Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Wren
I’m such an idiot. Why do I keep doing this to myself?
I had him—I had him—and the second the focus shifted to me, I ran.
Again.
Why? Why does this keep happening? Sure, I ran when he caught me touching myself while watching him jack off, but that was after. Hell, I invited him in. I asked him to help me , and he didn’t hesitate. He practically leapt at the chance.
But now? Now it’s different.
I can’t do this alone, and since Mia already has a front-row seat to whatever this thing is between Theo and me, I figure I might as well take advantage of it. I need someone to talk to—someone who won’t judge me for spiraling.
When I slipped past Theo sleeping outside my door, my heart shattered. He looked so peaceful, so safe. But it had to be done. I couldn’t face him. Not yet. The twenty-minute walk to Mia’s townhouse flew by, lost in the storm of my thoughts—regret, confusion, fear, and that unbearable pull I can’t seem to shake.
When I knock on the white-paneled door, I release a long, shaky breath. I’m not ready for this conversation, but it’s not like I’ve got much of a choice.
The door swings open, and my heart sinks.
“Brandy.” My voice comes out higher than I intend, and I force a wide, brittle smile. “What are you doing here?”
She leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, a knowing look on her face that makes me want to disappear. “I’ve been staying here more often since you left,” she says casually, like it’s no big deal. Then she narrows her eyes. “What are you doing here? You’re not usually up this early.”
I let out a nervous laugh, tucking a loose curl behind my ear. “Sleep has been... elusive.” I shift my weight, trying to peer past her into the house. “Is Mia home?”
She arches a brow. “Why don’t you seem happy to see me?” she asks, tilting her head like she’s dissecting me. She steps aside, forcing me to focus on her.
“What?” I force another fake laugh. “Of course I’m happy to see you!”
It’s just that you hate Theo, and this is definitely a Theo-related matter.
“Uh-huh, sure,” she says, not buying it for a second. “Come on.” She gestures for me to follow her inside, nodding toward the stairs.
The moment I step over the threshold, my nerves tangle into knots.
It’s not too late to turn back, a small voice whispers in my head, but I ignore it.
As Brandy starts climbing the stairs, I hesitate. Butterflies churn in my stomach—not the good kind. The closer I get to Mia, the closer I am to admitting what I’ve done, to saying it out loud. To unraveling everything.
Still, I take a deep breath and follow her, each step heavier than the last.
At the top of the stairs, Brandy glances back at me. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I reply quickly.
She narrows her eyes, but she doesn’t press. Brandy never does—she prefers to let her silence drag answers out of people.
When we reach the landing, she pushes open the door to Mia’s room without knocking. “Hey, you’ve got company.”
Inside, Mia is sprawled across her bed, a mountain of pillows and blankets cocooned around her. She blinks groggily at us, sitting up with a groan. “Company? At”—she checks her phone—“7:15?”
Brandy steps aside, revealing me.
“Oh.” Mia’s expression lightens immediately. She throws the blankets off her legs and slides out of bed, her concern obvious. “What’s going on?”
Brandy stays by the door, arms crossed, watching us with her usual analytical intensity.
“There’s been another. . . incident,” I blurt, glancing at Brandy.
Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t move. “An incident?” she asks.
Mia sighs, running a hand through her tangled hair. “Brandy, maybe just give us a minute?—”
“No,” I say, surprising even myself.
Both women turn to look at me, startled.
I swallow hard and lift my chin. “No, she can stay. It’s fine. . . But it’s about Theo.”
Brandy raises a brow but says nothing. She leans against the wall, arms still crossed, and gestures for me to continue.
Mia pats the bed beside her. “Come sit, Wren,” she says gently. “You look like you haven’t slept at all.”
I shuffle over, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “I haven’t,” I admit. My hands tremble in my lap, and I clasp them tightly to hide it.
Mia waits patiently, her gaze steady.
Brandy, of course, doesn’t have the same restraint. “So.” She prompts me. “Are you going to tell us what happened?”
I hesitate, the words caught in my throat. It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it—I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t—but saying it out loud is too raw. Too real.
“I screwed up,” I say finally. “With Theo.”
Mia tilts her head. “What happened?”
I take a shaky breath. “I had him. He was right there, and I panicked. I—I ran.” My shoulders slump, shame washing over me.
