Page 29 of You Had Me At Thirteen

THIRTEEN

Matilda

* * *

I’m in the hospital waiting room with Audrey after today’s run-in with Derek and Wren. All three of us were sent here for precaution, however I’m pretty sure I have a broken hand.

And Audrey volunteered to keep me company after I cried crocodile tears in the principal’s office.

Mum exits a room, Wren in tow. Why is she smiling at him like he’s a nice guy? He’s not nice.

‘Thanks, Sue,’ Wren says as he rubs the back of his neck.

Mum smiles at him as she rubs his arm, the way you do to console someone. ‘Say hi to your mum for me.’

Wren nods. ‘Will do.’

I scowl at the exchange. ‘What is going on?’ I say to Audrey, who only shrugs before going back to her phone.

Mum smiles at Wren one last time before he heads in the opposite direction. When she whips her head towards me, the smile on her face fades into a scowl and I know I’m in trouble.

Shit.

‘Jesus Matilda,’ she says, as she reaches me. ‘What the hell is going on?’

‘You should see the other guy,’ I say, giving Audrey a wink.

Mum shakes her head as she frowns at me. ‘I have. Derek has a broken nose because of you. What were you thinking?’

‘Do you want to hear my side of the story?’

Mum narrows her eyes. ‘We will talk about this later young lady, but right now you need to come with me so I can get this hand looked at.’ She grabs my good hand and tugs me to stand, so I motion for Audrey to follow us.

Mum leads us to the empty room she just came out of with Wren. My mind is reeling with scenarios, none of them good. The worst one so far – Mum is hooking up with Wren.

Which is when it hits me. Mum has been working Thursday nights. Wren goes out every Thursday night, and he wouldn’t tell me what for. And, he was asking about her last Thursday.

Oh God.

My feet stop me from entering the room and I grab my churning stomach and pray I’m wrong.

‘Get inside.’ Mum points to the bed where Audrey has already planted herself, and gives me a little shove.

Audrey grins at me, her hands under her chin as she amuses herself with the interaction in front of her.

‘Shut up,’ I say as I drop onto the bed beside her.

‘I didn’t say a word. But what do you think your mum and Wren were talking about?’

‘I’m about to find out,’ I say, eyeing my mum.

When Mum closes the door and walks over, I wait for her to get comfortable in the chair in front of me before I demand answers. She inspects my hand by turning it over in hers.

‘What was that?’ I say, wincing when she presses a little too hard. ‘And ouch, that hurts.’

‘What was what, Matilda?’ She keeps her focus on my hand, turning it over and pressing her fingers into different parts of my tender flesh.

I raise my eyebrows and jut my chin out as though she should know what I’m talking about. ‘Wren. Obviously.’

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