He slides his hand down to mine, lacing our fingers together, offering me a squeeze that grounds me a little more.
“You don’t have to tell me right now. Hell, you don’t have to tell me ever, if you don’t want to, but I do hope that someday you can.”
I’d love to never talk about any of it again, but I’m sure that’s not exactly healthy, and he probably deserves to know at least some of my past.
We both should probably talk more and maybe kiss a little less if I’m being honest, but the past is so hard, and something tells me it’s not just for me either.
“Someday.” I manage to force out the word, and while it feels like a knife coming up through my throat, it’s the best I can do right now.
He seems more than happy with it, though, as he pulls me back into his arms. I hesitate a moment before I cave.
I really could use a hug right now. Jordan used to be the one to squeeze me back together when I needed it, and it’s been a while since I had a nice hard squeeze like this.
It soothes something in me that I didn’t know needed soothing. His hand runs up and down my back, and I listen to his heart pound in his chest.
I pull back slightly so that I can look up at him, and when he meets my gaze, I know something is wrong.
“You’re not going to like this, but there’s no real easy way to tell you.”
He blows out a breath, and I stand waiting, wondering what he might be about to say and why he looks so worried.
One unfortunate thing about being smart is the fact that my brain never really stops.
Which is how I arrive at the answer a moment before he says those dreaded words aloud and solidifies them.
“Your aunt was invited to the showcase. All parents and guardians are, but as of last night, she’s accepted.”
The world stops, and with it, my lungs seize.
No, no, no, no!
This can’t be real.
She can’t be coming here; I was supposed to be free. Here, where she couldn’t get to me, where I could be myself and be safe.
“Wren.” I hear Dimitri, but I can’t make myself give him my attention as I spiral. “Hey, I need you to breathe.”
I suck in a breath at his words, and the burn in my lungs lets me know it’s been too long since I last did.
My grades are nearly top of the school; only Gavin is above me, and after semester tests get put in, I’m confident that won’t be the case anymore. Maybe if she sees me perform in the showcase, she’ll just go away. No reason to stick around; it’s not like she actually likes me, not even in public. She never liked me or Jordan, never even wanted kids, but she was the only one who could take us, and if she turned us away, she would lose out on the money and status that came from our parents.
Yeah, I’ll practice harder, make sure I represent her in a way that ensures she’s not let down.
I’ve damn near got my breathing under control when I realize all of it will be for nothing.
“How long until the showcase?” I wheeze, turning to find Dimitri’s concerned gaze boring into mine.
“Two and a half weeks.”
The world narrows down to a point, and panic wins, so I do the only thing I can think to do: I run.
“I—I have to go…” I push to stand, feeling like I’m in a tunnel, hearing Dimitri’s voice but unable to distinguish his words. “I forgot I have…”
I don’t even bother finishing my lie as I reach the door, tearing it open and flying down the hall.
Ishould have stopped her, but I couldn’t, not when I felt her fear so potently, as if it were my own.
No, trapping her would have only made everything worse, and honestly, I’m not sure I could handle worse right now.
