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“Why the hell didn’t you answer me? I’ve been fucking looking for you everywhere. Where are you? Did you check your phone, or was this fun for you? Did you think about how worried I’d be?”
Of course, he turned this back on me, and my eyes watered. You owe him nothing.
“Enough.” I stood and paced Theo’s room. “Did you ever think I didn’t want to talk to you?”
“Audrey. What… what’s going on?” His voice took on a tone I had never heard before. He seemed upset.
“Did you ever think about that? That my world doesn’t revolve around you and your feelings? I know it seems like I do revolve around your feelings since you discard me whenever you feel like it.” My voice cracked, and I didn’t care if he heard my hurt. “You don’t care about me or what I’m going through, so please just… leave me alone.”
“Audrey, no, where are you? Can we talk? This… are you drunk?”
“No. I’m not drunk. I’m with someone who actually makes me feel good about myself, okay?” My hands shook so hard I dropped the phone, just as Theo came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Water dripped down his chest, and he was a damn smoke show. It wasn’t his look though that hooked into me like a fishing wire. It was the look his eyes and the way he mouthed I got you.
He held out his arms, and I walked into them.
Quentin’s voice grew hoarse. “With who? Are you seeing someone? I should know about that, Audrey.”
“So should I, but you and mom had a great dinner without me. Now I have to go.”
I hung up as Theo squeezed me against his chest. “I didn’t handle that well.”
“There is no right or wrong way to handle family shit. Hell, I’m probably fucking that up every day,”
“Maybe we are a decent pair then. You and your dad, and me and my brother.” I sniffed, and he chuckled, the deep rumbles in his chest vibrating against my face. “I hate that I care so much.”
“It means you have a big heart. A good one. Now, let’s go let Marcy boss us around for a few hours for fun. Nothing like needles and blood to take the mind off family drama.”
“So romantic.”
He laughed, and it was so easy how seamlessly we fit together. I still had my doubts that crept in every few minutes, but being with him made me dream about a future of us together. One that seemed magical and filled with joy. I could imagine the two of us living together and hanging out with his siblings, but that wouldn’t be reality. He’d travel all the time for hockey, and hell, he was leaving after this year. I had no idea what we’d be then.
Even as Theo made me laugh as we got ready and drove to clinicals, a part of me knew this would come to an end at some point. I’d just soak up every minute of it while I could.
Theo dropped me off at my dorm after a long twelve-hour shift. Marcy wanted us to experience one full-length one so we knew what we were up for, and my feet ached. I wanted to sleep for a week, but there wasn’t time. She gave us two more studies to read and then our group project had to present our status PSA, and of course no one had done their part. It was like the bubble with Theo popped just like that, and my real life came flying back.
It also didn’t help that Quentin leaned outside my dorm with his arms crossed. “Stop the car,” I demanded, my throat tightening. “My brother is up there.”
“Mm,” Theo pulled off to the side and put his truck in Park. “You do know he’s aware we’re partners?”
“Is he?” I didn’t tell him. “You told him?”
He nodded. “Do you want me walking in with you, Auds?”
“No, just.” I huffed and swallowed the ball of emotion growing by the minute. “You are such a trigger for him. If he sees me with you, he could?—”
“Could he hurt you?”
“No! No. Never.” I pushed my hair behind my ears, nervous as hell. Theo was too still, too expressionless. “I don’t know why he’s here.”
“He probably wants to talk to you after your phone call.” His voice was natural, calm. I hated it.
“Are you mad at me?” I hated that I had to ask, but I felt his disappointment deep in my pores, and it made me feel like shit. “I’m sorry. Please… I don’t…”
“I’m not upset with you.” Theo stared at my brother and sighed. “I get it. You don’t want to anger him more.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“Okay.” He tapped the wheel and glanced at me, a sad smile on his lips. “I’d love to walk you to your dorm, hang out a little, but another time then.”
