Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Theo
2014— Sophomore Year of College
The courtyard is alive with the hum of student chatter and the distant sound of music from someone’s portable speaker. Sunlight filters through the canopy of littleleaf linden trees, casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone path where Wren and I walk. My hand brushes against hers, and the contact makes my stomach flip.
“I can’t believe you want to do this,” I say as we stroll through the university’s courtyard.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Wren asks, her wavy locks bouncing as we walk.
“They’re just guys.”
“Yes, but they’re your friends, and as your best friend, they have to pass my test.”
“Since when do you have a test?” This girl, even when she doesn’t aim to bring a smile to my face, she does.
“Since you moved on campus and left me to fend for myself.” Bumping into my arm, she smirks at me. “I’m just teasing, don’t give me that look.”
I glance at her, taking in the curve of her jaw and how her eyelashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks. My crush is back, and damn, how am I not supposed to tell her how every moment with her makes my heart race and my world brighter.
“I’m not giving you a look,” I respond, my tone low.
“Yes, you are. Your worry spot is wrinkled.”
“Worry spot?” I ask with a laugh, coming to a stop.
Lifting her hand, She presses the pad of her finger to the spot between my eyebrows. “This spot.”
Despite the warm air, my cheeks heat with her touch.
Wren looks up at me, gently massaging the spot that was indeed tense before.
Before I give in to temptation, I step back and start down the path again.
“Mark is a cool guy; you’ll like him. Stay away from Henry and Oliver. They mean well, but they can be dicks.”
“Oh, okay.”
And if I wasn’t so focused on suppressing my feelings, I would have acknowledged how her tone changed.
We walk into Lucky 3, the college bar that doubles as the heart of our campus nightlife, and the familiar scent of spilled beer hits me, along with a wave of nerves. The low hum of chatter and laughter is broken intermittently by clinking glasses and the occasional cheer from the dartboard and pool area.
I wouldn’t necessarily call Mark, Henry, and Oliver my friends. If anything, we’re colleagues. Addie introduced us, and after she and I split, they were there for me. We don’t talk unless we need filming or editing tips, but I would be lying if I said they weren’t there when I needed someone to lean on.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask Wren, scanning the room like an FBI agent counting the number of exits.
“Positive.” She speaks over the crowd.
Glancing down at her, a lump forms in my throat. While I don’t mind stealing a glimpse or two of Wren’s amazing cleavage, I don’t want anyone else ogling her.
“Hey, Theo! Over here!” Oliver calls out, but before Wren can approach them, I grab her wrist to stop her.
“Do me a favor?” I ask while unzipping my hoodie. “Can you put this on?”
“What? Why?” she asks, bewildered, as I place it around her shoulders.
“You’re not the girl you once were,” I say, hoping she gets the hint.
“You’re speaking in riddles.”
After zipping the hoodie, I tug on the drawstrings, and she loses her balance.
Our noses brush, and fuck, does my heart stutter.
I lower my voice so only she can hear me. “You’re not swimming in your clothes anymore. You filled out, and while I appreciate your beauty, I don’t trust anyone in this room to do the same.”
I reach toward her, tracing her jawline with my knuckles, and her cheeks turn red.
“I can handle myself,” she whispers back.
She grasps the zipper, but I place my hand over hers, stopping her. “Please, do me this one favor.”
Wren clicks her tongue and pokes it against her cheek. “Okay.”
With her arms over her chest, I snake my arm around her waist and hold her close as we approach the booth my friends are in.
“There you are,” Oliver hollers and takes a swig of his beer.
“We were starting to wonder if you got lost.” Henry’s eyes dance over Wren, but she doesn’t cower from his gaze.
“Hi, I’m Wren.” She extends her hand to him.
“We don’t shake hands where I come from. How about a kiss?” He puckers his lips, and I dig my fingernails into my palm.
“Cut it out, Henry,” Mark says as he stands. “Hi, I’m Mark. It’s lovely to meet you.”
He and Wren shake hands, and when he sits, he pats the spot beside him. Before I can interject, Oliver pulls me down, forcing Wren and me on different sides of the table.
“Is there a reason why you’re late?” Henry asks while wiggling his eyebrows.
“Don’t be an ass,” I hiss.
“I wouldn’t blame you—Ow! Dude, what the fuck?” Oliver winces and rubs the bicep I punched.
“Can you be polite for two minutes?” I grumble.
“Mark, can you back me up?” Oliver asks, but he doesn’t respond. “Mark?”
I wouldn’t say I’m an envious guy. I never got jealous if any of my girlfriends had guy friends or if someone flirted with them. It’s hard to get under my skin, but Mark found a way to fester under it and leave a scar.
Were they talking the entire time? Why is she laughing? Mark’s a nice guy, but he’s far from funny. And why are they smiling so much?
“Wren?” I try to interrupt, but she doesn’t give me the time of day.
“Careful, Torres. Looks like someone’s trying to steal your girl.”
My girl.
No one has ever said those two words together about Wren and me. I only dared call her mine in my head, and the thought was always enough to leave me feeling weightless. But I’m far from weightless at this moment. It’s like a magnet is in my chest, and its companion is in the earth’s core. I’m being pulled under, and the darkness is suffocating.
Not wanting to drown, I take a deep breath and say, “Mark? How was your session the other night?”
His blue eyes meet mine, and his entire posture stiffens. Unlike me, Mark doesn’t show his face in his videos. He likes to keep a low profile. Most of his videos are of him jerking off, but the other night, he participated in a threesome. And knowing Wren, she’s about to embarrass the living shit out of him with all her questions.
“You record too?” she starts. “Wait, do you guys as well?” she asks the rest of the group.
“It’s how we met,” Henry answers as he takes a drink.
“As in, you all slept together?”
Henry chokes on his drink as Oliver cackles. “Oh, I like her.”
“How would that even work?” She tilts her head as if she’s in deep thought. “Theo? Help my ‘innocent’ brain figure this out. I can’t picture?—”
“We didn’t sleep together,” I say, holding back my laughter. “My ex introduced us all last year.”
“That makes sense,” she says. And even though she doesn’t pry, Mark is beet red and quiet. Whatever they were talking about earlier is the least of his worries. “I’m going to get a drink.”
Wren strolls over to the bar, and damn, does she look good when she walks away.
“Dude, what the fuck?” Mark whispers. “You know how important keeping my secret between us is.”
“She didn’t seem to care,” Oliver tells him.
“You’ve got a keeper there, but if you’re not dating, I’d like to take my chances.” Henry grips the table and stands. “She’s got curves I could ride all night long.”
“I’ll tear out your throat.” I side-eye him, and he smirks.
“Tell that to the guy at the bar.”
I nearly get whiplash from how hard I turn my head. The bar is crowded, but that didn’t stop some strange guy from squeezing in to lean across the bar and face Wren.
Without thinking twice, I jump to my feet and approach her.
“Your eyes are stunning” is all he gets to say before I burst in.
“There you are.” I place my hand on her lower back and lean down to her ear. “Why don’t we get out of here?”
She meets my gaze with a mixture of relief and interest. “I’d love to.”