“Probably for the best.”
“Brandy.” Mia warns her, her tone sharp.
“No, it’s fine,” I say, even though it’s not. I shake my head, the words tumbling out in a rush. “She’s right. It’s probably for the best. He deserves someone who doesn’t run.”
No one says anything for a moment, but when Brandy speaks up, she earns my full attention. “You have feelings for him. Why? Help me understand.”
I look down at my hands, twisting them in my lap. “Because he . . . sees me. Really sees me, and while that scares the hell out of me, it also makes me feel alive. He makes me feel whole—like I’m not a piece of glass.”
The room is quiet for a moment, the weight of my confession settling over all of us.
“I thought I saw my mom at the grocery store,” I whisper, the words barely leaving my lips. My chest tightens as the silence stretches between us. “It wasn’t her. . . but I keep seeing her everywhere. It’s like she’s haunting me, and I can’t tell what’s real anymore.” My voice wavers, and I force myself to take a breath. “Theo... he’s the one who pulls me back. He reminds me where I am and that I’m safe.”
I lift my gaze, my heart pounding as I take in their softened expressions. Brandy’s earlier question echoes in my mind, and I meet her eyes with quiet resolve. “You once asked me why I’m friends with a cam star.” I maintain my composure even though my hands tremble. “The answer is simple. I see him for who he really is. . . We’ve seen one another at our best and worst and came out on the other side stronger than before. He sees me for me, and I lo—” I trip over my word, stopping myself before I admit the truth. “I care about him.”
Mia smiles at me, her gaze sharp, almost like she can see right through me.
I shift in my seat, uncomfortable under her quiet scrutiny, and glance at Brandy. Her eyes meet mine, and I notice the way her shoulders lower, the tension slipping from her frame.
“It’s hard to remember sometimes,” Brandy murmurs. “You and Theo basically grew up together. He’s seen more than we have. And while I hate to admit it, he knows more than we do.”
“Say it.” Mia cuts in, light and teasing, but there’s a spark of anticipation in her tone as she leans forward.
“Mia . . .” Brandy draws out, already sounding exasperated.
“Fucking say it!” Mia’s grin widens as her voice rises, her excitement palpable now.
Brandy groans, her head tipping back like she’s silently asking for patience. Then, after a long pause, she sighs and relents. “Fine! I may have judged him incorrectly. Happy?”
My eyes widen at the unexpected confession, and before I can react, Mia explodes, throwing her arms into the air with a triumphant yell. “Yes! Finally!”
Her laughter fills the room, infectious and full of joy. Brandy rolls her eyes but can’t hide the small, reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
I sit there, caught between disbelief and amusement, warmth creeping through me as the moment unfolds.
“He didn’t hesitate when your mom showed up, and he offered his home without thinking twice. I was so hell-bent on disliking him that I didn’t see the truth, and I apologize for that.”
“Thank you,” I say, still in disbelief this is happening.
Brandy leans back and glares at Mia, who is still beaming. “It makes sense though.” She looks at me again, and I arch a brow in question. “Why you keep running.”
“It does?”
“It’s clear as day,” she tells me. “Your mother returned after you told her no contact, and you were catapulted back into the past—stuck in fight or flight. Your mind is reeling while your heart is reaching.” Brandy reaches for my hand. “It’s time you fight back.”
Like many kids, I was taught not to talk back. I can recall some moments when I defended myself or corrected her when she was wrong, but I was always scolded for it. At some point, I stopped and let her words run over me. The only time I truly stood up for myself was when I severed the tie between us, and she has the audacity to try and force herself back into my life.
But no more.
Instead of taking her hand, I wrap my arms around her neck and embrace her tightly. “Thank you,” I say while trying to fight back my tears. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Don’t forget about me.” Mia squeezes in and hugs us with a broad smile. “I love us.”
“Me too,” I chuckle
After a moment, we separate, and I take a deep breath. The sudden need to be with Theo overwhelms me.
“So, what’s the game plan?” Mia implores. “Jump his bones or tell him how you feel?”
If only she knew I already “jumped his bones”. . .
“I’m going to see what happens.” I respond honestly. “I’m supposed to be at his mom’s this afternoon for her birthday?—”
“Perfect!” Mia leaps off the bed and pulls on my hand. “I have the perfect outfit in mind.”