Chapter 41 You Came
WREN
It’s been one week since Tanner decided to officially buy The Local and told his father he was leaving Austere. From what he told me, I don’t think his dad was very accepting of his decision, but he agreed that Tanner needed to show his face at the party tonight honoring the company's new CEO.
I walk out of my room, and he’s standing in the living room wearing a black suit, with a white shirt and a tie that matches my dress. His hair is pulled into a bun on the top of his head.
“Wow,” he says, drinking me in. He spins his finger in the air, and I twirl. “You’re a knockout, Wren Dawson.”
He walks toward me and wraps me in his arm. “You feeling good about tonight?” I ask.
“I don’t know. Part of me is so ready to move on, but it’s also a little embarrassing. The entire company knows Stuart was picked over me, and while I know I need to be there, I don’t want to be.”
“I think what you're doing is very honorable. I’m so proud to be your girlfriend and to get to walk into that party on your arm.”
He releases me and tugs on his tie, loosening it a little.
“I wish I didn’t have to be in a fucking suit,” he says. “Maybe I should go change.”
“Absolutely not. You might hate wearing it, but I will be the one taking it off of you tonight,” I tease. “You look like a snack.”
He laughs, and his shoulders relax.
“Also, we can still dress up nice and have a little fun.” I pick up the hem of my dress and show off the sneakers that adorn my feet instead of heels. “Go change your shoes so you’re a little more comfortable.”
“Seriously?” he asks.
“Yes, we’re in this together,” I say, fixing his tie. “We make a good team, remember.”
Tanner leans forward and kisses me.
“You’re right.” He heads into his room, and when he returns, sneakers adorn both of his feet.
“Better?” I ask.
“Much better. Let’s get it over with.” Hand in hand, we walk down to his car. During the drive over, we discuss plans for the bar, the progress I’ve made for my art classes, and the upcoming therapy session he has scheduled. His hand remains on my thigh the entire drive.
He pulls into the hotel that’s hosting his company. The valet attendant opens his door, and Tanner makes his way around the car, opens my door, and helps me out.
“You ready?” I ask.
“As I’ll ever be,” he says.
We walk into the banquet room together. It’s obvious a lot of money was dropped on the event, and everywhere you look there are tables of food or bars.
Four large crystal chandeliers adorn the ceiling.
Waiters walk around with trays of hors d'oeuvres, and at the front of the space is an empty dance floor and a DJ playing music.
Tanner scans the room.
“Do you see your parents?”
“No.”
“Should we get a drink then?”
“Yes, a drink sounds perfect.” We begin walking across the room, and Tanner gets stopped by someone I’ve never seen before. “Hi, John,” he says. “This is my girlfriend, Wren. Wren, this is John, my assistant.”
“Oh, it’s so nice to meet you,” I say, shaking his hand. “Tanner has nothing but nice things to say about you.”
John smiles. “I sure am going to miss him being my boss,” he says, rocking back on his heels.
“You might be the only person I miss from Austere,” Tanner says, tapping him across the shoulders.
“I’m going let you two talk, and I’m going to get those drinks,” I say, squeezing Tanner’s hand. “I’ll be right back.” He nods, and I walk away looking for a bar.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asks when I walk up to the first one I see.
“Can you make a cosmo?”
“Not here,” she says. “If you go across the room to the bigger bar, they can make you whatever you want. This one only has beer and wine.”
“Thanks,” I say, smiling and heading toward the larger bar. It’s mostly empty except for two men. I move by them, stepping up to the bar and grabbing the bartender’s attention.
“How can I help you?” he asks.
“Can I get a cosmo, and then just a bottle of beer.”
“Sure thing,” he says, turning around to prepare my drink.
“It’s embarrassing,” the younger man standing to my right says. “If I were him, I wouldn’t have even shown my face.”
I scoot a little further away from them, trying my best not to eavesdrop.
“Always has to make a show,” the older gentleman says.
“Yeah, but a bar.” I follow the man’s gaze and see that he’s staring at Tanner.
Fire boils under my skin. I know they aren’t talking about him like that.
“Excuse me,” I say, catching both of their attention.
“Can we help you?” the older gentleman asks.
“It’s just always been interesting to me how no matter where you are, you can always tell who the smallest men in the room are.”
“I’m not following,” he says.
“The smallest men in a room are always the ones who feel the need to cut down others. I didn’t catch your entire conversation, but I heard enough.”
“Excuse me,” the younger man says, aghast.
“You heard me,” I snap, turning to grab our drinks. I walk back toward Tanner, and I try to calm my rage, but it’s no use.No wonder he wanted to skip tonight.
