My mind only strays to Theo once or twice. Okay, maybe every minute or so.
As fun as this is, I’d rather be with him. In his arms. In his bed. And the more I think about it, the way he looked at me this morning, the way he said I was his… I decide I’m going to his place as soon as I can.
I stay for another hour and a half, dancing and singingalong, until my eyes tire of the strobe lights and my ears begin to protest the loud sounds blaring from the speakers.
Jace’s band is performing their last set, and I know Sal’s about to head backstage. I tap her shoulder, grabbing her attention, and speak loudly to try and compete with the sounds on stage. “I think I’m gonna head out, that okay?”
She nods, grinning. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be fine. Go kiss that teacher of yours.”
I swat her arm, my face burning. “I can’t stand you.”
“Love you too!”
I head for the exit, toward my car. Once I’m inside, I lock the doors and glance in the backseat, just to be sure I’m alone and safe. The dashboard reads 9:30. Still early enough to surprise Theo.
Butterflies swirl in my stomach as I drive the familiar twenty minutes to his place. I park a block away, in the same spot I always do. I lock the doors and cut through the houses like usual, staying out of sight of cars passing by.
But as I round the corner of his yard, I stop cold.
Laughter.
A woman’s laugh. Loud and confident.
I freeze. No. No, no, no.
It happens again, the sound closer this time. Clear as day, it’s coming fromhishouse.
My stomach twists. Drops. He didn’t say he had plans tonight. Didn’t say a word. Didn’t tell meanything.
Maybe I forgot. Maybe I missed something. Maybe I’m just being dramatic. Maybe?—
I already know I’m not.
I move forward, slowly, not sure I really want to know. But Ido. I can’t stop myself. I make my way toward the sliding glass door, the soft glow from inside spilling out across the grass like a spotlight. The house looks warm and safe, so familiar.
Likeus.
Then I see her. Evelyn. His ex.
Of course it’sher.
Her blonde hair is tucked behind her ears, her makeup soft and subtle. She doesn’t even have to try and still looks like a model who belongs on a runway. A white v-neck tee, cut low, and fitted jeans, her bare feet curled up on his couch like it’s hers.
And Theo… He’s sitting at the other end. Back turned to me. Elbows on his knees, leaning in just enough to make my chest tight.
I can’t see his face.
But I seeher. And I see the wine glasses. I see how she’s glowing as she laughs, full and loud andso damn easy.
And that’s when I break. Not just a crack, not just a bruise. A break, clean and cruel. I shatter into pieces, realizing this isn’t a fairytale after all.
My throat closes. My chest aches in a way I didn’t know was possible.
I don’t need to hear a single word to know what this looks like. What itfeelslike. I’ve seen this movie before. I’velivedthis feeling.
I thought this was different. I thoughthewas different.
And maybe he is. Maybe there’s an explanation.
