Page 68 of Seasons of Love
"Wow, when?"
"December twentieth."
"This year?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, I'm sure I can come back for that."
I was so focused on breathing that I didn't realize Wren had stopped completely.
"What do you mean, you'll come back for it?"
"You know I don't live here, right?"
"Yeah, but with Slade being here, I thought…"
I took a deep breath and went for it. Pull it off like a Band-Aid and get it over with.
"I'm leaving today."
"What?"
Wren's voice was so loud that some birds in nearby trees took flight.
"What happened? Why so soon?"
"It's not really that soon, is it? I've been here for three weeks."
"But you went to Atlanta with Slade. I thought you guys were—"
"Having fun. That's what we were doing. Yes, I was there for him at a difficult time, but it doesn't mean that he'll want a relationship with me. And I have things to do in San Diego, so…"
"I don't buy it."
"You don't need to. It is what it is," I said, hoping this would put the conversation to an end.
He resumed the run, so I thought we were done, until he stopped again.
"Are you in love with him?"
Of course I'm fucking in love with him. That's what I wanted to say, but what I said instead was, "He was a good fuck."
Classy, Aiden. Very classy.
Wren pulled my arm with such force that I thought it was going to detach from my body and wrapped his arms around me.
He didn't say anything for a long time, just stayed there, in the middle of the forest, hugging me. And the longer he did it, the bigger the lump in my throat grew.
“Fuck you, Wren, for making me cry. I'm going to miss you, you fucking motherfucker."
"Since when did you develop such a potty mouth, Aiden Lawton?" he joked, but his hold on me didn't let up. "I don't know what's going on, Aid, but I love you and Tom loves you, and so do the rest of the guys. We'll miss you."
All I could do was nod against him.
"And you better throw me a kick-ass bachelor party."
"What?"
