Page 227 of Double Daddies
Wren hesitates for a moment before nodding, a small, tentative smile breaking through the heaviness. “Sure. That would be nice.”
As we gather around the counter, the atmosphere shifts slightly. I take a moment to look at her, seeing the strength thatstill resides within, even if it’s buried beneath layers of fear. “Wren,” I say softly, “we know this is hard. But we’re here for you, and we want to help you face this. You don’t have to go through it alone.”
Ezra nods in agreement, stepping closer to her, his presence a comforting weight. “You’re our little girl, and we love you. We’ll protect you, but you need to trust us. Tackling this fear is part of reclaiming your strength.”
Wren’s eyes widen slightly, and I can see the flicker of understanding in her gaze. She takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing just a bit. “I—I want to try. I don’t want to be afraid anymore.”
“Good,” I say, my heart swelling with pride for her bravery. “We’ll take it one step at a time, together.”
As we finish making the tea, the doorbell rings, breaking the quiet tension that has settled over the penthouse. I exchange a glance with Ezra, curiosity dancing in his eyes.
“Wonder who that might be?” he asks, moving toward the door.
“I’ll get it,” I reply, setting down my cup and heading to the entrance.
When I open the door, I’m surprised to see Wren’s boss standing there, a warm smile on his face and a large bag from the coffee shop in his hands. “Hey, Elijah,” he says cheerfully, his voice a bright contrast to the somber atmosphere inside. “I brought Wren something special.” I knew Wren had spoken to him about us, but this is the first time I’ve spoken to him outside the coffee shop. She must have told him where we live as well.
“Wyatt!” she exclaims, stepping out of the kitchen to see him. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
He walks in, the aroma of freshly baked pastries wafting through the air as he sets the bag down on the kitchen counter. “Yes, of course. I knew you’d been staying here after everythingand I thought I’d drop by and bring you some of your favorite treats. It’s your birthday, after all!”
“Birthday?” Ezra questions, his brow furrowing. “Wren didn’t mention anything about her birthday.”
I watch as Wren stands frozen in the doorway, her expression a mix of surprise and trepidation. “I… I didn’t tell you guys,” she stammers, her eyes darting between Ezra and me.
“Why not?” I ask gently, stepping closer to her. “You deserve to be celebrated, Wren. You’re not a burden.”
“I’ve just never really celebrated my birthday,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “Especially with everything that happened with Richard. It’s hard for me to think about.”
Wyatt chuckles, oblivious to the tension. “Well, I know how much she loves these pastries, so I figured it was time for a little celebration, even if it’s just the four of us.”
“Thank you, Wyatt,” I say as I sit at the table, pulling Wren down with me. She presses her back to my chest, and I can’t help but inhale deeply, her vanilla and cinnamon perfume filling my senses. It makes me dizzy with need for her, a reminder of the warmth and comfort she brings into my life.
As she settles against me, I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close. I can feel the tension in her body slowly begin to ease, and I silently vow to do everything in my power to help her feel safe and loved every day.
“Let’s dig in,” I say, trying to keep the mood light. I reach into the bag Wyatt brought and pull out a flaky pastry, the scent of warm sugar and spices wafting through the air. “This one is definitely calling my name.”
Wren giggles softly, the sound is a sweet melody that brings a smile to my face. “You always go for the most extravagant one,” she teases, her voice gaining a hint of playfulness.
“Can you blame me?” I reply, leaning in closer so she can feel my breath against her ear. “Life is too short not to indulgea little, especially on your birthday.” Chill bumps run along her skin and I can’t wait for later to show her exactly how we are going to indulge.
Epilogue
Wren
The timer on my phone alerts me that it’s been three minutes. I turn over the test in my hands, my heart racing as I prepare myself for the outcome. My breath catches in my throat as those two pink lines appear, just like I knew they would.
“Wren, are you okay in there?” I hear Ezra call from outside the bathroom door. Anxiety swirls through me at the thought of having to tell them.Do they even want kids?
I slip the test in my back pocket, hoping to buy myself a moment to gather my thoughts. I take a deep breath and open the door, stepping out into the dim light of the bedroom. Elijah and Ezra are sitting on the bed, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Everything okay?” I ask, trying to sound casual, but I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.
Elijah’s eyes search mine, and I can see the worry etched on his face. “You’ve been in there a while,” he says gently. “Is everything alright?”
I nod, but my voice trembles as I reply, “Yeah, just… taking care of some stuff.”
Ezra leans forward, his brow furrowing slightly. “You sure? You look a little pale.” They’re too perceptive for their own good sometimes.
