Page 68 of Push My Buttons
She nods, her hand at her throat, looking as stunned as we feel. Her eyes find mine over Theo's shoulder, questioning, uncertain.
I force myself to move, to cross the distance between us. My body feels strange, disconnected, like I'm floating ratherthan walking. Too many sensations bombard me at once—the lingering smell of burnt chicken, the sharp sound of my shoes against the floor tiles, the rapid beating of my own heart.
"Say it again?" I ask, the words barely audible. "Please?"
She swallows, hesitates. Then, so softly I have to strain to hear: "Love."
Something breaks open inside me—a dam I didn't know was holding back so much emotion. I pull her into my arms, burying my face in her pink hair, breathing in the scent that's become as familiar to me as my own. Theo's arms wrap around us both, creating a circle of warmth and safety.
"I'm so proud of you," I whisper against her temple. "So incredibly proud."
We stand like that for a long moment, the three of us tangled together in the kitchen, surrounded by broken ceramic and burnt food and so much love I can barely contain it. When we finally separate, Wren's eyes are bright with unshed tears, her smile tremulous but real.
"Was that what happened in therapy today?" Theo asks, his hand still resting on the small of her back.
She nods, then signs,"I practiced a different word there. 'Home.' This one just... came out."
"It's perfect," I tell her, meaning it with every fiber of my being. "It's absolutely perfect."
We move to the living room, the takeout temporarily forgotten. Wren sits between us on the couch, her hands animated as she signs about her breakthrough with Dr. Levine. I watch her fingers move with their familiar grace, mesmerized as always by the elegance of her communication. Even now, with that single precious word recovered, signing remains her primary language—the bridge that connected us long before I heard her voice.
"Dr. Levine thinks I might recover more words with practice,"she signs."Slowly. No pressure."
"No pressure," I agree, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The texture of it against my fingertips grounds me, helps me focus through the emotional overload. "Whatever pace works for you."
"We've got all the time in the world," Theo adds, squeezing her knee gently. "Though I've got to say, your timing is impeccable. Dropping the L-bomb right when Jace burns dinner? Classic misdirection."
She laughs softly, her shoulders shaking, and just like that, the intensity of the moment shifts into something lighter, more manageable. I shoot Theo a grateful look over her head. He's always been better at this than me—at diffusing emotion with humor, at making space for breathing when things get too heavy.
We eventually return to the kitchen, cleaning up the broken plate and serving the takeout Theo brought. The conversation flows easily around Wren's breakthrough, no one pushing her to speak again, just celebrating the milestone for what it is.
Later, after we've eaten and Theo has commandeered the shower, I find Wren standing by the window, looking out at the street deep in thought. I wrap my arms around her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. She leans back into me, her hands coming up to cover mine where they rest on her stomach.
"I've been meaning to ask you something," I say quietly, my lips close to her ear. "There is a launch party for the Wasteland Chronicles expansion next Friday."
She turns in my arms, her expression curious.
"I want you there," I continue, the words coming faster now that I've started. "With us. With me."
She tilts her head, a question in her eyes.
"It's a big deal," I explain, my fingers unconsciously tapping against her hip—three, two, three. "But this expansion wouldn't exist without you."
Her eyebrows lift in surprise.
"It was your idea," I remind her. "Well, Vanta's idea. Remember that cam shoot? The one where we first... discovered each other?" I look at Wren, watching her nod. "Seeing the game environment recreated physically like that—it gave me an idea. A fully immersive VR experience. Not just enhanced graphics or new missions, but a complete sensory world."
I've been working on it obsessively for weeks, stealing hours late at night after Wren falls asleep, or early in the morning before she wakes. The guilt of those stolen hours weighs on me but the drive to create something worthy of what she inspired has been overwhelming.
She smiles, her hands moving to sign,"I'm honored. Of course I'll be there."
Relief washes through me. "It'll be very public," I warn her. "Press, influencers, industry people. I know that's not usually your scene."
"I'll manage,"she signs."With both of you there."
I kiss her then, overwhelmed by her willingness to step into my world, to face her fears for my sake. When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers, gathering courage for what I need to say next.
"I'm sorry I've been working so much," I murmur. "These last few weeks, with the final push for the launch... I know I've been distracted."
