“Like what?”
“You don’t have to pretend to like your job, or like you have everything together. We’re friends. If you hate your job, you can just say it.”
“Okay,” she hesitates. “I guess the truth is I don’t love it, and I wish there was a way I could make my dreams happen sooner. Just not for me, but for my brother too. But there isn’t, and as much as that sucks, I know I gotta keep pushing forward, and even if it takes me ten years, I’ll get there one day.”
“You’re incredible.”
“You keep saying that.”
Her eyes shift to mine. The room is mostly dark, other than the glow from the TV and a couple of lamps.
“Well, it’s because you are.”
A small smile breaks across her face. “So if we’re being truthful…do you really want to be CEO of your family’s company?”
I let out a groan, sinking back into the couch, crossing my ankle over the opposite knee.
“No, I told you, so now you have to tell me,” she presses.
“I don’t know.”
“What does that mean?”
I pause for a moment, swallowing hard. “My whole life I’ve never been good enough for my dad. He had this picture of what the perfect little family would be like—two kids, a boy and a girl. They had my brother first, and Mitch is everything my dad could want in a son. But, then they had me, and I messed up the little perfect family image they were going for. So, they tried for a third baby until they got Bella, and of course she’s everything he ever wanted in a daughter. I’ve just always wanted him to be proud of me being his son, and it’s never happened.”
“Is that why you're working yourself to death for this job? Because you think that’ll make him proud?”
“Yes and no. When he found out Mitch was leaving, he was so pissed. I was planning on telling him that night that I was leaving Austere to buy the bar, but then Mitch and his wife, Farah, said they were moving, and everything went to shit. He told me Mitch was his only choice for CEO, and it hurt.”
Wren stands and moves over to the couch. She sits down in the other corner, pulling her legs to her chest.
“Go on,” she encourages, her eyes finding mine and putting me a little more at ease.
“I knew they hadn’t been including me in meetings, but something about him not even considering me when I’m a Mitchell too…hurt. I challenged him on it, and then the next thing I knew, I was wrapped up in trying to become the next CEO.” I shake my head. “I’m so out of my depth with it though, and he makes sure I remember that every chance he gets.”
“Then buy the bar, and let your dad appoint someone else. It’s taken a lot of therapy for me to realize that, sometimes, you have to put yourself first. I still struggle with it,so I get it, but you should do the thing that makes you happy. ”
“If I leave now, it’ll be my fault that the company is no longer run by a Mitchell. I know it sounds dumb, but that’s all my great grandfather and my grandfather ever wanted. I always let people down, and I can’t do that this time.”
She begins to scoot toward me, and I feel my stomach flip with anticipation. Her eyes find mine again.
“What are you doing,” I ask.
“Moving closer to you because I want to make sure you hear me. Now give me your hand.”
My heart knocks against my ribcage, and it’s so loud I wouldn’t doubt if she could hear it too. She takes my hand in hers, and I do my best to play it cool, but fuck, it’s hard.
Breathe, man. This isn’t that big of a deal. It’s just your dream girl,who is also your friend, and she’s holding your hand. This is cool. You can be cool. JUST BE FUCKING COOL!
“You keep telling me I’m incredible, and I think you need to start telling yourself. I’ve seen you with Jacks and Logan. Hell, you offered me the spare room for free and filled your apartment pantry with all my favorite snacks. You’re an amazing friend, and we’re all so lucky to have you in our lives. If your dad can’t see that, then it’s his loss. You deserve to be happy, Tanner. We all do.”
“Wren. Cody. We’re home,” her mom calls from the door. She releases my hand the minute she hears her name, and I start breathing again.
“We’re in here,” she yells, popping up from the couch.
Her parents walk into the living room, holding hands. “Thanks again for tonight, honey,” her mom says.
“Don’t mention it. We had fun. Right, T?”
