”
If this man isn’t thinking with his second head, he’s thinking with his stomach.
“Fine, we’ll move slow and stay out of her line of sight,” I offer.
“Good idea.”
We wait until she leaves the aisle, and when she does, we make the turn and grab the items on my list. We scan the next section, and Theo ushers me forward, keeping our heads low. My heartbeat quickens with each passing moment.
“This is torture,” I grumble while we approach the frozen section.
“We’ve got this down to a science. The Department of Spies should hire us.”
I chuckle, and the pressure that settled in my muscles starts to melt away. Theo always has this effect on me, and I appreciate it so unbelievably much.
“I’d make a terrible spy,” I tell him while grabbing a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. “I can’t keep a secret to save my life.”
“But you tell me all your secrets. It doesn’t count if you tell another spy.”
I nod as I consider his argument. “That’s a good point.”
“We should look it up.”
“You can’t just apply to be a spy,” I chuckle as we continue through the store.
“How else would you become one?”
“For starters, I suggest not talking about it in public.” Her familiar voice sounds from behind us.
Theo and I both jump from the sudden fright before turning to face our biggest nightmare.
“Hey, Mom, when did you get here?” Theo tries to sound nonchalant, but his voice is panicked.
“Since ‘the Department of Spies’ comment,” she laughs while eyeing up the cart. “Do you two always shop together?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Theo and I answer at the same time, causing us to fumble.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Dropping my shoulders in defeat, I sigh as my cheeks burn.
“Wren is helping me. You’ve said time and time again that I need to do better with keeping my kitchen stocked.”
“It’s a disaster,” I say, forcing a laugh.
“Thank you for ensuring my son eats.” Her hair bounces as she takes a step forward to pinch his cheek.
Theo groans and swats her away, which only makes her smile wider.
“You two should come over for dinner sometime. I miss my babies.”
“We would love to,” I say with a broad smile. “Name a time and we’ll be there.”
Her eyes flicker between us, and she releases a small sigh. “If only you two see what I do. You’d know the universe made you for one another.”
Heat spreads over my cheeks, and I clear my throat.
We let Mal continue before she gives up, and with a brief farewell exchange, we’re left alone in the frozen aisle.
We don’t acknowledge what she said—neither of us knows how. Sure, the thought’s passed through my mind. He and I are always there for one another. We have a lot in common and adore each other. He deserves someone who makes him happy. Someone who can stand up for herself without asking for help.
As soon as Malory walks away, I feel like I can finally breathe again, but her words hang in the air between us.
If only you two see what I do.
I glance at Theo, but he’s busy adjusting the cart, pretending like his mom’s matchmaking attempt didn’t just make things a thousand times more awkward.
What if she’s right, though? What if we are good for each other? It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. Theo has always been there for me, and I’ve become dependent on his kindness. But is that enough?
Could I really be enough for him?
I shake the thought away as quickly as it comes. No. If it was meant to happen, it would have happened already. We’re friends. That’s all this is, and that’s all it’ll ever be.