Page 61 of Save Us
“Wow. Fingers crossed.”
“Thanks.” I give him a wry sideways smile. “Then I’ll finally be able to let the Bells have their sofa back. No matter how often I suggest it, they won’t let me move into a hotel.”
Wren’s lips twitch. “I believe you.”
I raise a surprised eyebrow, but he doesn’t let me ask him what he meant by that. “I was thinking it’s about time for a little housewarming.” He twists the hip flask in his hand, then runs his fingers around the engraved rim. “I’d like you guys to see my new place.”
“Cool,” I say at once. “When?”
“Next weekend, maybe? I…” Wren breaks off and clears his throat. “Will you help me get the shopping in? Booze and snacks?”
“Sure.”
He nods and lifts the flask to his lips again. I can see the relief in his eyes but don’t quite get why.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d all be up for it,” he says after a moment.
“Course we are,” I say, confused.
He just shrugs.
“Listen, I know I’ve been a shit friend in the last few months. But of course I want to know how things are for you, and what’s going on. I just thought you didn’t want to talk about it, so I didn’t want to pressure you. I’m sorry if it came across as if I didn’t care.”
Wren shakes his head. “It’s not that,” he says.
“What, then?” I ask cautiously.
“Normally…oh, God knows. We’re going through the exact same thing, but it feels totally impossible to talk about the whole shit with you.”
“Hence the flask?” I ask with a tentative grin. Wren grins faintly back and raises a toast.
“There’s so much going on right now. I’ve been applying for loans and sorting my room, and now I’m looking for a job. But nobody wants anyone who’s about to leave for uni.”
“That must be crap. I’ll keep an eye out too if you like.”
Wren just shrugs. But I make a mental note to scan through the ads as soon as Mr. Bell has finished with the newspaper in the mornings.
“Thanks.”
“Is there any other news?” I persist. “You seem…different.”
Wren snorts with laughter. “That’s one way of putting it.”
We walk a few more steps over the grass, then he stops abruptly. He leans his head back and stares up at the sky, which is a deep violet now. The music is so quiet from here that you can hardly make out what song they’re playing. That’s the only reason I catch Wren’s next words: “I think I’m falling in love.”
Startled, I give him a sideways glace, but Wren’s face is so gloomy that I don’t dare ask for details.
“You look like that’s the end of the world.”
He exhales audibly and crosses his arms behind his head. “I don’t know how to deal with it. I mean, why now? It’s really not a great time for it.”
That makes me laugh. Wren glares at me.
“Sorry. I just don’t think love ever waits for a convenient moment. It creeps up on you from behind, just when you’re least expecting it.”
He snorts. “Which makes love a sneaky bastard.”
I grin. Wren maintains his angry face for another couple of seconds, then has to grin back.
