Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Theo
I can’t stand seeing her this way. Wren is too good of a person to deal with this cruel disease. What did she do to deserve this? She’s been through hell and back time and time again since she was a kid. Her mom mentally abused her, and her dad was too sick to notice. Amelia and Pensley are here for her now, but they weren’t before. Wren often tells me that I’m her saving grace, but the fact that she needed one leaves me gutted.
She’s passed out in my arms, and all I can do is hold her tight, hoping she feels safe.
Sleep won’t come to me tonight, not with the worry pressing on my chest. A rumble sounds from my nightstand, and while I don’t want to pull away, it won’t stop unless I turn on Do Not Disturb. Flipping onto my back, I grab my phone, not aiming to look at the text, but what I see makes my brow raise.
Amanda: Hello, love
Ugh, this woman. I need to block her.
Me: The answer is still no.
Amanda: Oh, come on. One last video, and afterward, you won’t hear from me again.
Me: How many times do I have to say no? I’m not playing this game with you.
Amanda: Then you leave me no choice.
Me: What on earth are you talking about?
Amanda: I just so happened to log into your drive the other day, and look what I found.
A video appears next, and as it plays, my heart plummets into my stomach.
I meant to delete that footage of Wren and me. Part of me wanted to keep it for selfish reasons, but I decided against it. Why didn’t I delete it sooner!? How did I forget Amanda had access to my account!?
Amanda: One more video, and if you say no, I’ll post this and spread your girlfriend’s face all over the internet. Everyone will know her name.
Me: You can’t do that.
Amanda: Why can’t I?
I slam my fingers down against the screen.
Me: She didn’t do anything wrong!
Amanda: She’s standing in the way of what I want.
Me: I’m not some trophy to be won!
Amanda: Theo, it’s simple. Record one more video with me, and I won’t post this one. If you refuse, I’ll share it. I don’t understand why you’re so confused.
Me: You’re blackmailing me to fuck you! What don’t you understand!?
Amanda: I’ll need an answer by Friday night.
Three days.
What am I going to do? I can’t go through with it. The idea of sleeping with Amanda again has acid crawling up my throat. Yet, if I don’t, she’ll share the footage of Wren sucking my cock all over the internet and put her on blast. She can hurt me however she wants, but I draw the line at Wren. She’s been through far too much to have to deal with this, but I can’t fuck Amanda.
It’s an endless circle, and my mind races until the sun rises, peeking through the curtains. My temples are throbbing, and a stabbing sensation pulses in my forehead.
Draping my arm over my eyes, I let out a sigh and work on shutting off my brain. The weight of Wren beside me is comforting, and I focus on that instead. She’s the only one who can help clear my mind, but she won’t be up for some time. So, I place my hand over Wren’s chest, and the beating of her heart soothes the ache in my muscles.
We can figure this out.
Wren is a problem solver. I’ll tell her the predicament, and she’ll devise a solution.
Or she’ll leave you.
No, I got us into this mess. I need to figure this out on my own.
I glance at my girl, and a pit forms in my stomach. I don’t deserve Wren. She’s good, and I’m pathetic. Why would she want to be with someone like me? Someone who fucks for money and records it for the world to see.
But this is Wren.
No, she doesn’t think of me like that. She’s never judged me, and our relationship never wavered. I can trust her.
Wren flips onto her side, facing me. Her lips are cast downward, and she whimpers every now and then. Resting my hand on her hip, I scoot closer and breathe in her scent. I want her to tell me that everything will be okay. That if I have to go through with it, she’ll still love me. Deep down, though, I know she won’t. Her mother cheated on her dad repeatedly. If I sleep with Amanda, even if it’s to protect her, it’s over for us.
“I can’t lose you,” I mumble as tears sting my eyes.
We just got together, and now I might lose it all.
Fuck.