Fucking assholes.
Anger thrums through my body, and I sip my drink, trying to calm myself.
“I was thinking that maybe we just duck out early,” he says as I hand him his beer.
“No, I’m not going to let these dicks make you feel unwelcome,” I breathe out.
“You good?
“Oh, yeah,” I say, trying to reign myself in.
“You sure you seem a little flustered.”
“No, I’m good. Actually, you want to go dance?”
“There’s no one dancing,” he laughs. “I think the dance floor is more for show at these types of things.”
“That’s never stopped us before.” I grab his beer and set both of our drinks on a nearby table.
We walk toward the dance floor, and the upbeat song shifts to “It Had To Be You” by Frank Sinatra. Tanner takes my hand, pulling me into him. His hands find my lower back, and mine wrap around his neck. He holds me close. As the lyrics continue singing about love, the entire room melts away.
“I’m so proud of you,” I tell him.
“What made you tell me that?”
“I just know how hard this is for you.” He pulls me in and kisses me on the forehead. We continue to sway in each other’s arms, and when I look around the room, I spot the two assholes from the bar watching us with unamused looks on their faces.
The music fades, and “Shut up and Dance,” by Walk the Moon begins to play.
Tanner spins me out and then immediately back into him.
We’re still the only people on the dance floor, and I’m sure everyone in this stuffy room thinks we’re nuts, but I don’t care.
All I care about is that when Tanner looks back on tonight it’s a good memory, not a bad one.
The music continues to play, and song after song he twirls me, and we dance like no one is watching and we’re the only two goofballs in the entire world.
“I need to run to the bathroom,” I giggle, as he twirls me into him. “Can we pause the dancing for a minute?”
“That’s fine. I’m thirsty anyway. I’ll go grab us something, and then we probably do need to find my parents. I’m sure they’ve seen us by now.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I head one way while he heads in the other direction. I quickly use the restroom and wash my hands. I’m fixing my hair, when I hear my phone ping. Pulling it out, I’m met with a flurry of missed phone calls and text messages all from my mom and dad.
My heart sinks, and my mind begins to race as I click on the text messages.
Mom:
Hey, sweetheart. Please call us when you see this.
Dad:
Wren, it’s Cody. He had a grand mal seizure, and we’re at the hospital. He’s doing okay, but please call as soon as you can.
Dad:
They have us in room 4567.
I’m so sorry. I’m on my way.
Panic over takes me, and I need to get out of here—quickly. I need to get to my family. Cody needs me. Fuck. Without hesitating, I take off running to the front of the hotel, calling for an Uber as I move.
Three minutes away.
Through tears, I swipe up and click on Tanner’s name. I stare at the blank text box for a minute, not entirely sure what to say.
I’m sorry to do this, but Cody had a seizure. I’m on my way to the hospital, and I’m not entirely sure when I’ll be back to the apartment. I’ll text you when I know more.
My Uber arrives, and I slide in the back seat. “If you could hurry—it’s my little brother,” I say, choking back tears and putting my phone back in my purse.
“I’ll do my best,” she says.
My leg shakes up and down, and I play nervously with the bracelet on my wrist. Tears continue to fall, as she weaves in and out of traffic on the way to the hospital.
She gets me there in fifteen minutes, and I have the door open and my feet are on the pavement before she comes to a complete stop.
“I hope everything is alright,” she says right before the door shuts behind me.
I barge through the doors and am met by the nurse working the intake desk in the emergency room.
“Hi,” I say, shaking. “I’m here to see my brother, Cody Dawson. I think he’s in room 3567 or maybe it was 4567. I’m sorry I don’t remember.” I reach for my purse and realize that, in my rush, I left it in the back of the Uber.
Shit.
“Wren?” My dad’s voice comes from behind me, and I completely crumble at the sound of it. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad you’re here.”
I move quickly toward him, and he wraps me in a big hug. “Where is he? Is he okay? What happened? Dad, I’m so sorry I wasn’t answering. I was at a party, and I didn’t hear it or feel it.”
“Calm down, sweetie,” he says, pulling away from me and grabbing me by the shoulders. “Cody’s alright. It was scary there for a minute, but the ambulance got there fast. He’s a little tired, but he’s going to be okay.”
“Thank goodness,” I breathe out, wiping my eyes. “Can I see him?”
“Sure, come on. I’m surprised you didn’t call when you got here.”
“In my panic, I left my purse in the backseat of my Uber. I want to lay eyes on him, and then I’ll try to figure out what I need to do to get it back.”
He leads me through the emergency room to room 4567. He knocks gently then pushes it open.