The Teacher

CH 39: WREN

I follow Skylar into the kitchen and sit on the stool. I'm sure whatever he wants to tell me will determine if this is the route I want to go down with him. Yiyi told me to stop letting my past dictate my future, but it's hard not to. When you have a parent, especially your mother, abandon you at such a young age... You just don't want to do that to someone else. I don't want Summer to walk out on her daughters because of me.

I watch as he moves through the kitchen, grabbing a wine glass. I remain silent because if he thinks I need a drink for what he is about to tell me, we are already starting off on the wrong foot. But he did say their talk went well. We even talked about marriage and whose home we would be living in before he left wherever he was. Did he have a change of heart? Did Summer reach out to him on his way here to plead with him? Did he fuck me the way he did a few minutes because it would be our last time?

I trust Skylar, but Summer is the mother of his children.

Ugh, I'm going to give myself a headache. I should just wait for him to tell me what is going on. But the longer he takes moving around this kitchen pouring my wine, and now him a glass of scotch is killing me.

"If you want to ice cream sandwich me, just do it now," I sigh.

"Do what?" He asked, handing me the glass of wine.

"You know. You fucked me very good, and now you are going to tell me you and Summer are about to get back together, and then you'll end it off with Wren; you and I can still be friends." I down the wine, reaching for the bottle.

"Never heard of that method, but that's not what this is about," Skylar says, his voice steady as he takes a slow sip of his scotch, eyes never leaving mine.

He sets his glass down and leans against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. "Summer and I had a conversation. It wasn't easy—there's a lot of history there. But one thing is clear, we both want what's best for our daughters." Skylar pauses, searching my face for a reaction.

"And?"

"Look, Wren. I know this is very new for you, and I know your mother left you when you were a kid, and you don't want the same thing to happen to the girls. And trust me, this isn't what's happening here. Summer and I are not getting back together. We've agreed to co-parent as effectively as we can, but we're both fully aware that our relationship as partners is over. Definitively."

He moves over the kitchen island and takes a step towards me, his expression softening. "I love you, Wren, and I will always love you. Summer will not be an issue for us, nor will she walk out on our daughters. I will be honest, the first few months might be rocky because adjusting to this new dynamic will be challenging for everyone —for me, for Summer, for the girls, and for you."

"What if one day she gets pissed off and tells my job we're fucking?" I take a sip of my wine this time.

"She won't because we aren't just fucking. Wren, you will be my wife. Then at that point, who fucking cares what anyone says or thinks. You are my family."

For years, stability was just another word in books for me, something desired but never quite reached. Now, it dangles before me, disguised as an earnest man with striking eyes filled with promises of tomorrow and unconditional love.

"I know you want to date first before we make any life-changing decisions, and I agree. But the end game will always be you taking my last name and us having more children. I just don't want you to push me away," he continues.

"I'm not pushing you away, Skylar," I say. "It's just... I don't want you to wake up one day and regret this. I don't want Summer to—"

"Don't worry about Summer. I already have that handled. Everything is legally binding with her. She signed an agreement that sets terms for her involvement in their lives, ensuring their stability and not disrupting what you and I are trying to build. There will be structured visitations, planned outings, and no sudden drop-ins. I won't ask you to have my last name and children just to put you in a rough spot. I got you, baby. I got you. Now baby, please let's just focus on us."