Page 9 of Strike Zone

“And you’ll leave me alone?” she asks.

“Indefinitely.” I nod.

“Fine. What do you want to know?”

“What are you doing after graduation?” The answer should be simple. Especially for Wren. She plans everything ahead of time. She probably already knows what pair of underwear she is wearing next Tuesday. Stop thinking about Wren’s panties.

She swallows hard. Her fingers tap against the handle of her shopping basket. Should I tell her there isn’t any way she could convince me her future will be wild and crazy?

“If you must know, I’ll be working for my father.” Wren gives me her back to look at a pack of sticky notes. She mumbles something inaudible.

“What was that?” I take a step closer.

She side eyes me. “Then I’m getting married,” she says, with a sigh.

I choke on air. “You’re what? I’m sorry. I thought you said you were getting married.”

“I did.”

“Holy shit. So you are using the condoms for sex,” I muse over the thought.

“I was always using the condoms for sex,” she chastises me, slapping my bicep.

“Who’s the lucky guy? Is he a student here?”

“No, he lives in Georgia like me.”

“Hold up. I’m confused.”

“I’m sure you are. The details aren’t important. At least not to you. I answered your question. I’ll be working and getting married. You know, grown up things.” There she goes taking another stab at me.

“Which is why you need to have fun now. Live a little before your life is over.”

“Getting married doesn’t mean your life is over,” she says, walking toward the checkout.

“Sure it doesn’t. I mean if you love the guy. You do love the guy, right?”

“I don’t see how this is relevant.” She fishes around in her shopping basket and appears to be mentally checking off her shopping list, or at least pretending to.

I do a double take. “The two of you aren't in love and you’re going to marry him?”

“He could learn to love me at some point.” I’m not her number one fan either, but I don’t like how she said that he could learn to love her. Not that she could learn to love him. No one should settle for that. “I’ve only met him a few times. We didn’t get a chance to talk much.”

“And you think he’ll start to fall for you once you talk more?” I ask, attempting to hold back a laugh.

Wren snaps her head in my direction throwing a glare like a ninja star.

“I’m just saying your bedside manner needs a little work. Is there a good reason why you would agree to marry this guy without knowing him?”

“Yes.” Her answer is definitive and concise, which I’m learning is on brand for Wren.

“Well thank fuck for that,” I tease her. “All the more reason to kick up your boots until you’re tied down with some guy you don’t even know.”

“Even if I did agree with you, Charlie has a three date rule. If I set you up with her, she’s not going to sleep with you until you’ve taken her out a few times. Real dates where you pick her up and take her to a nice restaurant.”

“I told you I don’t date.”

“I know. Pick another girl. Charlie isn’t the one.” But she is. I’ve tried hitting on other girls when I’m out at a party or The Armory, but that voice. It creeps into my thoughts and I can’t even bring myself to kiss another girl. It’s starting to piss me off.

---