Page 57 of Save Us
He pops it in his mouth, and his face lights up with enjoyment, but even that makes me hesitate all the more.
It’s hard for me to eat around other people, especially in public. And even more especially when it’s something unhealthy like ice cream—I often get the feeling that I’m getting funny looks. People judge me, even though they have no idea what I eat the rest of the time.
I slowly stick the spoon into my chocolate sundae and eye it warily. Then I take a deep breath: I’m here with Wren, and I feel comfortable around him. We’re friends. And I chose something much smaller than he did, so there’s nothing to make me look bad.
I make a huge effort to push the thoughts out of my mind and slip the spoon into my mouth.
“I wasn’t kidding, right?” Wren asks, looking expectantly at me.
“No, you were right, it’s amazing.” I put the spoon down for a moment. “I never even clocked this place opening up.”
I look around the patio outside the little ice cream parlor. Every chair is taken, and there’s a crowd around the counter of people queuing for cones to take to go. Wren says they do a student discount, so it’s hardly surprising. And the weather today is gorgeous.
Despite my anxiety, I was really pleased that he asked me here. We’ve always had some reason to meet up before—filling in application forms, Wren moving house—but this time, he just asked if I’d like to spend some time with him. The ice creams are on him, as thanks for helping with the DIY, but that’s just a bonus.
“I think I might move in here,” Wren says, spoon still halfway out of his mouth.
“Another move? When you’ve only just got settled in?” I tease. I’m slowly starting to feel more relaxed. The more we talk, the better, and the easier it gets to tune out everyone else around me.
That cheeky half smile is back. “I could have ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And the counter looks really nice. I bet you could make a lovely den back there with the chair cushions.”
“I used to love making caves with my sister. It was our top weekend activity.” I take another spoonful and try just to enjoy the moment.
Wren stirs the two scoops in his glass together into a mushy, beige soup. “Oh yeah, us too—me and the lads, I mean.”
“I’m a bit jealous of your friendship,” I admit.
Wren looks inquiringly at me.
“You’ve known each other so long,” I explain. “I have my own friends, of course, and Ruby and I are very close, but there’s no one I’ve hung out with since we were little, who’s been there thewhole time. People have grown apart or moved away, or got into totally different stuff, so that we have nothing to talk about anymore. And it’s not like that for you. Whenever you talk about your ‘lads,’ I feel like you’ve grown closer, not further apart.”
Wren pauses, his spoon in his sundae glass. “Yeah, that’s how it’s always been.”
There’s something in his tone that makes my ears prick. “Been?”
He shrugs with one shoulder and takes another spoonful of ice cream. A pretty big spoonful, and it takes less than two seconds for him to wince. I fight back a grin with all my might.
“Brain freeze?”
He moans and puts down the spoon. “That’s what I get for trying to dodge your question.”
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” I say hesitantly.
“It’s not like that. It’s just that I’m noticing the way things are changing in our group, and that’s kind of fucking me up. I’ve never been good with change.”
“So, what’s changing then?”
Wren fiddles with the napkin that’s lying on the table next to his glass.
“We often used to hang out at my house, but I haven’t had the guts to invite the boys to our new place yet. I don’t want them to see me differently, so I’ve kind of cut myself off from them. I tell them less, and…it’s kind of stupid actually.”
I murmur thoughtfully. Wren looks at me. He tilts his head and grins.
“I can see that you have opinions on that, Supergirl. Don’t hold back,” he says, waving a hand invitingly.
“I think it’s bullshit, to be fair. You’ve been friends for so long—what difference does it make where you live?”
Wren presses his lips together and stares at his ice cream, which looks more like a milkshake by this point.
