Page 151 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
“Hey, Wren.”
“Yeah?” She was scrolling through her phone because ten-year-old’s had iPhones now. Her nails were painted black to match her sports tank and tiny shorts she wore for dance class.
I snatched the phone out of her hand and held it hostage, forcing her to pay attention to my words.
“You know I’m not leavingyou, right?” I worried that Wren had abandonment issues. After the way our mother and Wade took off, I wouldn’t blame her if she did.
Wren never mentioned them, but who knows what went through her head? I never wanted her to think she wasn’t loved or wasn’t good enough.
“I’ll only be a phone call away, and we can FaceTime all the time,” I continued. “I’ll still come home whenever I can. And Aunt Lindsay said y’all can visit me—”
“I already know all this.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “You’ve said it about a million times. Stop tripping, sis.”
“Stoptripping?”
“Guilt-tripping,” she said and tacked on aDuh. “It’s a thing.”
“So, you’re cool with it?”
Wren pulled her long hair into a high ponytail and fastened it with the elastic on her wrist. She was beautiful with big dark eyes, full lips, and delicate features. Small, like the bird she was named after, but so strong.
“Look, I’m only ten, and you’re supposed to be the grown-up here, but okay, I’ll give you some advice….”
A laugh burst out of me.
She put her hands on her hips and glared at me. “What’s so funny?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. I love you, little monster.”
She rolled her eyes at the nickname. “Love you too. But you need to let it go, okay?”
“What do I need to let go?”
She waved her hand in the air. “Everything. Just do what makes you happy. That’s what I do. I love dancing, so I dance. I love music, so I listen to it loud. I hate school, like seriously hate it.” She opened her mouth and shoved her finger into it, pretending to gag. “Makes me wanna barf.” She shrugged. “But I love my friends, and we get to hang out at lunch which is like theonlygood part of the day. Well, that and PE. So it’s cool. It all evens out.” She turned to leave, done with this conversation and ready to go.
“That’s your advice?” I asked.
“Um, yeah? It’s good advice. Just do what makes you happy.”
As if it was that simple.
“You’re only going to Austin. Not like it’s the other side of the world.”
“Give me a hug, little monster.” She rolled her eyes, but she let me hug her, and she hugged me back.
“Love you,” she said, her voice muffled against my chest.
“I love you more.”
Wren was loved, and I knew she would be okay, so I felt less guilty about leaving her.
As I got into my car, my phone buzzed with a message from Quinn.
Quinn: Have you left yet?
I’m on my way.
As I drove away, I said goodbye to Dallas.
