Page 140 of Press Play

“I almost?—”

“Did you lose her?” She cuts in. “Did she leave you?”

“No,” I murmur.

“Did you two talk about what happened?”

“Yes,” I say through a sniffle.

“Good. I know you think you messed up, but you know what? You’ll grow from this.” She pats my cheek and smiles. “You and Wren were always meant to be. Something like this won’t break you. I believe that with everything I am.”

I press my palms into my eyes and nod. “Thanks, Mom.”

“It’s okay to be sad,” she adds. “Just don’t let it win.”

I blow out a long exhale as I drop my hands. “I’ll try.”

“That’s my boy.” Leaning forward, she kisses my forehead and smiles at me. “Remember, Theo—you are enough.”

There she goes again, saying the exact thing I needed to hear. This woman knows me like the back of her hand. It shouldn’t surprise me that she knows how I’ve been feeling. Yet, it always does.

“Now.” She jumps to her feet and heads into the kitchen. “I’m going to fix you a plate, and you’re going to eat it all!”

I snort out a laugh and lean back. “Yes, ma’am.”

Glass plates clatter against the kitchen counter, and my eyes close.

Everything is going to be okay. Wren and I have each other, and we won’t let anything or anyone step between us. This will take time to heal from, but I trust that we’ll survive this.

This won’t happen again; I won’t let it.

Chapter Fifty

Wren

We did it.

The plan was flawless, and we fucking did it! I wasn’t sure what to expect from Amanda, but her face was priceless. If she thinks she can take Theo from me, she better think again. I’m not the girl I was in high school. This version of Wren will defend the people she loves tooth and nail. No one will walk over me ever again.

“Theo, you won’t believe—” The space is dark and silent. “Theo?” I call out, but he doesn’t answer.

He didn’t tell me he planned on going out. Where could he have gone?

Something seemed off before I left, but then again, he’s been off since Amanda sent him that message. He’s not happy about posting the video, but that wouldn’t send him away. He wouldn’t just leave.

The deadbolt unlocks, and I spin around in time to find Theo stepping across the threshold.

“Hey, love,” he greets. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.” His expression drops before I can respond. “What did she do?” He rushes toward me and takes my face in his hands. “Did she hurt you?” Tilting my head to the side, he starts to examine me.

“No,” I respond breathlessly. “It went well. I mean, as well as it could go.”

“Good,” he sighs. “I was afraid?—”

“She didn’t hurt me.” I reassure him. “You should have seen her face though. . . she wasn’t exactly happy to see me outside her door.”

“I bet,” he laughs, taking a step back. “Hopefully she learned her lesson and won’t try this on anyone else.”

We haven’t decided on a legal course of action yet. There are pros and cons to staying quiet and taking this to court. One of the biggest pros is that if we press charges, it’ll ensure she doesn’t do this again. But one of the big drawbacks is having to see her—deal with her—in court. Taking the high road is never easy, but Theo and I are leaning toward doing the right thing. No one deserves to go through what she forced us through.

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