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The problem has always been me.
“The point is, it’s a completely different situation,” Angela says to try to redirect the conversation. “Plus, you’re not the one trying to break up an engagement. And don’t worry about Alice. I’ll handle her if she asks any more questions.”
“Thank you.”
I give her a grateful smile, hugging her until my arms hurt from the force. When we arrive back at the library, I feel loads better after having told Angela the truth. I have no idea what Theo will do next, but at least I’m not completely alone in this anymore.
Seven
Turns out, I don’t have to wait long to find out. I receive a text from an unknown number when I get home from work. I almost delete it until I spot the area code. 469. Dallas.
What are you up to tonight?
This is Theo, btw
I reply that I have zero plans for the night, and he suggests we go out for drinks. On him. I’m sure I’m reading too much into the invitation. Angela’s right, though. As far as rebounds go, Theo probably isn’t the worst viable option. Not that I’m expecting anything remotely romantic to happen between us. If girls like Christine don’t stand a chance with him, there’s no way I do. And even if I did, he’s the last person, apart from Ben, I should want. Just imagining the tagline to this low budget Lifetime film is enough to make me cringe:
He wants the bride, she wants the groom. But what if all they really want… is each other?
Blegh. I shake my head to clear the thought. Of the ridiculousness I have no time for.
But then, it wouldn’t be such a bad idea if Theo found a rebound of his own, either. I make a mental note to bring up the idea to him tonight as I text my agreement.
Should I drive or Uber?
He replies with a smiling devil emoji and a time and place. Uber it is.
Well, if I’m about to get trashed on a Monday night, I might as well be comfortable. I change into a faded pair of jeans and my favorite cotton blouse, despite the squint-to-see-it coffee stain on the collar. The bar we’re headed to is usually dimly lit, and even if it wasn’t, I doubt I’d care. I leave my hair down but keep a chongo on my wrist for when I’ll inevitably need to pull it up later in the night.
Havana Bar is my usual haunt, though Theo has no way of knowing that. Connected to a hotel right off the River Walk, it looks less like a bar and more like a speakeasy before the sin and debauchery start. Entirely candlelit, the bar is tinged a devilish red to match the furniture’s red velvet upholstery. Lounge chairs are placed around rickety wooden tables. It’s like something straight out of a novel, which is part of the reason it appealed to me in the first place. Angela and I have spent far too many nights here to count. We even befriended some of the staff and trust them enough to guard our smartphones after a certain number of drinks.
I’m the first to arrive even though I’m ten minutes late. Krystal Ramirez is working tonight, which is lucky for me because she’s my favorite bartender.
“Haven’t seen you in here in a while,” she says, smirking. Her dark, curly hair is tinted red from the jarred candles behind the bar. As if that’s not a fire hazard. To this day, I still don’t understand how the bartenders can reach the alcohol without accidentally setting the place on fire. With her large hoop earrings and black tank top that shows off her tattoos, she fits right in with the atmosphere.
“You meeting up with Angela?”
“Nope. It’s a new friend this time.” She raises a brow, intrigued. “Can you get me a raspberry mojito?”
“New friend, old drink. You got it.”
Theo arrives the same moment my drink does, dressed in dark-wash jeans and a blue hoodie. His hair is damp, from a shower maybe. When he spots me, he lifts his hand in a wave and makes his way toward me.
“Hey.” He envelops me into a side hug, and I get a whiff of his shower gel. I inhale the woodsy musk of his scent, hoping he doesn’t notice. He smells dizzyingly good, and I can’t decide if this is better or worse for my common sense than when he smelled like my amber-and-rose body wash.
“You surprised me tonight,” I say. “What’s the occasion?”
“I wanted to say thanks for this weekend.” Theo orders two shots of tequila from Krystal, and when she looks back at me, her eyes glitter knowingly. My face heats at the assumption on her face.
“Really, I can’t thank you enough,” Theo says, calling me back to the moment. “When I got back to my brother’s place, I realized what a dick move that would’ve been had I gone through with it. I can’t do that to my own brother. So, thank you.” He puts his hand over mine and squeezes. His grip is firm, warm, and it evokes something in me I haven’t felt in a long time. Or rather, something I haven’t allowed myself to feel. The heat of Krystal’s gaze warms the side of my face, but I don’t dare turn around to check.
But mostly, I can’t bear to make myself look away from Theo. I think of the muscles pressed up against my body during my numerous attempts to drag him away from the party. His rumpled clothes on my bed. The way he smelled like my body wash at brunch. The steady weight of his eyes, pulling me in with the force of a rising tide.
Oh, shit. I’m attracted to him, aren’t I?
“Just looking out.” My voice wavers slightly. We haven’t even been here ten minutes, and I don’t like the thoughts circling my head. “Listen, I’m not one to judge. We all make mistakes in the heat of the moment, but that moment has to pass eventually,” I say, not only to convince him. I muster all the determination I can to add “And it will.”
He looks away from me, brows creased. Then he nods. “I know. You’re right. Which is why I have to thank you properly.” When Krystal sets two shots down in front of us, he takes one and hands me the other.
