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“Wait, you’re watching TV with him?”
“More like I was watching TV alone and he happened to walk in. He liked it, though. He apparently lived in Nashville for a bit.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“I don’t know. You sound ... happy .. . when you talk about him. I’m not used to hearing that about a guy you live with.”
My cheeks heated. “First of all, it’s not like that.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
“And second of all, I’m happy because I’m in a better place. He has nothing to do with it.”
“Even though he lives in the same house as you?”
“Well . . .”
“Right,” she said. “Come on, you’re single. You can do what you want!”
“Wren, he barely tolerates me. I’m not ruining that.”
“Then go find someone else. Haven’t you had a night to yourself at all?”
“I’ll think about it. Once I survive a week of actually focusing on work.”
“Try it now.”
“Wren, I’m serious. My dad is thinking of firing me.”
“He would never.”
“He would if he had Trevor in his ear telling him to.”
“Oh, of course Trevor’s in his ear. He can suck a dick.”
I rubbed my face. “Agreed, but I’ve put off work a lot. And gotten in trouble for it. Dad doesn’t let people work from home. Nor does he give this much patience either. I need to lock in.”
“You need to take care of yourself too.”
“You sound like Cain.”
“Do I now? Maybe he’s not so bad.”
“He’s not, but I can take care of myself later.”
“No, you need to now.” Her voice was firm. “I know I said I won’t push, but you have to see what’s happening here.”
“That I’m doing too much?”
“Yes, but you’re also trying to make everyone happy. You always have, which is why you were locked in a job you didn’t care about with a man whose only personality trait was howmany hours he worked. And now you’ve finally done something for yourself, but you’re still getting pulled in too many directions.”
I stared at the ceiling. Leave it to Wren to go right for the kill. “I’m not gonna say you’re wrong, but I also justcan’tleave my job like that.”
“Why?” she asked.
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I don’t know. It makes me so nervous.”