“Wait, what?” He frowned right back. “Why? Did you thinkIhad ‘expectations’?”
“No, but that’s just—that’s just the rule, right? Sex on the third date. That’s what everyone says.”
It was definitely what Violet said.
“It is?” He snorted. “Well, that’s stupid. And who’s ‘everyone,’ anyway? Who made those rules?”
He had her there. “I honestly have no idea.”
“And that’s why you’ve mostly been so stiff and quiet since we got here?” She nodded. “Has this happened with someone before?” She nodded again and his gaze darkened. “Who?”
Audrey couldn’t look him in the eyes anymore—not for this. Her face was so hot, she was sure she would combust, and she stareddown at the mug in her hands, running a finger nervously along the rim. “The last guy I went out with, almost two years ago. His name was Patrick. We went out a few times, and afterwards, when we were in his car, he—well, the subject of sex came up, and I told him I hadn’t had it yet. I didn’t feel ready, and I asked him to…slow down.” Hot shame rose up into her hairline. “I really liked him. I thought he liked me back, I thought everything was fine, I thought he was okay with what I’d said, but instead, he…he just dumped me then and there. Didn’t say another word. He took me home, waited for me to get out of the car, and never texted again.”
She’d never felt so worthless as she did in that moment.
Even now, she felt just as sick as she did then.
Theo stared silently at her, his mouth slightly open. He barely blinked for what felt like entirely too long, until Billie started to sing another song in the background. He glanced over his shoulder at the record player before seeming to make up his mind about something.
When he stood up from the couch and offered her a hand, it was Audrey’s turn to blink up at him in confusion.
“Come here,” he said, motioning her forward before taking her mug from her grasp and placing it next to his on the coffee table.
“What—”
“Just come here.”
She slid her hand into his, and he gently tugged her to his feet and into his arms. He took her left hand in his right and placed her other hand on his shoulder before wrapping his arm around her waist.
And then he began to sway.
Stiffly, at first. Halting, and certainly unsure. She wondered if his hip bothered him while he moved. It felt like it might.
But regardless of all that, it was definitely something resembling dancing.
“Are youdancingwith me, Theodore Sullivan? Really?” He’dso staunchly refused to do this with her earlier, andnowhe’d decided to dance? After what she’d just told him? She scoffed. “Isn’t this kind of…cheesy?”
“Hush, you,” he whispered. “And yeah,it is. Very. I’m well aware, and don’t think I’m not catastrophizing and beating myself up for this choice in my own head right now.” His eyes glinted as he looked down at her. They were whiskey and mahogany tonight in the firelight. “But I thought we needed to do something dumb for a second. And if there’s one thing I know I look dumb doing, it’s dancing.” He leaned forward and pressed his cheek to her forehead. “It’s why I didn’t want to do it in front of everyone at the party. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m a little self-conscious.”
She suppressed a laugh. “I have noticed that, yes.”
“And my middle name is Henry, by the way. If you want to know the whole thing.”
“Theodore Henry. Got it.” She closed her eyes. “Mine’s Marie.”
“Audrey Marie?” She nodded. “Very pretty. Just like you.”
He grew quiet again and swayed with her in time to the music in front of the fire, simply staring at her while they moved together. He was right: it did defuse the awkwardness between them, and when he exaggerated a piss-poor attempt at a twirl and drew her back into his arms, she couldn’t help but laugh.
But there was something else. Something about the song he’d chosen tugged at the recesses of her memory.
“This sounds familiar.”
He hummed in agreement, the sound of it rumbling from his chest through hers. “Does it now?”
“Where is this from? Where have I heard this?”
“Listen to the lyrics,” he whispered. And then he murmured along with them, his breath tickling across her ear. “No matter what the future brings, as time goes by. Moonlight and love songs, never out of date—”
