The Teacher

CH 33: WREN

As the warm water envelops my body, I let out a contented sigh. Last night with Skylar was like a dream come true. A whirlwind of pleasure that left me breathless. I can still feel his touch, his kisses lingering on my skin, igniting a fire inside me that refuses to be extinguished.

But as I soak in the tub, a sense of unease creeps into my mind. What if Skylar changes his mind about us? What if he decides that Summer and their daughters should be together, leaving me behind? The thought of losing him now, after experiencing such intimacy— I'm not ready to face.

I know I'm lingering in the bath longer than necessary, avoiding the inevitable - checking my phone for any messages from Skylar. The fear of rejection or heartbreak claws at my insides.

As the steam swirls around me, I grapple with my emotions, torn between desire and doubt. Despite my reservations, I find solace in the warmth of the water and allow myself to drift away into thoughts of what could be—even if reality might prove otherwise.

If he decides to be with her, I think this will be it for me. I would have no choice but to leave and teach elsewhere or really go backpacking through Europe. I wouldn't say that I love Skylar, but there are feelings there.

No, don't think like this, Wren—he said he wanted to be with me, and he did slip up and say he loves me earlier. That should count for something going right in my favor, but you never know.

As I rise from the bath, the cool air kisses my damp skin; I quickly wrap myself in a fluffy towel and tread softly across the tiled floor into my room—my mind racing with every footstep.

I can't help but glance toward my phone again, still lying untouched on the nightstand. Taking a deep breath, I reach for it, my heart pounding in anticipation and fear. The screen lights up—three unread messages and two missed calls. My pulse quickens, and I put the phone down, not wanting to read anything just yet.

I move to my closet to get dressed, pulling out a soft, emerald green hoodie and a pair of black sweatpants. As I slide into my clothes, my mind keeps racing with what those messages could be.

Just get it over with, Wren.

I move back to the nightstand, bracing myself for the worst. As I reach for the phone, there is a knock at my front door. Saved by the bell. I head downstairs and peek through the peephole. Relief washes over me as I see Skylar standing on the other side, his presence commanding even from behind the door. My heart skips a beat, and for a moment, all my worries about those unread messages dissipate.

Taking a deep breath, I open the door. Skylar's intense blue eyes meet mine immediately, searching, probing for an unspoken confirmation.

I don't notice his daughters until Bella calls my name.

"Miss Wren!" Bella's excited voice pierces through the tense air as she and her sister, Gabby, push past their father to wrap their small arms around my legs. The innocence of their embrace momentarily lifts the heaviness from my shoulders.

"Miss Wren, Daddy's been calling you? Are you upset?" Gabby asks.

The concern in Gabby's voice pulls at my heartstrings. I kneel down to their level, smoothing back a loose curl from her face. "No, sweetheart, I'm not upset. I just missed your daddy's calls." I offer her a reassuring smile, which she seems to accept, her features relaxing as she beams back at me.

Skylar clears his throat, drawing my attention back upward. He stands awkwardly, one hand resting on the door frame. "I, uh, hope we're not interrupting anything," he says, his voice carrying that signature firmness, yet there's hesitation that he normally doesn't show.