Page 24 of Press Play

I take another chunk out of my sandwich and chew while she answers it.

“Well, hello, there. You’re not who I was expecting.”

Fucking hell. . .

“Leave her alone, Robbie!” I holler at my friend from down the hall.

“You must be Wren. I’m Robert Collins, Theo’s best friend.”

“That’s funny. I thoughtIwas his best friend,” Wren responds, and I already know she’s throwing me a look. “Care to explain, Theodore?”

“Theodore? Oh, I like her.” Robbie comes into view, snatching a bag of chips off the table with a sly smile.

Wren is quick to follow, but she takes her spot back on the couch and wrinkles her nose at me. “I’m only joking. If you want to replace me, that’s fine.”

“I don’t think I could replace you, no matter how hard I’ve tried.” Robbie chuckles while fixing his glasses. “It’s a privilege to meettheWren Jacob. I’ve heard so much about you.”

I side-eye Wren, and she looks from me back to Robbie with a grin. “It’s lovely to meet you as well.”

“He’s only here because he smelled food,” I tell her without looking at either of them.

“That and I wanted to introduce myself to Ms. Wren.”

“And you knew I had company because... ?” I look at him pointedly.

He pops a chip in his mouth. “I saw you two coming out of the elevator while I was leaving for work yesterday.”

“How did you know it was her and not someone else?” I furrow my brow.

He slides his eyes from Wren to me and flashes his perfect teeth. “You don’t want me to answer that question.”

I roll my eyes and go back to my sandwich.

Robbie is too smart. He most likely thinks he saw me looking at Wren with a different expression than other women, and I can’t deny it because I probably was. My body reacts differently when I’m with her than with anyone else. When Wren and I hang out, it’s just the two of us, so no one else has ever seen the care and concern I devote to her.

I’m waiting for Wren to pick up on Robbie’s comment, though. I keep eating my sandwich, knowing the interrogation is coming in three. . . two. . . one. . .

But nothing.

I turn to face her and snort when I spot her eating while mindlessly watching her cartoon. “Wren?”

“Hmm?” She hums without looking at me.

“Nothing,” I say with a soft smile, but it morphs into a frown when Robbie clears his throat. I turn my attention back to him. “Shouldn’t you be at the gym?”

This man could crush cans just by looking at them. His biceps are almost the size of my head, and his abs are solid steel. His black hair is shaved down to his dark skin. He could easily be a model for a fitness magazine, but he’s too busy sitting behind a computer screen providing IT support.

“I was just headed there but wanted to pop in.” He tosses the chip bag into the trash and dusts his hands off, beaming atWren. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around.” With a two-finger salute, he lets himself out.

“He seems nice,” Wren says while turning her gaze to me.

“He’s a good guy.” Looking at her through my peripheral, I speak without thinking. “But don’t go getting any ideas.”

She snickers with a hint of a scoff. “Please, that’s the last thing I need right now.”

We maintain eye contact for a moment, and while I don’t want to retreat from her hazel eyes, I do. “Do you remember Amanda?”

“Unfortunately,” she groans.

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