Page 9 of Wild Hearts

CHAPTER FIVE

Wren

MY STOMACH RUMBLESas I’m unpacking the last box of kitchenware, so I start to look for food. The refrigerator is bare, save for a bottle of water. The cupboards are empty as well. I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to Ivy, asking her if she’d like to meet me for lunch.

Despite the air conditioner being on full blast, I’m covered in dust and slick with sweat, so a quick shower is a great reprieve. Her reply is waiting for me after I’m dressed.

Ivy: Meet you at Patty’s at half past one?

I check the time: it’s already twenty past. I grab my keys and rush out the door.

The shower was pointless. It’s at least thirty-two degrees outside, and by the time I’ve jogged the kilometre to Main Street, my yellow sundress is clinging to me and my hair is matted against my neck. The cold air from the air-conditioned building washes over me, and I brush frizzy tendrils off my face, tying it into a top knot with the scrunchie wrapped around my wrist.

I search the booths for Ivy and when I see her towards the back of the bar, my stomach drops. She’s not alone. Jordan and Lachy are sitting next to her, and Lachy’s best friend, Harley Breed, sits across from them. I glance around, looking for the dark curls of the boy I crushed on for five summers, but there’s no one even resembling him. I let out a sigh of relief, but I know I’m not out of the woods. If Jordan’s here, then Brady can’t be too far away. I consider turning around and leaving before they see me, but my stomach growls again and I groan.

Pull yourself together, Wren.

Squaring my shoulders, I smooth my dress down and make my way over to greet my friends. Lachy spots me first, and his face breaks into an ear-to-ear grin.

“Here she is!” He slides out of the booth and wraps me up in a hug. “Welcome to the dark side!”

I laugh, swatting him playfully. “How’ve you been?”

I take a step back just in time for Ivy to throw herself at me. “I’m so glad you’re here! How was the drive? I can’t believe we’re going to spend the next four years together!”

“I’m glad I’m here, too!” I grin at her enthusiasm, giving her a tight squeeze. I’ve missed her. “The drive was okay. It was long.”

I slide into the booth next to Harley and snag a couple of chips off his plate. He pushes a double cheeseburger with extra pickles in front of me, chuckling as I take a huge bite.

“Someone’s hungry.”

“Always!”

“Good to see nothing’s changed.” He laughs again.

“So, Wren, how does it feel having your own place?” Ivy leans on her elbows, her eyes sparkling. They’re a mirror image of her brother’s – bright green with a swirl of yellow in the right light.

“It’s great, I guess,” I say after swallowing my bite. “It’s only been a couple of hours.”

She sighs. “Freedom. You can come and go when you want. No parents keeping tabs on you. It’s the dream.”

I roll my eyes with a hollow laugh. “Bills. Cooking. Cleaning. Yeah, it’s a dream.”

Ivy nudges Lachy, who’s stuffing his face like he hasn’t eaten in months. He chews quickly, and swallows, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Oh, yeah,” he says. “Ivy said you were after a part-time job. I spoke to Mum and Dad. They said you could start next week.”

Ivy squeals. “I’m working there, too! Jordan’s going to make sure we’re on the same shifts.”

I force another smile. “That’s awesome. Thanks!”

Working at What’s the Scoop?! with Ivy would be amazing... if it didn’t remind me so much of her brother. So far, my efforts to avoid thinking about Brady are failing miserably, and I haven’t even seen him yet. This is going to be harder than I thought.

---