I didn’t know exactly what had gone down between them—Theo had been unusually reluctant to do one of his standard relationship post-mortems with Corey. What Ididknow was how badly it’d affected him. Badly enough that I still woke up in a cold sweat worrying about him sometimes.
So I did not like Corey, and would not be moved to.
“I guess you could do worse,” he pronounced.
“Simon is the sweetest, kindes?—”
“I was talking to Simon,” Corey interrupted, lips quirking into a smirk. “Let’s catch up some time before the wedding’s over,” he added, patting Theo on the arm as he stepped around him, striding away without another moment’s pause.
“Asshole,” I murmured.
Theo shrugged. “He’s right.”
I wanted to kiss him again. Nuzzle his hair. Hold him close and tell him that yeah, Coreywasright, Icoulddo worse. Anyone else would be worse. There was no one in the world I felt better being around than Theo.
“He is,” I said, figuring I could tell him part of that, at least. “But not the way he means. No one could do better than you.”
Theo huffed, letting go of my fingers. I missed his hand instantly. We touched often enough, but we only ever held hands in private, when he was upset.
I didn’t mind that. I just wanted more. Even if it was all for show, it still felt good.
That was going to be a problem.
“No one huffs about my best friend, either,” I said, giving Theo a nudge with my elbow.
Theo sipped his drink, looking around the not-quite-bustling central courtyard. It was a nice space, full of glossy, well-maintained plants corralled in beds and containers and comfortable seating. All centered around an elaborate fountain lit up by gently glowing, warm lights and complete with big, darting koi. The fountain was new—there’d been a pool last time I’d been here. That was almost a decade ago, though. Poolswere probably out of fashion now. Too many poor people getting them, or something.
Theo turned back to me all of a sudden, eyes wide. “Audrey’s looking at us,” he said, a pink flush spreading over his cheeks. I’d always loved the way he blushed, although less so when it was because of something like this. “Don’t look,” he added before I could glance over his shoulder to see.
“Not looking,” I promised, sipping my own drink.
It definitely had bubbles, but I still couldn’t tell if it was a sparkling white or champagne. If there was a detectable difference between those two things other than by the label on the bottle, I didn’t know about it.
Theo’s eyes glinted as his gaze darted all over my face.
He laid a hand on my cheek, thumb brushing the ridge of my cheekbone. Before I realized what he was doing, he closed the gap between us and kissed me again.
I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped me, which I could barely hear over my own pulse pounding in my ears. Hopefully, Theo would think it was just surprise.
Hopefully, when I kissed back, he’d think I was still just playing along.
“Do you think they believe us?” Theo asked, so close his nose was still touching mine.
I had no idea. I didn’t even have the brain capacity to consider the question. Theo wasright there, a tilt of the head away from kissing me again, the warmth of his hand still branding my cheek. How was I supposed to think aboutanythingelse when every nerve ending in my body was screaming to reach out tohim, kiss him again, and again, and again, until he stopped ever wanting to kiss anyone else? Until this was real?
“I—”
“Theo!”
Theo jumped back at the sound of his mother’s voice, hand darting away from my face as though it’d been scalded.
For a change of pace, I was relieved to see her. Even when she gave me a look Medusa could’ve taken notes on.
“We’re going in to dinner now,” she said. “I’ve seated you next to Audrey and you are to be polite to her. Simon,” she added, turning to look me up and down, lips pursed. “… we’ll find a place for you. Come along.”
It was so nice to get such a warm welcome.
“You’ve got Mom fooled.”
