But how? We only voiced our feelings last night. Unless... "You saw us, didn't you?"
"Yep," he pops the p. "Not exactly how I would have preferred finding out."
"If it makes you feel any better, we've only hidden it since that moment. I didn't even know she liked me as more than your annoying friend."
"I know. She told me." He grabs a donut, knowing Charleigh won't mind. "It would have been nice if it came from you, though. You were in my room all night and didn't mention it once."
"I'm sorry, man. I didn't know how you would react. Wren and I were going to figure out a way to break it to you gently."
"That would have been better than seeing the two of you sucking face."
I wince. I remember that feeling when I saw Marshall kiss Bianca the first time, and he wasn't my best friend. "Sorry."
Wren rushes into the room, heading straight to the donuts, Charleigh following behind her. A look between us and she knows the conversation we've been having. "I thought you were going to let him stew in discomfort."
"Um, what?"
She points at her brother. "He said he was going to let you go on carrying the secret of us for as long as possible. I guess that equates to about forty-five minutes."
"You're an asshole," I laugh.
"She said the same thing."
"So, you're okay with us?" It's something I need to know. He's my best friend, and I don't want to make him uncomfortable even if he was going to make me suffer.
"Yeah," he nods. "As long as you don't come over just to seeher. I still expect to spend quality time with you and video games."
"Deal." I hold up my fist, waiting for him to bump it. When he does, I move to stand by Wren. "But we should also probably hit the court, too. The video game has nothing on actually making the shots."
"I guess." he rolls his eyes. "I have online tournaments to play until I have to join the workforce."
"Talk to you later. We'll set up a time to shoot around sometime this week."
"Sounds good." He leaves the room without a backward glance.
I lean down and whisper in Wren's ear. "That wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be."
"Agreed. He took it way better than expected." She stands on her tiptoes and presses her lips to my cheek. "He's still an asshole, though."
Epilogue
"Are you ready?"Wren is sitting on her stool next to the tattoo chair in her workroom. She has it decorated with pictures filling every wall. Some are of us, others are of her and her brother, and the rest are pictures she's taken here at the shop. She's really come into her own here.
"I guess," I say, past the lump in my throat.
"Nervous?" She grins down at me. Her tattoo gun is ready to be put to my skin.
"A little."
"I can't believe this is your first tat. I assumed your sister would have already given you one."
"Nope," Bianca interrupts from the door. "He never allowed me that pleasure."
"Because you would give me a dumb ass tattoo like the one Charleigh gave Jake when they first met."
Wren shakes her head at my accusation. "I heard about that."
"It's what brought them together," Bianca grins. "That bit of ink started their happily ever after."
