Mastering Wren

Ch.24 Hidden Truth

Hidden Truth

I sit on the bench seat, about to rise and tell Theo I'm going home. I was pretty much prepared to storm out dramatically, show I was worth more than a side bitch to get revenge on his ex. I sure as hell felt like a side bitch, a rebound, a side dish– a garlic bread. 

If he meant well, he would have told me that Cynthia would be at the party. That there was a party. That his brother was back. Instead, he left me completely bamboozled.

Now I was humiliated because I had been underdressed. Cynthia had called me a whore and his brother, Kyros, had laughed at me.

I didn't feel valued in the slightest.

But I don't get to make my grand exit, I stop myself as I hear the balcony door from the living area open. I couldn't see who came out because there was a bamboo vertical fence separating both areas. Vines crawled up the trellis, blocking whoever was on the balcony on the other side.

I soon find out.

"You've got to be kidding me," Kyros mutters in a whisper, "She's still here?"

"Yes, Kyros, she is," Theo snaps back, "What the hell was that? A party during the middle of the day? No warning, no call –"

"I own half this apartment, I don't need your permission," Kyros hisses, "As for Cynthia, that babe thought I was you when she slept with me. She was blind drunk, pissed..."

"Why did you fuck her then? You knew who she was," Theo snarls.

"Admittedly I didn't," Kyros goes quiet now, sounding a little guilty, "I had no idea you had a fiancé, you surprised me on that visit to Hawaii, remember? I was with her the night before we all caught up. I don't go checking up on your private life in my spare time. I've been studying my ass off."

"Apparently fucking your ass off as well," Theo growls, "You're telling me, Cynthia thought you were me? You expect me to believe that?"

"Same eyes, same face, same voice and apparently, the same taste in women," Kyros chuckles, "I did think it was a bit odd when she started calling out 'Theo' towards the end."

"Watch it –"

"Who the hell is that girl, Theo, seriously," Kyros cuts him off, suddenly talking about me again.

They had no idea I could hear this whole conversation and now I was dying to know what more would be said.

What Theo would say.

"Yes, I admit," Theo speaks so quietly I can barely hear him. Not good. He didn't want me to overhear this from the bedroom, "...she isn't my type. At all. It's not what I usually go for. Yes, I like fitter women, with at least some sense in clothes... but Wren is different. She's challenging."

I wait for any more compliments, hoping there will be at least one more to fix how he just summarised me so negatively... like I was completely unattractive.

"...and?" Kyros even addresses the issue, trying to get more out of his brother.

"Nothing," Theo growls, "I want you to welcome her, she's got low enough self-esteem. If she stutters, don't laugh at her. She likes to ramble."

I can't hear anymore.

I stand up, and grab my keys out of my pocket in a tight grip. They jingle and there is sudden silence from the other side of the trellis.

I stalk my way around it, because there is a gap at the end to walk through. I find them located opposite the trellis, Theo sitting and Kyros leaning on the balcony railing.