(TORREN) I quickly learned that Theo and I had something else in common.
Neither of us was easygoing.
At all.
I left him to stew in his bad mood, figuring he’d work it out better on his own.
Meanwhile, I tried to hang out with Henry and his friends.
But Henry was already glued to a curvy brunette, the two of them making out like they were auditioning for a music video.
That left me with the other two girls, Hanna and Felicia.
They were nice enough, but every time I spoke, they giggled like I was some adorable puppy.
They weren’t exactly what I’d call engaging company.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Theo through the window, watching us.
Just for a moment.
Then he disappeared again.
An hour later, I was bored out of my mind and decided to find him.
Truth be told, I still didn’t know how to handle him.
I wanted him to like me, but part of me kept expecting him to change his mind.
I couldn’t even figure out why he was so into me in the first place.
Not because I didn’t think I was a catch, but I wasn’t a Theo Kane kind of catch.
As I approached his room, I saw Henry leave, grinning and shaking his head.
He’d been talking to Theo, one hand gripping Theo’s shirt as he spoke quickly.
Theo had shoved him back, clearly annoyed, and Henry had just laughed.
I’d never seen Theo genuinely pissed at Henry before.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked lightly on the doorframe.
Theo turned toward me, his expression stormy.
“Can I come in?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Really?” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“I thought you couldn’t stomach being in an enclosed space with me.” Pressing my lips together, I stepped inside and shut the door behind me.
“See?
I can be in the same room with you.” A flicker of a smile tugged at his lips.
“Why are you so upset?” He exhaled sharply, his hands on his hips.
“I’m in a mood.
I told you yesterday I was frustrated, and now everything’s piling up.” “With work?” He nodded.
I moved further into the room, sitting on the edge of the bed.
He glanced at me but didn’t move.
I patted the spot beside me.
He hesitated, then finally sat down.
I held out my hand.
The corners of his lips twitched.
“What are you doing?” “Apologizing.
What do you think?” Theo looked at my hand and smirked.
“It’s cute,” he said, chuckling.
I shook my head, and before I could react, he swung an arm around my neck and pulled me closer.
I tried to stay relaxed until he rested his face in my hair.
That was when my brain caught up, reminding me that I’d willingly invited him to bed with me.
“You’re not mad anymore?” I asked, my voice quieter now.
“I’m not mad,” he murmured, his free hand reaching for my face, essentially enveloping me.
Theo was so much bigger than me, and he covered me so easily.
It felt great, but at the same time, it made me want to run for the hills.
“Good.
Let’s go back outside.” “Or,” he whispered, tilting my chin upward until his lips brushed my cheek, “we could pick up where we left off last night.” A shiver ran through me, his warm breath sending heat racing down my spine.
“Theo…” His lips brushed against my skin as my heart pounded.
“That’s exactly right.
Now, just ask me to kiss you.” Nerves shot through me, and I tensed, trying to push him back.
“Theo,” I repeated.
His hand moved to my waist, holding me gently but insistently.
“Or do you want me to touch you again?
Warm you up to it first?” Panic began to swell in my chest.
I wanted to ask him to stop but didn’t want to upset him again.
“Come on, darling.
Tell me what you want,” he coaxed.
I pressed my lips together, turning my face away.
Theo pulled me back by my shoulders, causing me to fall onto the bed.
Fuck.
He slipped his hand under my shirt, running it up my back, breathing against my neck.
He wasn’t on top of me, but he was one move away from it.
My body overheated in a matter of seconds, and I could feel it pooling in my groin.
As I grew harder than fucking steel, my embarrassment skyrocketed.
I couldn’t handle it.
Pushing against his shoulders, I tried to create some space between us.
“Theo, stop.
I don’t want to do this.
Let’s go outside.” He froze, his breath catching.
Exhaling heavily, he pulled back, standing and pacing a few steps away, his hands on his hips.
I sat up, running my hands through my hair, frustration and embarrassment burning through me.
I cussed under my breath, willing my erection to die down.
Theo turned, his expression unreadable.
“Maybe you should leave, Torren.” I stopped cold.
I shook my head.
“I just need more time.” He laughed without humour.
“It’s not about time.
You keep changing your mind.” “I’m not.
It’s just a lot and…” I tried to explain.
“I know it is, and maybe you can’t handle it, not now, at least.” He looked away again.
A flicker of annoyance went through me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” “Maybe you’re too young for this, and I’m not blaming you.
This is my fault.
I should have listened.” My heart sank.
“You knew all along, Theo.
It’s not like you just found out how old I am,” I pointed out.
“Yes, I know, but I thought it didn’t matter.
But all these things, it’s because of that, and you can’t decide,” he said, the crease between his brows deepening.
“What things?” Theo’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe I was asking.
“You say you want to see me, then you want to pretend we don’t know each other.
You agree to see me again, and then you don’t want me near you.
You wear the bracelet, then tell me you want out.
You call me in the middle of the night to say you liked me and let me get close, and now you’re telling me to stop again.
You can’t make up your mind, Torren,” he said in a rush.
My cheeks burnt.
“I told you I wasn’t easygoing!” I snapped.
“Yeah, no kidding,” he shot back.
“This is the third time we’ve fought in two weeks.
What the fuck even is that?” “We’re not fighting.” “No?
What the hell do you call this?” “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, Theo,” I said, standing abruptly.
“I’m sorry I don’t live up to your expectations.
Maybe the next time you decide to fuck with someone’s head, you’ll get to know them first, to see if it’s actually worth it.” He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“I didn’t say you weren’t worth it,” he muttered, but I was already walking out the door.
I shut it behind me with a snap.
The rest of the boat ride was a complete nightmare.
I found myself stuck with Hanna and Felicia again, forced to listen to them chatter about their lives while pretending I wasn’t still spiralling over Theo.
Every word he’d said earlier played on a loop in my head, feeding my worst fears.
He regretted this and regretted me.
And now I was screwed.
All I could picture was a lifetime of family functions, catching glimpses of him across the room and remembering how close I’d been, how badly I’d messed it up.
It would be excruciating.
Eventually, Henry and Theo came out, talking and keeping their distance from us.
Theo was chain-smoking, and Henry was oddly serious.
The girls, Hanna and Felicia, invited me to a party they were attending at a friend’s house.
I declined, but they gave me their numbers, asking me to reconsider.
By the time we got back to the house, things had only gotten worse.
Theo disappeared into the office with his father and brothers while I found myself drifting, reluctantly, toward Remy and my mother.
I tried to focus on the wedding planning and whatever else they were discussing, but my mind was elsewhere.
It was on him.
I replayed everything, over and over, analyzing every word, every glance, wishing I could take it all back.
But even if I found the courage to talk to him and apologise, what could I possibly say?
“Sorry for freaking out again.
I swear I’ll stop being a walking contradiction?” That would only confirm what he’d said, that I was just some kid who couldn’t make up his mind.
And if I did apologize, wouldn’t that mean letting him kiss me?
The idea sent my nerves into overdrive.
I thought I wanted it—I did want it—but what if I hated it?
I’d never kissed a guy before.
What if my attraction to him was just because of who he was, and the reality didn’t live up to the fantasy?
If that happened, he’d hate me, and things would be even worse.
We’d be stuck awkwardly avoiding each other for years.
By late afternoon, Theo and the others had moved to the terrace.
I could see him from the living room, his posture stiff as he stared out at the horizon.
The distance between us felt insurmountable, and I couldn’t take it anymore.
Grabbing my phone, I scrolled through my contacts until I found Hanna and Felicia’s numbers.
“Hey,” I said when one of them picked up.
“About that party…I’m in.”