Wiping my tears away, I sniffle and close my eyes. I can’t do anything right now. I have a few days, so until then, I’ll focus on Wren. I’ll remember how she feels against me. How her kisses make me lighter than air, and how soft she is in the morning. How her nose crinkles when she’s in deep thought, and how beautiful she is.
There is no after Wren. She’s it for me, and if she leaves, I’ll never love again.
“I’m fine, Dad, really.” Wren’s voice is low, but it’s enough to shake me awake.
“Are you sure? You’ve been through a lot these last few weeks, and you’re pale.”
I haven’t heard his voice in years. Yet, somehow, it’s the same as I remember it. Wren’s father has had his ups and downs. When he was with Marilyn and she was cheating on him, he found comfort in drugs. It took time, and after numerous failed attempts, he got clean and hasn’t relapsed.
He and Wren are close. She helped him find care and supported him throughout the process. There was a time when she couldn’t rely on him. She acted as his mother; she became the parent. It’s nice to hear her talk about him now. I love knowing that she can go to him and doesn’t have to worry about him asking for money or dumping his troubles on her.
“I’m fine, really. A restaurant we ordered from got me sick. I’m just sore and tired,” I hear Wren say.
“How has it been living with Theo?”
“It’s been nice. I don’t think we were expecting it to be this easy,” she says with a soft laugh.
“Good. Where is he?”
“Sleeping.”
I get out of bed and stroll into the living room while ruffling my hair. “Thought I heard a familiar voice.”
“Hey, man! It’s good to see you.” Daniel greets me with a hug and a firm pat on my back. “Thanks for taking my girl in,” he whispers with a kind smile.
“Of course. She can be a bit much though,” I say jokingly, knowing she’s listening.
“Trust me, I know. Have you seen how much she sheds? I’ve tried to talk her into making me a wig from her hair, but she won’t.”
“The audacity.” I shake my head, feigning disappointment.
“I told you. I’m saving my hair and weaving it into a voodoo doll,” Wren quips.
“Of yourself?” Danny asks with a chuckle. “You’re doing it wrong, honey.”
“No, because I plan on rubbing its stomach, and it’ll be like a 24-7 belly rub. It’ll cure me of all my woes.”
Her dad scrunches his lips and nods. “And that’s why you’re the smart one in the family.”
With a soft smile, Wren moves her gaze from me to her dad. The space between her brow wrinkles, meaning she’s thinking.
“Dad,” she starts.
As I look at her, my previous worries melt away. I was dense to believe this woman didn’t trust or love me.
“There’s something Theo and I need to tell you.”
“Is everything okay?” he asks, his voice monotone and shaky.
“Yes,” she laughs nervously, and her eyes meet mine again. “Theo and I. . .”
Placing myself by her side, I rest my hand on her lower back and smile at the man I’ve grown to admire.
“We’re together,” she finishes.
He flicks his gaze between his daughter and me, and when it finally sinks in, his eyes widen. “You’re dating?”
Wren’s breathing stutters, so I take over. “We are. Is that okay?”
“Is it okay?” he repeats, his lips tilting into a wide grin. “It’s amazing.”
“What?” Wren murmurs.
“Do you know how long I’ve hoped this might happen? Since the day you first introduced us, I had a feeling about you two. You sure took your time, though.”
“Why does everyone say something along those lines?” she says with a light laugh.
“Because we have eyes.” He teases her, and Wren presses her lips together.
Leaning in, I kiss the side of her head and murmur, “It was worth the wait.” And when I pull back, I mess with her hair to get a reaction.
With a pout, she says, “I’m not even going to fix it. My arms hurt too much.”
Daniel smiles at us. His shoulders drop as he looks at his daughter, and pride shines in his eyes. “I’m so happy you’re happy. It’s all I ever wanted for you.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Wren wraps her arms around Daniel, hugging him.
He holds his daughter close, kissing the top of her head as he whispers something.
I don’t hear what he says, but it makes Wren smile, and that’s all that matters.