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“To the moment passing.”
“Cheers.” We clink glasses and shoot them back. The liquor burns going down my throat, but it’s just what I need to get the Lifetime movie tagline out of my brain.
Don’t be stupid, Marcela.
But what would be more stupid? Pining over a taken man for the rest of my life, or getting over said taken man by hooking up with his brother?
“What’s your plan now?” I ask Theo, if only to stop myself from digging an even deeper hole than the one I’m already in.
“I have enough in savings to get an apartment in town until I can find a job,” he says. “Plus, a couple interviews lined up this week. Turns out, a lot of high schools like the idea of a former NFL player coaching their football team.” The side of his mouth turns up in a wry grin. “It’s not exactly the career I had in mind, but something’s gotta pay the bills.”
“What happened, by the way?” I ask. “Why’d you retire?”
He lets out a groan. “It’s my stupid knee again.”
“The one that cost you getting signed the first time?” His eyes widen, mouth falling open slightly. Judging by his stricken expression, this was a bad question to ask. Before he can reply, I attempt to walk it back. “You don’t have to answer that. I didn’t mean to be so invasive. If you’re not comfortable…”
“No, it’s not that,” he says. “It’s just that it was such a long time ago. I didn’t think you’d remember.”
Of course I remember. The smell of tequila calls it all back—the shouting, the shattered glass, the crying himself to sleep. But he was so hammered, maybe he hardly remembers that night himself. It’s on the tip of my tongue to remind him, but I can’t find any good way to do so.
When he finally speaks up, I no longer have to.
“Tequila always had a habit of bringing out my bad side.” He shakes his head. “Football was everything to me. Still is, in some ways. I got good grades in high school just so I could play, went to college to get drafted to the NFL. It wasn’t just that I loved it, but that I wasn’t good at anything else. There was nothing else I felt that passionately about.”
“A job doesn’t have to be a career, Theo. There are plenty of other things you can do.” His eyes train on me. “But maybe I’m not the best person to look to. My whole career basically revolves around books.”
“Librarian, right?” So maybe he was paying attention to someone other than Alice at brunch.
“Yup. Although, my job isn’t without its bad days. Sometimes I just wanna shake the parents who complain about the quote-unquote inappropriate material in the YA books their kids are reading. Like there’s anything inappropriate about a transgender lead or mildly sexual themes. They’re teenagers. If a bit of light petting offends them so much, they would’ve keeled over to learn what I was reading when I was a teenager.”
“Oh, yeah?” The corner of Theo’s mouth lifts suggestively. “Do tell.”
There’s no way I’m talking to Theo of all people about my sexual awakening through romance novels.
“Shut up.” I slap lightly at his arm. “We got off topic. Please, continue.”
When we return to the topic at hand, his grin falls a bit. “I don’t know,” Theo starts. “It all felt more… urgent, back then. Like if I never got drafted, it was all for nothing. All that work, all the long nights spent practicing, all the sacrifices I made to get there. I’d never make something of myself otherwise.”
“That’s why you were in so much pain.” His smile drops all the way suddenly. I hate that I’m the reason. “I didn’t know you at all back then, so I… didn’t really know what to think, I guess. It makes sense now.” I’m almost surprised by how honest he’s being with me. Before this weekend, we were strangers. Now he’s opening up like we’re old friends. Or… like we’re becoming friends.
Are Theo and I friends?
“I’m sorry, again,” he says, his eyes going soft. “You shouldn’t have had to see me like that. There’s not a lot about that night I remember, and I’m counting my blessings for that.” He lets out a nervous laugh.
I can hardly remember why I was there in the first place. Did Ben ask me over, or was I already there when Theo arrived? I’ll ask Ben one of these days, whenever I see him next. Even though I definitely shouldn’t see him soon.
“It’s all in the past.” I take a sip from my drink. “By the way, how’d you get my number?”
“I asked Ben first, but he refused and told me to stay away from you.” There’s an odd look in his eyes. My heart stutters in my chest, but I keep a neutral expression. Ben must hate that we’re out together right now, if he was unwilling to give his brother my number. The thought shouldn’t thrill me, but in an odd way I want him to disapprove. It’s the closest I can ever get to making him jealous.
Bad idea all around, Marcela.
“So I asked Alice instead.”
“He really said that?” I ask, though I’m not entirely surprised. Ben’s always been protective of me, especially whenever a new guy comes into my life. And given Theo’s reputation, I can understand why Ben would be worried if he actually thinks we’re hooking up.
I’m about to ask Theo if he corrected his brother (secretly, I hope he didn’t) when the door chimes, and a group of familiar women enter the bar. Alice, Christine, and the rest of their crew. I spot Angela behind a blond girl in their group, eyes scanning the bar like she’s looking for someone.
