Slight M rating here.

Chapter 11: Deal?

Wren spent another night with Spencer this week. They didn't sleep together, but he was there the next morning for breakfast. Spencer made them French toast and freshly squeezed orange juice. Wren sat at the table drinking his cup of tea while reading the newspaper. Spencer couldn't stop fidgeting all morning. She needed to know what was going on with him. He's been around a lot more, but still, something is distant when they're together.

"Wren," Spencer finally got the courage to ask him. "What's going on with you?"

Wren looked up from the paper and shrugged, "what do you mean?"

"You've been acting different since the morning you came over after our fight."

"I'm trying to make up for lost time."

Spencer forced a smile. "I get that. Are you sure it's not something more than that?"

"Okay." Wren folded up the newspaper and set it down on the table. "The truth is, I wasn't planning to come to the Halloween party at all. I wanted to be there for you, and I would have missed the whole thing if I hadn't found out."

Oh god, he knows, she thought to herself. Spencer's heart stopped as panic rose through her chest. She tried to remain calm on the outside. She sat up and cleared her throat.

"Found out what?"

"I'm going to London."

Spencer's mouth gaped. Was that it? Was this the secret that Wren had been holding onto? Why would his behavior change just because he was going to London?

"You're going to London. When? Why? For how long?"

"Two weeks," he said. "There's a seminar going on about new medicine and they want me to attend."

"Oh." Spencer looked around.

"The reason I've been spending more time with you is because the time I'm going to London is in a few short days. I know we've got lots of wedding plans to make," said Wren. "I feel terrible that I'll be leaving right around that time."

"No, it's all right. I understand."

Spencer's mind drifted. Since Wren was going to be in London for a couple of weeks, she could see more of Toby, right? A pin of guilt formed in her chest. That should not be the first thought that comes to her mind. She shouldn't even be thinking about Toby. Spencer had a better idea.

"Would I be able to go with you?" She asked.

Wren looked panicked. "Uh, what about school? You're taking four classes this semester."

She shrugged, "I can miss a few lectures. Besides, my professors post everything online. Most of that stuff I can get done remotely."

Wren tried again. "You have your internship with your mom."

"She's taking a vacation. She said after the month she's had; she needs one."

"Well, I don't think my company wants me to bring anyone along with me." Wren patted her lovingly on the hand. "I'm sorry, love, but this is a business trip. I won't have much time for fun and sightseeing."

Spencer's smile faded as a thought occurred. "You don't want me to go."

"That is not—" Wren choked on his words. "Okay, no, I don't."

Spencer gasped in surprise.

"I'm sorry, dear," Wren said. "It's just… this is a work trip. I need to focus. You'd be bored the whole time there anyway."

"Oh, right, because there's nothing to see in London," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Please, don't be upset."

"Why would I be upset? This is classic you. Being all loving and caring for three days, then back to a total jerk."

"Can you try to look at this from my point of view for just one minute!" Wren was raising his voice. "You're acting like a child."

"So, you're going to be stuck in seminars the whole two weeks you're there?" Spencer looked unconvinced.

"I mean, Josh, Frank, and Ryan are coming," Wren admitted.

Spencer's face turned red. She recognized two of those guys' names from the night Wren brought them back to her house for a hot tub party on their annivesary. Everything was finally making sense to Spencer.

"So, you've been buttering me up this entire week because you planned a bromance trip with your friends."

"Not technically," said Wren. "I really do have to go for work reasons. The guys and I just decided we would like to stay an extra week."

"For fun," Spencer clarified.

Wren nodded, "yes, for fun. Is that such a terrible thing?"

Spencer surrendered, "no, it's not."

"If it will make you feel better, I'll bring you back all sorts of gifts."

Spencer gave him the side eye. "Can you answer just one question for me?"

"Sure," he shrugged.

"When did you make plans for this trip?"

Wren looked down, "it was that night."

He was referring to the night they got into an argument. That meant that instead of Wren being upset and wanting to make things right with Spencer, he was planning a new fun activity with his friends. Spencer felt stupid for thinking that all of Wren's previous actions were him trying to rebuild their relationship. Wren is entitled to have fun with his friends Spencer has no right to take that away from him, she knows that. What she doesn't like is Wren continuously putting his friends, his needs, and his fun over her every single time. Suddenly, spending her time with Toby for the next two weeks didn't seem so bad to her. Spencer smiled thinking about it. She turned to Wren, touched his hand in a soft way, and smiled.

"You know what, Wren, You're right. You do deserve to have fun. You go to London and have fun with your friends. I'll stay here and have fun with my friends."

