Page 17 of Undeniably Enemies

Me: You don’t know?

Wren: Obviously not if I asked.

Oh hell.

Me: Are you drunk?

Wren: No. So who are you?

Me: You tell me your name, and I’ll tell you mine.

I chuckle and sit up a little, tossing my left arm behind my head as I hold my phone with my other hand and type.

Wren: Not achance.

Me: You texted me first.

Wren: Dammit, I was hoping you’d cave. And actually, if we’re checking history here, you texted me first.

Me: I rarely, if ever, cave, and the last time I texted you was years ago. It’s not my fault if you didn’t save my name in your phone.

Wren: Why is your number in mine?

Maybe I should just tell her it’s me and end this now. Maybe I’m being a dick by fucking with her a little, but I can’t resist. Having her at work, her being my medical student, it’s already so much.Toomuch. Now it’s late, and I’m tired, and I have to face her again tomorrow. I don’t want her to say something mean or scathing and then block me. I’m not sure I have that in me right now.

Me: Maybe we’re long-lost friends. Or have mutual acquaintances. Maybe I asked you out once. Or took you home with me.

Wren: Wait, do you know who I am? Because you’re acting as though you do. Are you a guy or a girl? I’m a girl, and I think you already know that.

More laughter, and now I can’t help myself.

Me: I’m a guy. And yes, I know who you are. I saved your name in my phone, unlike you.

Wren: Oh my god! You have to tell me who you are.

Me: Not a chance.

Wren: That’s horrible! I’m going to stop talking to you now.

Me: You can, but then you’ll never solve the mystery.

Wren: Where did I meet you?

Well, that’s a question I can’t answer. I’ve known her since she was born. Fuck, I remember herbeingborn, which is a bit sick and twisted when I think about it. I was ten. Owen was incredibly excited to have a baby sister, and two years later, when I was twelve, my parents had Eddie—though she goes by her middle name, Estlin, now. That’s all my artist mother’s doing. Eddie Estlin was named after Edgar Degas and E.E. Cummings, and, my name, Jack Robert, is after Jackson Pollock and Robert Frost. Owen and I thought we were the coolest older brothers and swore we’d kick the shit out of anyone who fucked or fucked with our sisters.

Irony at its best since we each have fucked the other’s sister, considering Estlin is now engaged to Owen. That was rough. Estlin moved in with Owen and became the nanny for his daughter, Rory, only what I didn’t know was that the two of them were sneaking around and screwing each other right under my nose or behind my back or however that all goes. When I found out, to say I was upset is an understatement. All these years I’ve felt like a dirtbag for what I did with Wren, and there Owen was, sleeping with my little sister.

Except he was in love with her, and I… I’m not in love with Wren. I never had the chance to try and be, and now, well, now hate is her currency with me, and it’s just as well.

My mind wanders back to that night when I found out about Owen and Estlin. How fucking furious I was. Wren was there and discovering the way I did… It completely set me off.

“I thought you were my friend,” I bellow. “But you’re a real pieceof shit fucking my sister behind my back.” I shove Owen’s shoulder, smashing him into the wall.

His eyes widen in stunned disbelief before they narrow into slits. “Really, Jack? You’re doing this here? Now?”

I bluster out a noise, my fists balled up at my sides. I want to hit him. I want to pound on him. But I’m holding myself back. Barely. “What? You don’t want your family and friends to know you’ve been screwing your nanny? Do you have any clue what you’ve done? Or has it all just been a good time for you? A mindless divergence and a way to blow off steam?”

I can’t catch my breath. My insides feel like they’re being pulverized. I watched Wren walk away from me that night. I hurt her. I knew I did. I saw it on her face, and I didn’t chase her. Even when everything inside of me was screaming at me to. I didn’t chase her. I let her go, and I’ve regretted it like nothing else since.

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