BIRDIE | NH |

FOUR

Niall

"What the actual fuck."

Anger that I didn't know I had courses through me as I look down at the woman in front of me. Tears still gather along her dark lashes, those brown eyes so full of sadness. "It's not a big deal."

"The hell it's not." I shake my head. "Wren, you don't deserve that—"

"You don't even know me, Niall." One tear slips down her cheek as a laugh falls from her lips.

"I don't need to know you." My hands fist at my sides. "There isn't a single reason why anyone should get treated that way by anyone."

"Well there's nothing I can do about it now." She looks up at me as another tear makes its way down the opposite cheek. "I need to get back out there or else they'll think I'm sulking because it's not me."

I'm not sure what makes me do it or what passes through my mind, but I reach out and lace my hand with hers and tug her towards the door of the supply closet.

"Niall—"

Looking at her over my shoulder, I smile at her wide eyes as she looks down at our hands. "Trust me, okay?"

"What are you doing?" She sputters as my feet carry us back towards the sounds of the party get clearer and clearer, her feet trying to dig into the floor even though it's not possible. "Niall!"

We round the corner and I pull her in even closer, leaning down and letting my lips brush against her ear. "Just follow my lead."

"What lead—"

"Wren! There you are!" A woman with dark hair with wisps of silver smiles at us, her eyes dropping down to our conjoined hands. "We were wondering where you went. Who do we have here?"

"This is— I—" Looking back and forth between us, Wren's dark eyes are wide as she tries to decide on what to say. "This is Niall— My—"

"Boyfriend." Reaching out, I take the woman's hand. "I didn't mean to steal her away, she just came to grab me from my office. Isn't that right?"

Wren chokes on a breath as she takes it in, turning away to cough into the crook of her elbow.

"You never told me you were seeing someone!" The woman brings her hand up to her chest. "Is that why you haven't come to visit us recently?"

"Yeah." My hand falls to her back as she coughs one final time, my thumb grazing over the soft skin at the nape of her neck causing her to look up at me. "Sorry. Niall, this is my mom, Beth."

Pulling my hand back, I let my hand fall down to Wren's lower back even though she is about as stiff as a board. "Nice to meet you."

"Oh, it's wonderful to meet you." Her mom smiles at me for a moment before her eyes focus behind us. "Perfect. Jenna, Lucas— Over here!"

I don't miss the way Wren tenses up next to me or the way she steps closer to me, giving me the chance to let my hand fall to her hip.

"Guys, this is Niall— Wren's boyfriend." Her mom emphasizes the word, making it seem like it's not something that happens often. "This is Jenna, her sister and Lucas, her fiancé."

Like Wren, her sister's hair is long and dark, although I've noticed Wren has soft waves in hers. Both of them have dark eyes, but again, the woman next to me is different.

Smiling at her, she takes my hand and I don't miss the way she rotated her hand so that the diamond on her finger catches the light inside the ballroom. "I never even knew my sister dated much less had a boyfriend."