I had told Wren to give his dad a hug. I had told him they both needed it.
I did not think he was just going to agree like that but seeing Wren and his dad hug had to be the most wholesome thing I have ever seen in my twenty something years on earth. This was going to be a conversation that needed privacy so I discreetly lifted my phone and typed a message to Desmond.
To Des My Fren: Can you turn the sign over to close and send everyone out in a nice way? This might take time and I think we might go home afterwards.
From Des My Fren: Already turned the sign to close. I'll send the last of the people away. The key is in the employee's room and I will let myself out. Give me an update though.
I smiled down at my phone as I read his text. Honestly, Desmond was the best friend ever and I will always sing this song. Wren and his dad were still holding on to each other tightly and I just kept watching them.
When they pulled apart, it somehow got stiff. . . would stiff be the right word to use? Like it got a little tense between them both and it made me want to shake my head. They had a lot of things to say, they had a lot of feelings to let out. August, had kept saying the last time he talked to Wren. He never said the last time he saw Wren.
Wren lets his father take a seat before we do the same thing. Ugh, he was so respectful. Once we were seated, Wren immediately put his hand on my thigh as he stared at his father. I really wanted to break the ice because I could feel the silence.
I scrolled through the settings on my phone and turned on the text to speech option, pulled open my notes and began typing. "No one is going to speak, really?"
This time August looks at me, his lips quirking up in a smile. Now that I was paying attention, he does kind of look like Wren. It was really cute. Fuck, why is everything cute to me nowadays? Were there no other adjectives in my head?
"Dad, this is my husband, Bailey." Wren said and I turned to look at him, my cheeks hurting from how hard I was smiling at him. It was the first time I was hearing him use that word in my presence! I wondered when I went from being his boyfriend to his husband. We do not do things the natural way but it does seem like we are soulmates.
"Baby, this is my dad, August Alston, CEO of Walst." Wren said and I blinked. I knew all about Walst. They are a powerhouse that has been in existence for twenty five or so years. They had started with a baby clothing brand, then moved to adult wear, then jewelry, then lingerie. It was a big, big company. Oh my god! And that's the company that August wants Wren to run. He wanted Wren to take over from him. That was huge. It was like a baby Gucci or Dior or Balenciaga. Designer through and through with amazing designs and styles.
I have seen Wren's work with his own brand, Alston's and he is exceptional at that. His work is fantastic and I get why they are very expensive. He had handled his business and grown it to where it is today, separate from the family business. He would be a brilliant CEO of Walst. But he says he does not want to do it, and I will stand with him by his decision.
"It's really nice to meet you, August." I typed, listening on as my phone read the text out loud.
"You too, Bailey." the man responded, staring at me with interest. He probably has questions to ask but I acted like everything was normal and the same.
"When was the last time you met your dad, face to face?" I signed to Wren and he raised three fingers. Three years.
"The last time you saw Wren was three years ago?" I typed out on my phone, staring at August's face as my phone read the words out loud. That explains why he was standing in front of Alston's and staring so longingly at it. That also explains him seeking me out as well. He might have really wanted to apologize to me, yes. But a part of him must have hoped to see Wren here today.
