Page 12 of Press Play

According to Theo, either Branden didn’t know what he was doing, or I simply wasn’t into him enough to enjoy myself. It’s been seven years, and I can’t say for certain what the cause was because I still haven’t felt the kind of pleasure the women in my books experience.

Perhaps there’s something wrong with me.

“It’s hard to fake an orgasm when you’ve never had one,” I blurt out, and his expression falls.

Fuck!I clap my hands over my mouth, eyes wide. Another famous Wren moment of being too honest.

Theo backs away; he sits on the other end of the couch while I shift up and pull my knees close to my chest. “Sorry, you didn’t need to know that.”

Silence falls between us, and I curse myself for letting that slip. Theo and I know a lot about one another, but we tend to keep that part of our lives to ourselves. He doesn’t talk about his shoots unless something is bothering him. And I don’t discuss my love and sex life unless something isreallybothering me.

I look over at him and blush when I catch him watching me.

“You’re telling me you’ve never had an orgasm? Not even after Branden?”

I don’t respond right away. I observe him, trying to gauge where he’s going with this conversation.

“Never,” I state. “Embarrassing, isn’t it? A twenty-seven-year-old woman who has yet to experience one? Call the presses.”

“It’s not embarrassing.” His answer stops me short. “It’s quite common, actually. What do you?—”

The intercom by his front door begins to ring, and we look at one another, unsure what to do next.

With a small smile, Theo stands, walks toward the door, and buzzes the delivery guy in.

After he accepts the food, I turn the volume up on the TV and ask him a random question to change the subject. “Did you watch the new anime that’s out yet?”

“The slice of life one?” he asks while placing the bags on the table.

“Yeah, I can sign in, and we can watch it together if you’d like.”

Theo shoves his hands in his pockets, and with a small tilt of his head, he offers me a heart-fluttering smile. “You’re lucky you’re cute. I don’t watch anime with just anyone.”

He walks away to get some plates, and I glance at my lap with a shy grin. Sucking in a deep breath, I attempt to settle the butterflies in my stomach.

This happens sometimes, especially when he looks at me like that. I think it’s because I’m not used to it. I mean, I don’t draw attention from the opposite sex. I know Theo doesn’t see me in that light, but I can’t help but wonder, what if he did?

Chapter Six

Wren

Brandy lounges on the couch,flipping through a magazine and sipping her tea. The peaceful hum of the quiet afternoon is a rare gift, and I allow myself to savor it as I tidy up the dishes from lunch. Our apartment is small but cozy, filled with little pieces of us—shelves crammed with books, framed pictures of me with Theo, Brandy, and Mia, and the worn, beloved sofa we’ve had since we moved in together.

Brandy glances up from her magazine. “You’re unusually quiet today,” she says, raising an eyebrow. “Something on your mind?”

I shrug as I finish sending a text to my sisters. “Just thinking about work. Same old, same old.”

She gives me a look, the kind that says she doesn’t believe me for a second, but she lets it slide. I’m grateful for that because I’m not ready to dive into the storm of thoughts and unease I’ve been feeling since I woke up. I just want to enjoy this quiet moment with her. Brandy always knows how to pull me out of my head, make me laugh when I need it most.

Suddenly, the buzzer on our door goes off.

I freeze, dish in hand, and stare at the door as my pulse kicks up, hammering in my ears. No one ever buzzes without calling or texting first.

Brandy sits up, her eyes narrowing in concern. “Who could that be?”

I don’t answer. My body reacts before my mind can even catch up, panic clawing at my chest. There’s only one person who would show up unannounced. One person I’ve cut out of my life—my mother.

“I-I can’t,” I whisper, taking a step back as my hands begin to tremble.

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