Mastering Wren

Ch.12 Liar, Liar

Liar, Liar

My apartment stinks. I strip back the covers and sheets on the bed and put them in the wash. I put towels on the couches to dry them up and open the windows to help dry the carpeted areas. Mr. Fox is happily lounging on his couch again, on top of one of the towels.

As I look at the clock, it's getting closer to 12 and I'm keen to leave the place to get some fresh air... but I was still way too nervous to talk to Theo.

Especially after this morning.

I had woken up, hoping to find him cheery. Instead, he had hardly spoken a word to me. He had said 'Good morning' while not even bothering to make eye-contact. When he was going to drive me back, all he did was pick up his keys and glare at me as I stood with Mr. Fox wrapped up in his blanket. Theo's look was his directive for me to follow when he turned and opened his apartment door, heading for the carpark.

Then the drive back was silent between us and the whole time I felt he was brooding and frustrated. I thought he might have bothered to apologise for slapping my ass the night before but... nope. He didn't.

So what did I do? I just ignored him back and talked to Mr. Fox reassuringly in the car.

Now I was more than happy to avoid lunch with him.

But I was terrified about cancelling on him.

I had planned to call in sick, but I had a feeling that he'd be angry if I got sick. Which only left me with a couple of other options. I could just say I wasn't feeling up to it, with the state of my apartment the way it was... or that I just don't want to go.

I couldn't leave him hanging too long.

Wing it, Wren.

Alright.

I pick up my phone and I call him.

"Theo..." I try to answer the phone happily – because he doesn't even say hello, but I know he has answered.

"Are you coming down soon?" he asks.

"Actually, I'm not feeling well," I blurt out my first option before I can take it back. Great. Now I'd have to roll with it, "I think I've got a virus. I might stay put, if that's okay with you..."

There is a long pause.

I'm biting my lip far too hard in anticipation for his response.

"Rest up... I'll grab you some food –" Theo eventually responds suspiciously so I cut him off quickly.

"I've got food, boss, but thank you for the thought," I smile as I talk, while deep down I'm dying. Why the fuck did you have such an attitude when you called him boss, Wren? You don't need to make this any more difficult than it already is.

"If you want the day off tomorrow, sweet cheeks, you'll need a medical certificate," Theo responds just as coldly and hangs up.

Oh god.

"Mr. Fox," I glance at him, "I fucked up."

He blinks slowly at me and then rolls over, stretching. I instantly ring Rhea next. I felt myself freaking out and I needed to calm down.

"Hey bae, what's up?" Rhea answers straight away and I spew out my whole last night and morning to her, "...you're kidding right? You slept over again? And now you think he knows you're lying about being sick? Screw him, you don't have to explain yourself. Do you even have food?"

"Nope," I answer, "I lied about that too."

"Problem solved. Come out into the city, get lunch with me!" Rhea is now super excited and so am I.