LOGINWrenI move to get up, give him some breathing space, but he latches onto my waist, keeping me in place.“Don’t leave,” he croaks.I shake my head. “I wasn’t. I just…you need to process.”He still doesn’t let go. “You’re pregnant? Are you sure?”My hands tremble when I take out the doctor’s reports from my bag and hand it to him. He scans it, and gulps.Slowly, he lifts his eyes to mine then to my tummy. And then, he splays his large, tattooed hand across my stomach. I inhale sharply.I don’t know what’s going through his head, or what he’s feeling. But since he hasn’t thrown me off his lap, it’s a good thing right? Right.“You’re really pregnant.” He huffs a laugh, and groans. “Ray is going to kill me this time, fuck!”“Are you…mad?”He frowns. “Mad? That you’re carrying my child?” I shrug wordlessly.He sighs, and cups my jaw, pressing his forehead to mine. “I could never be mad, Wren, never. But do you want to keep it?”“W-what do you think?”“I think we should,” he replies. “Ex
Wren[Two Days Later]I place my plate in the dishwasher when Ray walks in with MaryAnne in his arms.“You’re still mad at me,” he mumbles, and grabs her bottle that’s been warming up.I don’t reply.“Wren? Chirp?” He tries again. “I’m sorry, okay? I am.”“For what, exactly?”His head bows. “For treating you and Ezra that way. I’m sorry. It was selfish, and I…I shouldn’t have.”It’s the first time he’s truly apologizing without any excuses attached. Other apologies were backed up by ‘I have to protect you,’ or ‘Ezra’s not right for you’.This time, it’s different and it thaws my hard heart. Only a little.“Yea. You shouldn’t have,” I reply.“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”“I’m still upset, Ray. It’s not going to change just because you apologized.”“I get it,” he sighs. “Are you…are you okay? Donovan told me you went to the hospital, and I haven’t asked because frankly, I’ve been a little terrified.”My hands itch to wrap around my stomach, but that would be obvious. He
Wren[Two Days Later]“Congratulations! You’re two weeks pregnant, Miss Carlisle.” The doctor, Felicia, smiles warmly at me.I inhale sharply. Everything in me stills, completely.A lump slides down my throat. “H-how?”“Uh…” she frowns. “I don’t think—”“I m-mean we were careful, my partner and I,” I explain, heart pounding. “I’m on the pill.”“Oh dear, sometimes these things happen. Having a baby is…”My brain tunes her out as I slowly splay my shaky hands across my belly.A baby.How could I not have noticed that I’d missed my period? I’ve always taken the pills, religiously.But more importantly, what would Ezra say? We never got to properly talk about our future, babies, marriage.Tristan is still out there, Reggie. Ezra’s not taking my calls, Ray and I are not on speaking terms…And now, a baby?MaryAnne was born just last week.A single tear rolls down my cheek, hot and fat. “Is everything okay?” Felicia’s voice pulls me back to the present.I swipe my cheek harshly, sniffling.
WrenI spin on my heels to face him, entirely caught off guard by that information.Then I scoff. “I honestly can’t believe you. A new protector? Donovan?”Donovan that I don’t get along with? But that’s not even what’s got me upset. It’s been only a week!“What?” He sneers. “You’re going to fuck this one too?”I stumble, jaw slacked. Regret instantly pools on his face. “Wren, I’m —”“No.” I shake my head. “Don’t. Don’t even.”“I’m sorry.”“For what? That comment? Or is it for beating up and humiliating your best friend? Or, for I don’t know, just granting me a new protector when I didn’t fucking ask for one?!”He takes a step further into the kitchen, and I hold my hand out.“Don’t come near me, Ray. Or I swear to god, I will scream.”His steps falter, and he sighs. “Look, Wren. I know I haven’t been the best—”“What gives?” I roll my eyes and scoop out some food for Quincy and I.“Can you blame me?” He gawks. “How would you feel if you find out in the worst way possible that Judi
WrenI blink up at the ceiling, eyes raw and dry, like they’ve been stuffed with cotton balls.It’s been a week since Ray found out about Ezra and I. It’s been a week since little MaryAnne was born. And it’s been a week since I heard from Ezra.I’ve called, left tons of voice messages, even texted…but he hasn’t picked up, neither has he responded.Is this how it’s going to be? Is this…over?My throat closes at the thought, and I swallow.“Wren.” I feel a tap on my knee and I jerk.My hand flies to my chest—soothing my racing heart—when I see Quincy. “Jesus, Quincy. You almost gave me a heart attack.” “I’ve been knocking for a while.” She smiles softly, settling on the bed. “When I came in, I called your name for a couple seconds, you didn’t answer.”I sit up, blinking. “I…wow…I’m sorry,” I shake my head. “I didn’t hear you come in. Are you supposed to be moving about? Where’s MaryAnne?”“Asleep.”“And…Ray?”“He’s out.” She sighs. “Wren, you’ve been cooped up in here since we got back
EzraI wince when Mrs Dee dabs the cut on my lip. “I’m sorry.” she sniffles as a tear falls from her eyes and drops on my knee.“That’s okay, it doesn’t hurt so bad.”What a goddamn lie.Lizzy shakes her head. “There’s no need to be tough, VP. It’s just us.”By ‘just us’, she means herself, Mrs Dee, Torch, and Clay.They all just stare at me as Mrs Dee wraps me up one last time. “Guys, I promise, I’m okay.” My lips try and fail to form a smile because everything hurts.It hurts to speak, to move,, hell, to even blink.Mrs Dee said nothing’s broken except my nose, but it feels like every bone has been crushed, every internal organ squeezed.“Prez took it too far,” Torch grumbles. “You’re his VP, man. His best friend.”I shrug, grimacing at the pain that flares up my arms. “He’s only protecting his sister. It’s justified.”“Like hell it is,” Clay snaps. “We’ve all seen how you’ve protected Wren, how you’ve taken care of her. And especially how you’ve been there for Ray. Honestly, this







