With that, he turned around and flounced off, hair blowing in the wind that seemed to only exist for him, the scent of incense lingering behind him.
Wren was left sitting outside on his own, with Blu perched on his shoulder.
“Family!”the bird screeched.
“Yeah, Blu.” Wren nodded. “Family.”
Chapter 12
Wren
The talk with his family had put some steel back into his spine, and he walked back to the Arcstead team’s house determined to make the best of the shit situation they were in.
When he looked at it realistically, he still had Teddy back. Fragmented and insufficient as their relationship was, it was better than nothing. Painful as it would be to see him with Saint, it was still better than not seeing him at all.
It would have to be enough. He would make it enough if that was what Teddy wanted from him.
He walked into the house to the sight of Eerie dragging a screaming Saint up the stairs to get him ready for their undercover work that night. Wren stood frozen in the doorway, watching Eerie’s maniacal grin at his brother’s discomfort.
“This will take a while,” Teddy said, and Wren jumped when he realized how close he was standing, his chest brushing against Wren’s back, head bent so he could reach his ear and whisper into it.
Wren closed his eyes for a split second, basking in the scent of him and willing his body not to sink into him. It would be so easyto forget the resolution he had made mere moments ago. So easy to just pretend they were still Teddy and Wren, rebellious and in love and together.
He sucked in a breath and forced himself to step away before turning around to look up into Teddy’s eyes.
“I can learn to be your friend,” Wren said. “If that’s what you need me to be.”
“Wren…”
“But I will need you to not do…that.” He motioned at Teddy standing close, watching him, reading into him.
“Do what?”
Wren pointed again. “Stand so close, look at me like that, give me hope where there is none. I can be your friend, but to do that, I need you to be mine too.”
He waited for a split second, watching emotions flicker over Teddy’s face, refusing to name them. He watched him fight with himself before nodding sharply and stepping back. The chasm between them grew again, and Wren felt like he’d shatter.
“I’ll go for another walk,” he said, but fingers wrapped around his wrist and stopped him from moving.
“Don’t.” Something akin to fear flashed through Teddy’s eyes. “Please just…don’t wander Arcstead alone.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
Teddy nodded. “I know, but…”
“Your turn.”
Teddy’s hand dropped from his wrist and Wren looked up, finding himself face-to-face with Eerie, who had a makeup bag clutched in his manicured talons.
“What?”
“As I understand it, you’re going with them?” Eerie asked.
“I am.”
“Great.” Eerie grabbed the collar of Wren’s shirt and pulled him up before marching him into Teddy’s room and closing the door behind them.
The click of the lock echoed in the silent room, setting Wren immediately on edge. Eerie turned to Wren, a glint in his eyes that he wasn’t sure he was entirely comfortable with.
