Chapter 10 Wren
Chapter ten
Wren
AFTER fleeing from the library after it started to feel too confining, I find solace in the kitchen, nursing a black coffee that might be able to help get my thoughts in order.
In the space of one day the little sense of control over my life has evaporated, but our kiss last night has me so frazzled, I can’t seem to care that Corbin Claythorne is unraveling my life.
I should leave, maybe beg his brother to come too despite this being his hotel opening weekend and hey—I’ll take Robin over my shoulder too because I don’t want to leave her here, where that bastard could try and touch her again.
Try being the key word because I won’t let him near her.
I’m starting to think that I made the kiss up.
I was tired, the entire thing could be a gut wrenching delusion, because it may have been the best kiss of my entire life.
The way my entire body was set on fire the moment our lips touched, surely I couldn’t make up this desperation for more.
I wanted to consume her, get her so deep into my skin I’d never go without her touch again.
No, I needed her like a starved man would choke on food just to feel satisfied again.
That thought scares me so much, but not as much as if the entire moment was some exhausted fever dream I created.
I can’t stand the idea of not kissing her again, so it was unbearable watching Robin scramble to put her walls back up this morning.
Lily seemed to confuse her feelings for me and for a brief moment, I swore I could see shame flicker through her.
Shame over kissing me? The thought has me groaning, resting my head on the cool marble top as I let the coffee work its magic and bring me back to life.
I’m envious of normal human beings who can wake up and just get on with their day, but touring has ruined my natural body clock for so long now that I cling to caffeine a little too hard.
Before I can start to spiral over the tiny writer I only met yesterday—yes I’m very aware this crush has manifested quickly—Pheonix enters the kitchen and I know it’s him from the weight of his stride.
Weird? Probably, but we lived together in the same room for eight years at boarding school.
It became handy knowing it was him sneaking back into our room at night, or else he’d have gotten a tactical swing to the face if I thought it was anyone else.
“Wrenny, you ok?” He asks, rubbing up my spine with his flat palm. I groan again, the contact comforting but doesn’t help clear my swimming thoughts, so I stand up.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I’m more concerned about you.
Are you both really ok with this weekend still happening?
You don’t need to accommodate everyone, especially your brother.
” I bite my tongue to end what I really want to say, but he knows how much I loath him.
I think that’s the general feeling most have towards Corbin.
“I don’t want him to think he ruined this for us.
It might even be the reason he’s doing all this in the first place.
” He sighs, running a hand through his untamed hair that now stands on end like he’s done this all night.
“Merle’s keeping face, but I think we’re far from ok.
Last night we just kind of exhausted ourselves and decided to really sort out what we’ll do after this weekend.
I don’t think we’ll break up, but unless I put in a lot of work, he’s going to be mad at me for a while. ”
“Fuck man, I’m so sorry. Maybe we shouldn’t have kept it a secret—”
He cuts me off. “No, Wren. This isn’t your fault. I begged you to keep this from everyone, when I should have told him as well as my family. He has every right to be mad at me, I’ve never told him the extent of my…problems.”
“You never told him about your addiction?” I try not to balk, but how in the hell has that not come up in the four years they’ve been together? “Have you purposely kept that from him?”
Tears spot onto his cheeks, before he raises his head and has a cloud of utter defeat hanging over his tense shoulders.
“I just wanted him to only know the good parts of me, so it was worth getting past the dramas of dating a Claythorne. He only knows..bits about my problems.” He gulps, voice only slightly higher than a whisper.
I step forward, grabbing his wrist. “Your dysfunctional family doesn’t tarnish you as a person, Phin. Your past, getting over those problems makes you who you are. You both deserve for him to know all of you.”
“I know. I’ve just been selfish as always.” He runs the side of his hand under his eyes, looking down at the tiled flooring like it’s much more interesting than this heart to heart.
“Mate, you’re not selfish! Scared maybe, but that’s normal and nothing to feel ashamed over.”
