13. Wren
WREN
Sparkle grins at me from the opposite side of the couch.
Talon is passed out on the floor with his head back against the couch.
I want to run my fingers through his hair.
I bet it would be soft, but I don’t dare violate his trust like that.
Beau fell asleep against Gabe’s shoulder.
I think it’s just me and Sparkle awake and he knows why I don’t want to be awake right now.
“Still dreaming of the Winter Court and that Fae guy?” Sparkle whispers as the movie plays on. No one’s watching it, but it’s good background noise.
“Unfortunately.” I drop my head to the back of the couch. “I still don’t understand why he waited until now.”
“You don’t live with Lark anymore.” Sparkle shrugs. “Makes sense. Now you’re alone, he can bother you more.”
“Hadn’t thought of it like that.” Do I tell him I’ve been feeling like I’m being watched at the bakery?
“I wish you’d let Pike take care of it.” Sparkle sighs and pulls his feet up on the couch.
“I don’t mind going,” Talon leans over to look at me.
I sigh and shake my head. “I just hate the idea of someone else dealing with my bullshit.”
“I offered. We’re off tomorrow. I don’t mind—”
Wren holds up his hand. “I certainly don’t want you taking your one day off to deal with this.”
“I think you forget that I love the bakery and it doesn’t feel like work to me. Sundays are just weird, no work days that I have to try and figure out how to fill. So this would be doing me a favor.” Talon grins as if he won me over.
“I could help you fill your Sundays,” Sparkle says, and I snort at how obvious he’s being.
Talon shakes his head. “I usually end up shifting.”
“I can shift.” Sparkle bats his lashes and bites his bottom lip.
Oh Sparkle.
Talon takes a breath and blows it out as if he’s preparing himself for something. “Sparkle, you’re a nice guy, but I have my sights set on someone else.” He glances my way for two seconds before he goes bright red and pushes to his feet.
Sparkle grabs my hand. “Would those sights be set on dear Wren?”
“Obviously,” Beau says softly.
Gabe pokes Beau. “Shhh. We’re supposed to be eavesdropping.”
“I should go,” Talon says.
I stand and catch him before he makes it to the kitchen counter to grab his backpack cooler.
“Don’t go?”
“I really should. I fell asleep and—”
“It’s okay. We were planning on all of us sleeping over. Kicking it teen crush style with blankets all over the floor. It’ll be fun.”
“I don’t think my back would think it’s fun.” There’s just the smallest hint of a smile on Talon’s face.
“Well, since you’re a shifter, I know you don’t exactly have back problems, so that’s a bad excuse.”
“It does sound like fun. I never had a sleep over as a kid. Never got invited to one. People always thought I was too weird.”
I take his hands in mine. “You’re not too weird and I doubt you ever were. Kids are mean. Let’s heal your inner child.” I squeeze his hands.
“Why though? You have a bunch of friends. Why include me?”
“Because you deserve friends that cherish you. We all have big hearts and enough room for more.”
Talon swallows. “Wick says I have more friends than I realize, but I have no idea how to be a friend.”
“Then let us show you. You’ll be an excellent addition to the group.”
“Plus, you always have the best treats ever,” Beau says. There’s no way the bat shifter can’t hear us.
I shuffle Talon into my room and shut the door. Of course, there’s a bunch of silly kissy noises from our friends and Talon goes red.
“Why did you bring me in here?” he asks.
“For privacy. I’m done dancing around this.
I like you Talon. I want to see you every day and I want to date.
Ever since the first time I laid eyes on you, I’ve wanted to get to know you and over the years, I’ve seen a few facets of you.
But I want to get to know the Talon no one else gets to see.
I want to help you out of your shell, but only if you want that, too. I want you.”
As always, Talon goes red. He’s silent for so long, refusing to look me in the eye that I start to fidget.
“Say something, please.”
“No one ever wants me.”
“I want you.” I’ve laid my heart on the line. If he doesn’t want me back, it’ll sting, but I’ll move on. There are more people in Hex, but my heart wants the sweet and grumpy Talon.
“Let me talk to Lord Yelling for you.” Talon finally looks me in the eye. “Please. It can’t hurt.”
“Okay,” I whisper. “But if he starts getting radical, you get the fuck out of there, okay?”
He nods. “Is there anything I should know? Which court is he in? What—”
I press a finger to his lips. “Tomorrow, we can discuss all that tomorrow. But now, let’s finish the movie and pass out.”
I grab my pillows from my bed and hand him one.
“I didn’t bring any night clothes.”
“That’s fine. You’re welcome to sleep in your underwear.” I wink and he surprises me by unbuttoning his shirt.
“Might take you up on that.” His glorious hairy chest comes into sight as he unbuttons more.
“Wait. Maybe don’t start undressing yet. You’ll get Sparkle all hot and bothered.”
Talon looks away. “I know he’s had a crush on me, but it’s always been you. Since the first time I heard you laugh. I couldn’t get it out of my head.”
“I wish you’d laugh more,” I say. I’m unashamed in taking my fill of his naked chest.
“I’ll take that into consideration.” Talon tips his head to the door. “We should probably head back, otherwise they’ll think we’re having relations.”
“I’m not against having relations.”
“Neither am I, but not while your apartment is full of people.”
I can’t help snorting and open the door only to have Sparkle, Beau, and Lark tumble in.
“I told them not to do it,” Gabe says from the couch.
“We weren’t doing anything,” I say.
“We know,” Sparkle says. His tail whips behind him and he grins. “Y’all are so sappy and cute. I can’t wait to see how this pans out.” He wiggles a manicured fingers between me and Talon.
“I love it when my friends find love,” Beau says.
Talon and I go stiff.
“I don’t know that you can call it love,” I say. “We’re going to get to know each other, right?” I look to Talon, who nods.
“Yeah, way too early to call this love.”
“Well, I’m calling it,” Beau says. “This is love and you’re going to be so happy you’ll forget there was ever any weirdness.”
Talon goes still again.
“Not that I’m calling you weird,” Beau says. He holds his hands up. “You’re pretty awesome and you make the best pastries I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot.” He pats his tummy. “Your treats and human treats don’t compare.”
“I don’t like weird,” Talon says. “It makes me think of when I was bullied right out of the Fae lands.”
I rub his shoulder. “I don’t—”
He lifts a hand. “I’m going to the Fae lands. You deserve to have your sleep again. I hate seeing you so exhausted. It makes your sparkle dull and you’re so sparkly most of the time.”
“Hey! I’m the one named Sparkle here.”
“I know, but you can’t deny that Wren has a spark. Maybe it’s the Fae in him.”
Lark looks down. “Do I have a Fae spark?”
Sparkle pokes Lark’s shoulder. “A different kind of spark from Wren, but yeah there’s something about you two, there is sparkle.”
“We’ll our wings glow,” Lark says and demonstrates.
“Oh! Can we see your’s?” Beau askes me.
“Certainly.” I turn and spread my wings before willing them to glow.
“So pretty,” Beau says and runs a finger over the ridges. “I wish my wings glowed. Can you imagine a bat coming at you with glowing wings.” He laughs before shifting into his bat form. He’s a micro bat, and it’s hard to see him when he starts flying around.
“You’re adorable, Beau, but do not shit all over my apartment,” I say.
He shifts back and cackles as he cups his groin. “I’d never do that. That’s just gross and I don’t want to clean it all up.”
We all get situated on the floor and finish our movie. Half of us are asleep before it finishes, but I stare at the empty screen. If I close my eyes, I’m sure Lord Yelling will be there behind my eyelids, and I don’t want that.
Unfortunately, I can’t fight my exhaustion.