Connor leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Wren as she absently stirred her coffee. The faint circles under her eyes betrayed how exhausted she was, despite the peaceful sleep she’d had the night before. He knew she needed more rest, time to heal both physically and emotionally.

“You should stay here today,” Connor suggested gently. “We can eat, watch some movies, and just relax.”

Wren looked up at him, her brows knitting together. “But I have so much schoolwork to do…”

Connor shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “I’m sure it can wait. You need time to rest, Wren. You’ve been through a lot.”

She hesitated, knowing he was right but still feeling the weight of her responsibilities pressing on her. “I don’t even have clothes here,” she said, trying to find a reason to refuse.

Connor’s grin widened. “That’s not a problem. I already took care of it.”

Wren blinked in surprise. “What? When?”

“I asked my friend to pick something out for you. He’ll drop it off soon,” Connor replied, his tone casual, as if this was something he did every day.

Wren felt a warmth spread through her chest at his thoughtfulness. “Oh… that was really kind of you.”

Connor leaned in closer, his smile softening into something more sincere. “That’s what good boyfriends do.”

Wren couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “I must have the best, then.”

“You do,” Connor replied, his voice filled with a quiet confidence. “Don’t forget that.” He wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug, pulling her close.

After a moment of hesitation, Wren gave in to the comfort he offered. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a sound she was quickly growing fond of. And so, she decided to stay.

As they finished their breakfast, the doorbell rang.

“That must be Rex,” Connor said, getting up from the table.

“Who?” Wren asked, suddenly feeling nervous.

“Rex, my best friend. He’s dropping off your clothes,” Connor explained with a reassuring smile.

“Oh…” Wren trailed off, a mix of curiosity and apprehension filling her. She wasn’t sure how to feel about meeting someone new, especially under these circumstances.

Connor walked over to the door and opened it to reveal a tall, broad-shouldered man with a mischievous grin. “It’s about time,” Rex said, pushing past Connor to step inside. “Why did you want me to—” He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Wren, his eyes widening in surprise.

Connor noticed his reaction and quickly stepped in. “Are you alright?” he asked, his tone slightly amused.

Rex glanced back at Connor, a grin spreading across his face. “Is that who I think it is? She’s wearing your clothes.”

Connor nodded, trying to keep the situation light. “Yes, it’s Wren. She had an accident, and I helped her out. She stayed last night because it was late.”

Rex’s grin turned into a smirk as he elbowed Connor playfully. “Are you sure that’s all?”

Connor rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of a smile on his face. “Yes. Quit joking around.”

He grabbed the bag of clothes out of Rex’s hands and crossed the room to where Wren stood, feeling awkward and exposed under Rex’s scrutiny. “Here are your clothes. Go get changed and come back out to talk,” he said softly.

Wren nodded, keeping her head down. “Umm… okay. Be right back.” She quickly left the room, seeking refuge in the bathroom as she locked the door behind her.

Once inside, Wren leaned against the door, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. So embarrassing. What will Rex think of me spending the night here? Her thoughts spiraled as she began to change into the clothes Rex had brought, a pretty white dress with small pink flowers and a cozy sweater to go over it. As she tugged the sleeves down, she couldn’t help but worry about the marks she was trying to hide.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Connor was filling Rex in on what had happened. He carefully avoided mentioning the more traumatic details, knowing Wren wouldn’t want them shared.

“So they broke up, and now he’s stalking her?” Rex asked, his tone serious as he pieced together the situation.

Connor nodded, his expression darkening. “Yeah, he won’t leave my girl alone.”

Rex raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. “Wait! Did you just say ‘my girl’?”

Connor glanced away, a slight blush creeping up his neck. “Yeah, we’re dating now. It was official yesterday.”

Rex let out a low whistle. “Wow… you move fast. You finally got your crush.”

Connor sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It won’t be easy. She’s scared of men because of Trevor. I was surprised she even said yes to me.”

Rex clapped a hand on Connor’s shoulder. “Don’t question it. Think of it as a blessing.”

Before Connor could respond, Wren walked back into the room, her head lowered as she tugged on the sleeves of her sweater. The dress fit her perfectly, the soft fabric flowing around her as she moved. Connor’s breath caught in his throat when he saw her.

“Sunshine… you look beautiful,” he said, the nickname slipping out without thought.

Wren’s heart fluttered at his words. She felt her cheeks warm as she tried to process the emotions swirling inside her. What’s wrong with me? Why do I respond the way I do when I’m with him?

Rex smiled at the sight of her, pleased with his choice. “I have good taste,” he said with a wink.

“Thanks for getting me clothes,” Wren said shyly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rex waved off her gratitude with a grin. “No problem. Anything for my friend and his girl.”

Connor cleared his throat, shooting Rex a look. “Rex, you said you were busy. You better get going.”

Rex laughed, catching the hint. “I can stay for a few.”

“Nope,” Connor said firmly, pushing Rex towards the door. “It’s time for you to go. You don’t want to be late.”

Rex chuckled, allowing himself to be ushered out. “Okay, okay… I get it. Have fun, you two!”

As the door closed behind him, Wren let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Connor turned to her, his eyes softening as he saw the tension in her posture.

“Come here,” he said gently, holding out his hand.

Wren hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and placing her hand in his. Connor pulled her into a warm embrace, his arms wrapping around her protectively.

“Today is just for us,” he whispered into her hair. “No worries, no stress. Just you and me.”

Wren closed her eyes, allowing herself to melt into his embrace. For the first time in a long while, she felt like maybe—just maybe—everything was going to be alright.