Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Theo
Come back.
Please . . . come back.
My tears burn as they fall, hot and relentless, carving jagged paths down my cheeks. My chest heaves, each gasp slicing through me like broken glass.
She promised she wouldn’t leave, but now she’s gone. And it’s my fault. I shoved her away, yet every fiber of me screams for her to come back.
She said she wouldn’t run anymore.
She promised, but now she’s gone.
Though, I didn’t give her much of a choice. I all but shoved her out that door. Still, she must know I don’t want this. I don’t want her to leave. Not when we finally have what we’ve denied ourselves for years.
I’d be a fool to throw it away.
What am I supposed to do without her? Wren isn’t just a part of my life—she’s the part that makes the rest bearable. And yet, here I am, standing on the edge of losing her because I’m too much of a coward.
My chest tightens. I can’t protect Wren if Amanda goes through with her threats. But pushing Wren away is like cutting off my own lifeline.
I try to imagine it—a life where I don’t see her smile, hear her laugh, or feel the warmth of her hand in mine. The idea is hollow, like a piece of me would wither and die. No good intentions or self-sacrifice can fill that void.
And Amanda? For fuck’s sake. The idea of being with her makes my stomach roll. Wren knows that. She knows I’d protect her no matter what it takes—even if it means pushing her away to keep her safe. But the weight of losing her...
I lift my head, blinking through the tears, and stare blankly at the wall. The quiet settles around me like a punishment I wasn’t prepared for.
It wasn’t supposed to be this?—
“And just for the record!”
Her voice splits the silence like a thunderclap. I jerk upright, my heart lurching as Wren storms into the room, her steps sharp and purposeful. Her eyes burn with a fury I’ve missed—a force of nature that commands attention.
She shoves Robbie forward, her outstretched finger trembling with rage. “I didn’t run, but you’ve left me no choice. You’re going to talk to him,” she snaps, her voice sharp enough to cut. “And you’re going to listen. ”
Wren turns to leave, and her bare feet pitter-patter against the floor. “And I’m not running.” Her voice is quieter now, almost exhausted. “I’m just going to take a shower and clear my head.”
The door closes with a soft click, and suddenly, the weight in the room grows heavier.
“Why are you here, Robbie?” I groan.
He looks down at me, his eyes searching my expression. “To talk.”
I scoff, slumping back onto the bed. “About what? My decision is final.”
“ Final ?” Robbie repeats, his voice rising. He steps closer, his hands clenched at his sides. “You mean the decision that will ruin your life and hers in one move?”
I glare up at him. “You think I want this?”
“Then why the fuck are you doing it, Theo?” he demands, his voice cracking. “Amanda? Really? You’re seriously throwing away everything with Wren over her ?”
“You don’t understand.” I shake my head.
“Then make me understand,” Robbie says, his tone softening just enough to make it hurt. “You’re destroying everything good in your life, Theo. And for what? To bow down to Amanda’s games? She’s holding a match to everything you and Wren built, and you’re just standing there, letting her light the fire.”
I exhale, rubbing my hands over my face. “It’s not that simple, Robbie. Amanda has a video.”
His brow furrows. “A video? Of what?”
I swallow hard, the words catching in my throat. “Of me... and Wren.”
The silence between us is deafening. Robbie’s expression shifts—confusion giving way to dawning horror. “You’re telling me Amanda’s blackmailing you?”
I nod, unable to meet his eyes. “She’s threatening to post it. Wren’s face is clear as day in it, Robbie. It’ll ruin her. I can’t let that happen.”
Robbie stares at me like he’s trying to solve a puzzle he doesn’t want to put together. “So, your solution is to sleep with Amanda? That’s your big plan?”
“You think I want to?” My voice cracks, the frustration and guilt boiling over. “I hate her. The thought of touching her makes me sick. But what choice do I have? If I don’t do this, she’ll destroy Wren’s life.”
Robbie shakes his head, his voice rising again. “This is ridiculous, Theo. You think Wren wants this? She’d rather deal with the fallout than watch you do something like this.”
“She doesn’t get a say,” I snap. “Not in this. This is on me.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.” Robbie steps closer, his voice dropping low, steady. “Amanda will never stop either. You think this is a onetime trick? It’ll keep happening, Theo. Until she uses you up.”
My eyes slam shut. I want him to stop, but he doesn’t.
“Wren’s in this with you. She’s not some fragile thing that needs you to sacrifice yourself for her. If you don’t stop treating her like that, you’re going to lose her for good.”
I look away, my chest heaving. “I’m trying to protect her.”
“And you’re doing it all wrong,” Robbie shoots back. “You don’t save someone by breaking yourself, Theo. You’ll just leave both of you in pieces.”
His words hang in the air, heavy and unavoidable. I press my hands into my face, the weight of everything crashing down on me.
“She’s going to hate me,” I whisper, barely audible.
“Not as much as you’ll hate yourself if you go through with this,” Robbie says softly.
I don’t respond. I can’t. Because deep down, I know he’s right.
“Then what am I going to do?” I ask through my tears. “I can’t let this happen.”
Robbie kneels in front of me so we’re at eye level. “Trust your girl. And for once, stop being so damn stubborn.”
“I do trust her,” I sigh. “But nothing she can say will change my mind. I’m doing this for her.”
He drops his shoulders, and his eyes reflect something I haven’t seen in a really long time—disappointment. “Sleep on it, but you owe her another conversation.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, but it doesn’t go away. “I’ll fix it,” I whisper, more to myself than him.
He studies me for a moment, his disappointment still heavy in his gaze, but he nods as if accepting my halfhearted agreement.
“Good. In the morning, Theo. Don’t put it off.” He pushes himself to his feet, lingering for a moment before heading for the door.
The room is colder once he’s gone, the silence pressing in on me like a physical weight. I lean back against my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing in circles.
Sleep on it.
As if that’ll magically make this situation any clearer. Every path is a dead end. Every choice means losing Wren in one way or another.
But Robbie’s words linger, echoing in the back of my mind like a challenge I can’t shake. You don’t save someone by breaking yourself.
I close my eyes, exhaustion settling over me, but sleep doesn’t come. Not easily. Not with the knowledge that when morning comes, I’ll have to face Wren—and the fallout of everything I’ve already put in motion.
For now, I can only hope I’m strong enough to survive losing her.