Page 111 of Press Play

Three days.

What am I going to do? I can’t go through with it. The idea of sleeping with Amanda again has acid crawling up my throat. Yet, if I don’t, she’ll share the footage of Wren sucking my cock all over the internet and put her on blast. She can hurt me however she wants, but I draw the line at Wren. She’s been through far too much to have to deal with this, but I can’t fuck Amanda.

It’s an endless circle, and my mind races until the sun rises, peeking through the curtains. My temples are throbbing, and a stabbing sensation pulses in my forehead.

Draping my arm over my eyes, I let out a sigh and work on shutting off my brain. The weight of Wren beside me is comforting, and I focus on that instead. She’s the only one who can help clear my mind, but she won’t be up for some time. So, I place my hand over Wren’s chest, and the beating of her heart soothes the ache in my muscles.

We can figure this out.

Wren is a problem solver. I’ll tell her the predicament, and she’ll devise a solution.

Or she’ll leave you.

No, I got us into this mess. I need to figure this out on my own.

I glance at my girl, and a pit forms in my stomach. I don’t deserve Wren. She’s good, and I’m pathetic. Why would she want to be with someone like me? Someone who fucks for money and records it for the world to see.

But this is Wren.

No, she doesn’t think of me like that. She’s never judged me, and our relationship never wavered. I can trust her.

Wren flips onto her side, facing me. Her lips are cast downward, and she whimpers every now and then. Resting my hand on her hip, I scoot closer and breathe in her scent. I want her to tell me that everything will be okay. That if I have to go through with it, she’ll still love me. Deep down, though, I know she won’t. Her mother cheated on her dad repeatedly. If I sleep with Amanda, even if it’s to protect her, it’s over for us.

“I can’t lose you,” I mumble as tears sting my eyes.

We just got together, and now I might lose it all.

Fuck.

Wiping my tears away, I sniffle and close my eyes. I can’t do anything right now. I have a few days, so until then, I’ll focus on Wren. I’ll remember how she feels against me. How her kisses make me lighter than air, and how soft she is in the morning. How her nose crinkles when she’s in deep thought, and how beautiful she is.

There is noafterWren. She’s it for me, and if she leaves, I’ll never love again.

“I’m fine, Dad, really.” Wren’s voice is low, but it’s enough to shake me awake.

“Are you sure? You’ve been through a lot these last few weeks, and you’re pale.”

I haven’t heard his voice in years. Yet, somehow, it’s the same as I remember it. Wren’s father has had his ups and downs.When he was with Marilyn and she was cheating on him, he found comfort in drugs. It took time, and after numerous failed attempts, he got clean and hasn’t relapsed.

He and Wren are close. She helped him find care and supported him throughout the process. There was a time when she couldn’t rely on him. She acted as his mother; she became the parent. It’s nice to hear her talk about him now. I love knowing that she can go to him and doesn’t have to worry about him asking for money or dumping his troubles on her.

“I’m fine, really. A restaurant we ordered from got me sick. I’m just sore and tired,” I hear Wren say.

“How has it been living with Theo?”

“It’s been nice. I don’t think we were expecting it to be this easy,” she says with a soft laugh.

“Good. Where is he?”

“Sleeping.”

I get out of bed and stroll into the living room while ruffling my hair. “Thought I heard a familiar voice.”

“Hey, man! It’s good to see you.” Daniel greets me with a hug and a firm pat on my back. “Thanks for taking my girl in,” he whispers with a kind smile.

“Of course. She can be a bit much though,” I say jokingly, knowing she’s listening.

“Trust me, I know. Have you seen how much she sheds? I’ve tried to talk her into making me a wig from her hair, but she won’t.”

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