Page 147 of Make Me Mean It

What the fuck?

“Theo.”

He doesn’t stop.

I hear his footsteps disappear down the hall, and panic surges low in my stomach. Every instinct tells me to go after him, but Marcus is still standing in the doorway looking like he’s walked into the middle of a conversation in a language he doesn’t speak.

“What the fuck did I miss?”

I drag a hand down my face.

“Nothing.”

It sounds hollow even to me, my eyes still fixed on the doorway.

“Just another stupid argument,” I add quietly, and the words leave a bitter taste behind because that isn’t what it was.

Not even close.

Marcus is still watching me.

I can feel it, that older-brother stare that usually makes me want to tell him to mind his own business. Right now, I don’t have enough fight left for it.

I swallow against the lump sitting in my throat and finally drag my eyes away from the empty hallway.

“Uh, give me a minute?”

My voice shakes.

Marcus's head tilts slightly, the irritation in his expression giving way to something more concerned. “You’ll explain?”

Explain what?

That I slept with his best friend?

That I woke up wrapped around him this morning and nearly stayed in bed because leaving felt wrong?

That Theo asked me not to go last night and I promised I’d try, only to throw the fact he wanted me in his face the first time I got scared?

That I don’t have a fucking clue what any of this makes me, but apparently the thought of Theo believing he’s nothing more than an experiment makes me feel like someone’s hollowed out my chest?

“I don’t—” My hand goes back into my hair, fingers catching and tugging hard enough to sting. “Uh-”

Nothing comes after it.

I don’t even know where I’d start.

Marcus watches me for another few seconds before his shoulders drop with a sigh.

“Jesus.”

He shakes his head and turns toward the door.

Relief loosens the tension in my chest, even if it doesn’t touch the knot sitting beneath it. “Thank you.

“Uh-huh.”

He steps into the hallway before glancing back at me.