“You know how hard it is for me to let people in, they always seem to leave.” My own heart breaks at the thought we both share the same pain of losing our parents, but I could never understand the damage of having to say goodbye to one so young.
His mothers death has left festering scars, that sometimes I think he won’t ever truly let someone in, not even me.
Maybe the only person lodged firmly in his heart is Robin.
When he finally meets my eye after a heavy pause, I see a panic flash there.
“You don’t understand, Merle loathes dirty laundry being aired.
Wants me far from my sister's crowd, sometimes gets tired of anything to do with us being in the public eye. He wants a more private life—this life at Nightingale. He’s not going to want me if he knows how much baggage I actually carry around. ”
This is definitely news to me, especially as neither have eluded to staying away from the fame that comes with being around the Larks.
Bran has never shielded away from the media like I do, he’d proudly announce the clubs we were at just to make the party bigger and better.
Only early on in my career did I consider how fame would affect those around me, Phin didn’t enter that category because his family are members of the elite.
Our climb into the media as young rockstars is nothing compared to the rich and powerful knowing his family name, or even yet, the very public tragic end of his mother and the fall of his father.
He still sat rotting in prison and to my knowledge Phin had never visited.
All this to say, a quiet life would never be in the cards being in a relationship with him, if they didn’t work really hard for it.
All I can do is try to reassure him, but my words continue to fall on deaf ears as he shakes his head and leans on me.
Guests are starting to bristle within the house, so maybe we can take back control of the weekend if they’re not going to cancel.
I’m about to suggest he stays out of his brother's way, but Phin sharply inhales and grabs at my dominant hand.
Ah, fuck balls.
“What the hell happened to your knuckles?!”
There's no point in lying to him, he's eventually going to see his brother's busted face. “I punched Corbin in the face last night…”
He splutters. “Excuse me? Sorry, I think this simulation glitched for a second there. Can you say that again?”
I sigh, stepping back to lean against the counter and run my thumb over my very sore skin.
“I caught your brother scaring Robin and I lost it. I punched him and I’m not sorry.
The dickhead had her pinned against the wall and she asked him to leave.
” My saliva seems so thick in my own mouth that I repeatedly swallow, lifting my chin but I don't look at him.
“He didn't hurt her, did he?” Now my vision does snap up to him, because he sounds on the verge of finding Corbin himself and finishing what I started.
“No, but I don't know what he would have done if I hadn't gone to her room. He needs to stay far away from her for the rest of the weekend or I swear Phin, I won't be held responsible for what happens.” He gravely nods, and I know he's on my side over this decision.
He loves Robin so fiercely I've never stood a chance to truly be his person like that.
Unfolding his arms from around his body, we swap positions as he digs in the cupboard for a mug and starts to fill the machine with beans.
“I’m surprised she hasn't killed me yet, if I'm honest. Robs had to put up with a lot of my shit, so I better prepare myself to grovel today.” He stays facing away whilst he makes his coffee and I know it's because we're entering new territory for us both.
She's always been his friend, the one I wouldn't placate to meet or even muse if he wanted to tell stories about her.
Hell, I can't even reason why I acted that way all those years.
Humming, I wander over to where the prep stations are in the back of the kitchen, opening up one of the long fridges.
I’m keeping my hands busy, but maybe I can get her to fall head over heels for me if I make her breakfast. “Do you know where Robin was on Wednesday?” I ask nonchalantly, using the fridge door as a shield.
He must catch on to the tone under my curiosity though, because I hear the coffee mug being ditched and the fridge door suddenly closes in front of me.
“Why?” Phin crosses his arms, playing big brother as he puffs out his chest. “Suddenly interested in my girl, bro?” He teases and I actually catch a genuine brightness to his smile. Pushing him playfully, I side step him and angle myself against the island.
“Please never call me bro again—or refer to her as yours. That's my wife you’re talking about.”
He slowly rolls his eyes and I finally understand why it looked so familiar on her sweet heart shaped face. “Play it cool Wrenny.”