Even if he had confirmed where he was, that didn’t stop Cara’s eyes from darkening.

"Babe... what exactly are you doing at the Church? You know that my parents are still waiting at home for you right?" She asked.

Ryan coughed out loud with the sounds of praise still going on in the surrounding then he sighed.

"Someone’s car gave out directly outside the Harlow Church and is blocking the way for them to leave the afternoon service once they finish so I was called to help and it looks like a total engine failure... After this I have three more jobs lined up though once I’m done with that, I’ll meet with your parents in the evening."

She could hear the sound of him screwing something with a wrench and Cara let out a sigh, it was not that she wanted him to stop work and meet her folks but still a little greeting would be nice... especially since they had traveled for a while before coming.

"It’s fine." Cara said. "I’m not calling to nag, I just wanted to tell you that Wren invited me out for drinks tonight at 8pm so I’m confirming with you if I can go since you’re my husband after all."

The sound of him using the wrench stopped instantly and Ryan turned silent, Cara really hoped that he would let her g—

"Is Wren there?" Ryan asked and she could hear a bit of excitement in his voice making her eyes twitch.

Cara then glanced at Wren who had cracked his Tanfa can open at the top and was now drinking from it.

"Yes, he’s here." She said.

"Alright then, give him the phone." Ryan said and now her whole face twitched with irritation bubbling in her chest, she was the one that had called him so she expected to be the one talking with him throughout.

She had to handle the awkwardness of her husband not being around while her parents were home yet the moment Wren’s name was mentioned, Ryan seemed to forget about her entirely.

Cara felt like a middleman in her own marriage but in the end, she handed the phone over to Wren and he took it with a confused expression.

"Oh, hey Uncle Ryan. I’m surprised you want to talk to me." Wren said though he didn’t mind it at all. Ryan followed it up with a loud booming laugh that made Cara feel even more neglected.

"Wren, how are you kid? Is Harlow treating you better than the city?" Ryan asked him and Wren sighed.

"First of all, I’m not a kid... I even have a beard coming in." Wren said, that was severe cope... even Joel had shaved a few times while him on the other hand hadn’t done so. "And Harlow is an even nicer place than the city if you ask me."

A small place where everybody was nice to each other? And nobody sold rotting stuff? He personally liked Harlow better, it wasn’t as cost to live in as Bostara where Wren had to save up from his part time jobs to even afford the foodstuff.

"Haha, don’t overexaggerate it. The city is still king, even though it’s loud... Anyway, you really want to take Cara out for drinks?" Ryan asked and he was no longer using the wrench, instead he had closed the car door.

"Yes we talked about it over dinner yesterday, I just want her to show me around." Wren said immediately.

"Then that’s fine with me... There are a lot of places in Harlow that I didn’t show you after all and since Cara is a honorary part of the town, she can show you around. It’s been a while since she had a good drink too, but just make sure she gets home in one piece right? Also don’t let her out of your sight too, she gets some kind of way when she’s drunk."

"I do not..." Cara said with a red face.

"Sure you don’t." Ryan chuckled from the phone and then he twisted the car key making the engine of the car roar back to life. "There she goes, finally! I got it started... I’ll be heading back to the workshop now, so Wren, take care of her."

He hung up immediately after and Cara’s expression went downcast as Wren handed her back the phone.

"He always has an excuse... I’m sure he can make out at least ten minutes to see them." Cara said and though Wren would normally agree with her, if he wanted her to like him better, the secret was not to talk down on her Husband and defend him instead.

"Don’t be so tough on him, he’s working for the family and he’s the only mechanic in town so you can’t blame him for the work being so much." Wren said while taking another sip of his Tanfa and Cara looked down at the table.

"I know... I know..."

"At least he accepted, so I’ll come to your house by 8pm but where are we actually going?" Wren asked, he had been thinking about Merle’s place but it was not that lively, it’s not like they wanted to spend the whole thing sitting down and talking though that wouldn’t be bad, to do the missions he had, the atmosphere needed to be a bit more lively.

Like a club... even though he barely went to clubs, it didn’t sound bad at all but then Wren almost slapped his forehead.

’Am I stupid? Why the hell would Harlow have clubs?’ Wren thought, it was a small town and even then... it was probably a big establishment so Ryan would have showed him.

"We could go to a regular bar which wouldn’t be very exciting or we could go to the club." Cara said, making him blink.

"There’s actually a club in Harlow?"

"It’s near where you came in. Why do you think the town is quiet at night? Everyone that wants to goes to the edge of the town to drink and dance, You coming or is the city boy in you scared of a little country bass?" Cara asked.

"I’ll come along... you’ll have to lead the way though since I’m not familiar with it." Wren said.

"Sure, I don’t mind it." Cara said then looked at Wren, "Is that the only reason you’re here or are you hiding from someone?"

She really wanted him to stay, maybe they could continue the gist that he was telling her yesterday. Cara would love for Wren to keep her company however his reply shot that thought down.

"I actually have to go buy clothes." Wren said, "I can’t walk into the club looking like a tourist after all."

Cara’s face fell slightly but she motioned to the door regardless.

"The town Boutique is up the road, and the woman who owns it... Madam Vora won the L’Art de l’Aiguille in Elris City ten years ago." Cara said and Wren nodded, that was a very big deal even though it had been such a long time.

Just then, another customer stepped in and looked at them making Wren nod to Cara and walk out with a small wave.

’I... We’ll see later tonight.’ She thought as Wren disappeared out the door and she attended to the customer.

...

Wren adjusted his shirt once he stood outside the Boutique, unlike a big shop he was expecting... It was actually in the middle but the Boutique itself looked very festive.

He was going to buy some good clothes to wear at home and for outings as well, even some to go to the Club tonight.

’Maybe I should have asked what kind of clothes to wea—"

[Host, are you nervous?]

The tab appeared in front of his eyes and he sighed.

’Shut up Nyx.’ Wren thought before walking into the Boutique, the door parted with a small jingle and he was in the receptionist’s area.

The Boutique smelled like good perfume and he saw the receptionist soon after, she sat behind a mahogany desk looking very exasperated and opposite her stood Dani, her blond hair in a messy ponytail waving her hands at the woman. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"I’ve told you, Miss Dani, we haven’t finished the alterations. Quality takes—" She paused upon seeing Wren. "Welcome to the Harlow Boutique, sir. How can we assist you?"

Dani’s eyes upon seeing Wren lit up and she rushed to the side, hugging him from there.

"Hehe~ Thanks for carrying me home yesterday, Wren! Tell me the truth... Did you do anything lewd with my body while I was asleep?"

Wren raised an eyebrow, it wasn’t that Dani looked like a kid but she was short... shorter than average.

"If I did, Dani, the UBI would have arrested me before you even woke up." He said dryly and she punched him on the side

"You’re boring! Since you’re here, I’m helping you. You need clothes that make you look hot... like those models online so I’m choosing for you." Dani said. "And you don’t have a choice."

"Sure..." Wren said, he wasn’t going to argue with her.

Dani of course was expecting Wren to argue but when she heard Sure, she had to look him in the eyes.

"...Huh?"