Wren smiled and squeezed her hand. "Thanks, love. I knew you'd understand."

Her smile remained as she nodded. "Oh, I really do."

Thanks to Bobby, the plumbing in the barn is all done. Toby's crew has worked quickly and efficiently the last month and a half. They're making great progress on the barn. It's November and as promised. Toby plans to have the barn ready for Spencer to move into by the end of the month. The rest of Toby's crew is thrilled that they'll be done with this project in just a few short weeks. Toby is not so thrilled. He knows that when he finishes this project, he won't have an excuse to see Spencer anymore.

"That's enough for today, guys," Toby said to his crew. "Pack it up. I'll see you tomorrow at nine."

The crew got everything packed up in record time. Toby waved at them as they each took off in their respective automobiles. Toby finished his side project inside the barn then started to pack his truck. As he was doing so, his mind was filled with images from the Halloween party last week. He couldn't get the image of Spencer dancing so close with him. He also couldn't get the image of Wren showing up to take his place. Toby had to laugh at himself for having the nerve to be mad at Wren and thinking that he took his place. Toby knows it's silly to refer to Wren as the bad guy when he was the one grinding on Wren's fiancé. Toby couldn't help himself. Spencer does something to him.

Toby slammed the door to the bed of his truck shut. As he was getting ready to leave, he heard a noise coming from behind him. He turned to see Spencer heading his way. His heart fluttered.

"Hey, are you taking off?" Spencer asked.

"I was planning to." Toby tried to act nonchalantly. He put his hands inside his pockets.

Spencer got closer and stopped a couple of feet away from him. She gestured with her head towards the barn.

"Want to show me an update?"

Toby led the way through the front door to the barn. Spencer looked around the interior and smiled. All the walls in the barn had been painted a color that Spencer hand picked out herself. Most of the flooring is done, except for the kitchen and the bathrooms. More furniture was planned to be delivered in the next couple of weeks. Spencer's eyes fell as she realized how close Toby was to being done.

"What do you think?" Toby asked, leaning against a wall.

"It's looking good," she said. "The family room looks better than I pictured it."

"Not too much longer here," he said. "As soon as we lay the rest of the floors down, we'll pretty much be out of your hair."

Spencer turned to face him. She stared at him for a long time. She thought she might reconsider what she wanted from him, but with the way Toby's eyes sparkled, she couldn't. Spencer had a plan. A devious, and maybe even a horrible one, but it's a plan.

"Toby, could I hire you for a small side job?"

Toby leaned away from the wall. "I suppose. What is it?"

Spencer stepped closer. "My friend is having a fashion show Saturday night. It's for charity. My friends and I are going to model the clothes."

"Wow." Toby's eyes lit up at the visual of Spencer walking down a runway as a model. "That sounds fun. What does this have to do with me?"

"Do you think you could build me some makeup tables?"

"How many?" He asked.

Spencer thought about it. "Ten."

"Ten," Toby's eyes widened. Of course, he wants to do it. He'd do anything for Spencer if it made her happy. Building ten tables in just a few days is quite a lot of work.

"I know it's a lot to ask," she said. Spencer stepped closer. "But I'm willing to pay you."

"How much?" He asked.

Spencer got closer to Toby. She was so close now that Toby could feel her breath on his chin. Spencer reached her hands out, tugging on the bottom of his shirt.

"Whatever you want," her voice was low, seductive.

Toby's throat felt dry. "Are we still talking about money?"

"Money's an option," Spencer said, as she ran one hand down below his belt to his crotch. She started rubbing her hand over his jeans. "Unless there's something else you want as payment."

Toby gulped, considering. "Uh—" He coughed.

"I'll make you a deal." Spencer continued to rub him as she looked at him seductively. "You build me those tables, you get into the fashion show for free, and as a bonus, you get to take me home to your place. I'll let you do whatever you want with me."

Toby could not speak. He wanted to but couldn't because his mouth was so dry. He moaned at her touch. She rubbed her hand harder against him. Toby was now panting like a dog. All he could manage was a node. Spencer removed her hand from his crotch and smiled brightly.

"I'll see you Saturday night at seven."

Spencer skipped out of the barn leaving a stunned Toby behind. As soon as she was out of sight.

"Fuck," Toby cursed aloud.

Then, he walked over to the cooler that's there for Toby and his crew. He opened the blue cooler, grabbed a cold bottle of water, and chugged it down.

Looks like they have a deal. What do you guys think of this arrangement? Please leave your thoughts and theories in a review.