I realised it was true.
Wren:I bet you’re out chatting up some Oxford girls already…
I studiedthe message and wondered if she was jealous. She knew I was going to go straight to my parents, catching up with them before going back to work on Monday, so I didn’t know where the comment had come from.
Me:I’m at their house. Just gone to my room to message you without eyes trying to spy.
Wren:In my head you’re in some trendy bar, drinking an old fashioned with some blonde hanging off your every word.
I pressedthe button to video call her, sitting against the headboard so when she answered she’d know I wasn’t lying.
Her hair was mussed and her face make up free. I knew that the smile I gave her when she answered was wider than any I’d given my family even though I was glad to see them and I’d only left Wren a few hours ago.
“You’re really not out.” She was wearing a tight vest, white in colour and transparent enough so that I could see the hint of nipple through the fabric. Her tablet was resting against what I guessed was probably a book.
“You sound surprised.”
“I really did think the first thing you’d do would be go out. Find a girl.”
“Why? I only had you last night.”
She laughed. “You need to break your run with me. Unless there was someone else in Africa.”
“There was no one else in Africa.”
I saw thoughts sprint through her mind as she had proof I’d been with her three times in a row.
“I told you I broke my rules for you.” I kept my voice low, needing her to believe me.
“Tell me about your family. How are they?”
“Good.” I explained about Seph’s driving – it was bad, mainly because he would’ve done it on purpose just to irritate me as he was a decent driver. I told her about Marie’s scar, Claire’s small baby bump, Ava’s ring. I told her everything and nothing. I tried not to think about the fact she was avoiding talking about us.
“What about you? Are you in your flat? Let’s see?”
She shook her head. “I’m at my mum’s. I’ll have to stay here – long story.”
“How are you going to get from there to work?” It was at least two hours on public transport.
“I’m going to need to find somewhere to stay. Plan for tomorrow is to have a look through the ads, see if anyone has a room to let on for a month.”
“Stay with me.” I realised what I’d said when her expression changed to almost horror, at least that was how it looked. “Not as anything, you know, not ruling anything out.”
“One last night?”
“Isn’t there always one last night? Like when old band members reunite for one last tour?”
“When they’re skint and need money? Yeah, good comparison, Callaghan. But if you have a room, I’ll take it until I can find somewhere else.” She tried to swallow a yawn. “Text me the details tomorrow. You should go back to your family now. Not talking to someone you’ve just spent the last six weeks with.”
“And you look like you need to sleep for a week.”
She smiled. “I’m exhausted. I’d rather take another flight than have what this afternoon was like.”
“What happened?”
“Seriously, I’ll tell you tomorrow. I can’t go through it now. Go to your family. Give Seph a hug from me.”
I rolled my eyes then felt something cave inside. “Wren?”
