Page 39 of Rumor Has It

When Wren got out of the shower that evening, Andy had gone out for the night. Wren wondered if she would come back. She grumbled as she did Andy’s dishes, annoyed enough to contemplate dead-bolting Andy out. Her train of thought was interrupted by her phone buzzing in her back pocket.

Rebecca Rothschild (9:07 PM): Well, did you die?

Wren Eames (9:08 PM): Sorry to disappoint. You’re still stuck with me as a teammate/travel mate/other half of “Wrecky.”

She didn’t know if she was pushing it. Rebecca had laughed about the sign, so surely she hadn’t been too mad about it.

Rebecca Rothschild (9:09 PM): Damn. Lol. There’s always next time.

Wren Eames (9:09 PM): Are you really going to check on me like this EVERY time?

Rebecca Rothschild (9:10 PM): Of course. I’m genuinely curious.

That made Wren chuckle.

Wren Eames (9:11 PM): I see how you worded that curious and not “concerned.”

Rebecca Rothschild (9:12 PM): You’re smarter than you look, Wrenatta.

Wren Eames (9:12 PM): HA. That was a good one. Alas, sorry to disappoint.

This felt like it was very dangerously close to flirting. And for some reason, Rebecca making up a new ending to Wren’s name made her heart flutter.

Rebecca Rothschild (9:13 PM): Ah well. As I said, maybe next time. Have you had to deal with your ex?

That was curious. It made Wren lift an eyebrow. Did Rebecca care? Really? For as comfortable as their last night had been in their shared space, Wren would be lying if she said she didn’t think something had shifted between them on this trip. The way they had fallen asleep while watching a movie together, the fact that neither of them had seemed concerned at all by the fan’s sign, that moment of tension they had definitely shared before signing autographs. Wren couldn’t deny it. Even if nothing had shifted for Rebecca, something had shifted for her. She knew, deep down, that even if Andy had been sincere, she wouldn’t have taken her back. Because even though Wren hadn’t slept with Rebecca on this trip, there was no way she could look herself in the mirror and say that that thought hadn’t crossed her mind since that moment on the field. Hell, since the moment Molly had voiced the question Wren’s subconscious had absolutely been avoiding.

Not that she could or would say any of that to Rebecca. One, how embarrassing. Two, what a phenomenally bad, national team career-ending idea. Wren couldn’t afford getting kicked off the team, not with Andy’s half of the rent leaving with her in four days. She tried to make a joke out of everything instead. That was the best course of action.

Wren Eames (9:15 PM): Are you in my walls, Rebecca?

Rebecca Rothschild (9:16 PM): Oooofff. That bad, huh?

Wren Eames (9:17 PM):Well, she’s realized how expensive LA is and asked if I wanted to get back together with her.

Rebecca Rothschild (9:17 PM): Yikes.

Rebecca Rothschild (9:18 PM): That sounds complicated. What happened?

Wren Eames (9:19 PM): I told her that her two weeks are up in four days. She had the nerve to ask me if we had hooked up since we broke up.

Rebecca Rothschild (9:20 PM): To be fair, we are all over the internet right now. That fan’s photo went viral.

Wren Eames (9:21 PM): I know. I saw it. Are you doing okay with that?

Rebecca Rothschild (9:21 PM): Yeah. It’s not a bad picture. I’m glad our shitty weeks actually helped out a fan. And hey, at least it was a cute photo. And we actually got to approve the picture being taken in the first place for once.

Wren Eames (9:22 PM): I know. It almost made it worth it.

Rebecca Rothschild (9:28 PM): Thank you.

Wren stared at her phone. She wasn’t exactly sure if that message had intentionally been sent to her. It didn’t match their conversation at all, and it had come in a few minutes after their conversation had ended. She didn’t want to leave Rebecca on read though.

Wren Eames (9:29 PM): ?

Rebecca Rothschild (9:33 PM): For always checking to see if I’m okay. With all the shit that’s happened in the past few weeks…

Rebecca Rothschild (9:36 PM): Just. Thank you.