Page 79 of Rumor Has It

Becky nodded, amused and unfazed by Barbara giving up on their story. “Yeah, that sounds like fun, actually.”

“So,” Becky said, stepping out of Wren’s bathroom. She’d offered to take the couch because she’d interrupted sisters weekend, but Barbara was adamant that Becky sleep in the bed. She’d also offered to get a hotel room since she’d accidentally crashed their party, but neither of them would even let her think about it.

“So,” Wren responded, barely above a whisper.

The walls were paper thin in Wren’s apartment, which Barbara had demonstrated by calling out, “good night. Please behave in there,” in a voice that was barely louder than normal.

Becky slid into bed next to her. “I’m sorry. I should have asked before coming.”

Wren shook her head. “Nah. This was a great surprise. I know it was a lot, but I’m glad y’all met. She likes you.” Wren paused for a second before adding, “And that makes me really happy.”

“Yeah?” Becky asked.

“Yeah,” Wren concluded. She was silent for a while before she said, “My dad and Linda are coming to the game on Thursday.” She let out a laugh. “Molly Andrews is joining them.”

“You’re kidding?” Becky said.

Wren shook her head. Her bedroom was completely dark, but Becky could feel the movement. “I’m not. They all wanted to be there.”

“Can I meet them after the game?” Becky asked.

“Do you really want to?” Wren asked, her voice small in the darkness of her room. It was coated in an unspoken fear.

This was it, Becky’s moment. She didn’t want the past to haunt them anymore. She didn’t want her actions as a teenager to hold her back ever again. “Wren,” she whispered. “I’m in love with you.” She let the words linger before she continued, “It’s okay if you’re not there yet, but I am. I’m deeply, madly, ridiculously in love with you. I think I have been since the very first time I met you. I never thought I’d get the chance to fix this. Hell, until a few months ago, I didn’t even know that I’d be the one needing to do the fixing. But, Wren, I’m all in.”

Before Wren could say anything, Becky was quick to add, “But I’m also in no rush. So, we can go at your pace. Please don’t feel like you have to be where I am right now. I’ve been royally fucking this up for six years. I just wanted you to know that I’m all in.”

An undignified squeak left the back of Becky’s throat as Wren pulled her in for a blistering kiss. God, Becky had missed this. She missed how perfectly her body fit against Wren’s, how Wren’s tongue felt against her own.

Wren pulled back just as suddenly as she had pulled Becky in. “We can’t get carried away because Barbs will never let us live it down.” She took a deep breath. “I love you, too. Everything kind of feels like it's a mess around us, but I love you, too.”

Becky broke into the world’s happiest smile. “Yeah?”

Wren nodded. “Yeah. Can I introduce you to my family as my girlfriend?”

Becky pulled Wren into another fiery kiss. “Yes. Yes, you can.”

“I’m still worried about getting kicked off the National Team,” Wren admitted to the quiet of the room. Her voice was so faint, Becky barely heard her.

Becky snuggled tightly into her side. “I know,” she whispered back. “We don’t have to say or do anything around the team. We don’t have to come forward on social media. We can make it through this year and maybe go public over the holiday break so they’ll grandfather our relationship in.” She let out a little laugh before kissing Wren’s cheek. “We can wait until the coaches are a little less pissed with us.”

Wren still felt tense in her arms, though. So Becky tried again to be a little more reassuring. “Hey, Wren?”

“Hmm?” Wren hummed in response.

“I know you’re stressed about our contracts, but I truly believe if we just keep our heads down and stay out of the spotlight, it’ll be fine.” She kissed Wren’s cheek again. “I really think it’s going to be okay.”

Wren relaxed a little in her arms. “You’re right,” she finally mumbled. She sounded exhausted.

“I can’t believe you’re my girlfriend,” Rebecca whispered. She didn’t even mean for the words to come out. They just had.

Wren huffed out a laugh and pulled Becky practically on top of her. “Barbs is never going to shut up about this.”

“Can I tell her over breakfast?” Becky asked, giggling into Wren’s neck.

“Only if I’m there to see it,” Wren said. Her pointer finger found the underside of Becky’s chin, and she tilted her face up for a kiss.

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