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He felt a gentle touch on his chin, urging his head up. “Repeat that.”
“Bollocks,” he said, louder this time.
Wren laughed. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
Percy stepped away from him and hugged his middle. “I don’t…when she said…” He attempted to keep his composure. “I don’t feel like you owe me anything. But I’ve been the one cheated on, and I just couldn’t be a part of that.”
Wren’s face softened. “Jesus, you’re too good to be true, do you know that?”
“I just embarrassed myself. Again,” Percy said, throwing his hands up.
“You just defended a total stranger’s honor,” Wren corrected. He swallowed heavily, then said, “He’s one of the best people I know, and he’s been through a lot. I would never hurt him.”
Percy nodded, bowed his head for a second, then looked up into Wren’s face. “I’m sorry for doubting you.”
“We are strangers who had a one-night stand. It would be weird if you trusted me.”
Percy felt a rushing sensation through his body. “Yeah, that would be…weird.” He glanced down at his hands and felt some measure of regret that he had to do this all in spoken English. “Would it make me a complete arse if I asked you something entirely off this topic?”
Wren laughed, the sound deep and sweet. “Nah. What’s on your mind?”
“Does it get…quicker?”
Wren’s brow furrowed deeply. “Does what get quicker?”
“Signing. I’m several lessons in, and I always feel amazing when the class is over. Then I watch my sister and Lila, and I feel…” He clenched his hands into fists, and his voice dropped to a whisper before he could stop it. “What if I’m too old?”
Wren reached out and pressed the tip of his finger to Percy’s chin, tipping his head down slightly. “Did you say what if you’re too old?”
Percy nodded, feeling miserable. “I was aggressively average at school, and worse when I was at uni. Sometimes I think I got pity passes from my professors.”
Wren let out the smallest laugh. “I very much doubt that.”
“I don’t. I’ve never been particularly clever. Or interesting.”
Wren stared at him for a good, long while, then sighed. “Do you like tea?”
Percy’s lips twitched. “I’m English.”
“Sorry. Boba tea,” Wren said with a laughing eye roll. “There’s a nice shop a couple doors down.”
“I…well…”
Wren smiled at him a little wider. “Come on. I’m going to change your world.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Don’t you own half a coffee shop?” Percy pointed out as they headed toward the tea shop.
“A quarter of one,” Wren said with a shrug, motioning Percy along with a jerk of his head, “and that’s why I’d rather have tea.”
Percy had seen boba tea before, but he’d never tried it. He had never been particularly adventurous, but Wren seemed to spark something in him that felt brave…as silly as it sounded saying trying new tea was brave. But he couldn’t help feeling good and even a little wanted as Wren looked back at him with a huge grin.
He held the door when they got to the shop, and Percy was immediately impressed with the calming décor. There was a massive fountain in the far corner, and it filled the room with the sound of water falling over rocks. There were shelves of potted succulents that looked like they were for sale, and the walls had a very tropical motif.
“Do you want to look over the menu, or do you want me to surprise you?” Wren asked, tapping Percy gently on the elbow to get his attention.
He stared at the huge menu and shook his head. “Surprise me. I’m not a big fan of fruity teas though.”
