(TORREN) I woke up what felt like three minutes later, feeling like absolute crap.
I had a splitting headache and could still taste the tequila on my lips.
My body was so feeble and light, almost like even the wind could have just as easily carried me away.
I thought the feeling would have been over by now, that I’d just sleep through it and call it a night, but I was wrong.
My stomach churned, and I barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up again.
I glanced at myself in the bathroom mirror and pitied myself.
The lengths that I had to go to because I simply couldn’t admit to Theo, let alone myself, that I liked him.
That I liked a man.
I had to drink myself to a stupor just so I could talk to him, and that alone told me a lot about myself.
Maybe I was not ready for this.
I was not ready for him or whatever this was that I wanted to commit to.
Crawling back into bed, I tried to sleep it off.
It took me a few minutes of blank staring at the ceiling, contemplating my life and my decisions of the past one week that had led me up to this, wondering whether it was the right thing to do.
What remained stark clear was that I liked him and that I would try and work a way around it that made us both comfortable.
I wasn’t about to lie to myself that I didn’t like Theo back when he literally shook me without even trying.
Just him being Theo made me think and act irrationally.
What was I supposed to make of that?
The next time I woke, sunlight streamed through the window.
It was closer to noon.
Dragging myself into the shower, I scrubbed off the remnants of the night and did my best to look less terrible than I felt.
When I finally ventured downstairs, most of them were out on the terrace.
I made a beeline for the kitchen, desperate for coffee and something to settle my stomach.
“Good morning, sunshine,” came Theo’s unmistakable voice.
I turned to see him leaning against the counter, smirking.
I glared weakly, and he laughed.
“Not feeling so hot?” he teased, the smugness in his tone grating and somehow endearing all at once.
I grunted in response as he strolled to the fridge.
“I’ve been better,” I admitted, leaning against the counter for support.
Theo, of course, looked effortlessly perfect.
His dark-blue linen shirt and crisp white shorts seemed made for him.
The memory of last night flashed through my mind, and my face burnt.
He returned with a beer in hand, placing it beside me.
“Trust me on this,” he said, pushing it toward me with a knowing smile.
I sighed, eyeing the bottle warily before picking it up and taking a sip.
It wasn’t as terrible as I’d expected.
“All of it,” he encouraged.
Nodding, I took a few more gulps.
“Thanks.” He smiled, his eyes scanning my face.
“If it makes you feel any better, you look better than you feel.” I hid my smile behind another sip.
“I’m sorry about last night.” Theo shook his head.
“You’ve got nothing to apologize for.
I’m sorry for being in a crappy mood yesterday.” I stepped a little closer, lowering the beer.
“I think Lex knows.” “Yeah,” he said with a shrug.
“He yelled at me after he left your room.” “Shit.” “I didn’t admit to anything,” he reassured me.
I nodded, relieved.
“Hey, I need to tell you something,” he added, his tone shifting slightly.
I glanced up, watching him move closer.
My heart stuttered as I turned to face the counter.
“What?” Theo placed his hand on the countertop beside me, his fingers brushing mine.
“I’m leaving tonight.
There’s a late family lunch, and after that, I’m heading out with my father.” A pang of disappointment hit me, but I nodded.
“Okay.
Are you leaving the city?” “I’m flying out for a couple of days.
After that, I’ll be in Hampton.
I might make it back next Saturday night.” I frowned, scrunching my face without thinking.
“What?” he asked, amused by my expression.
“That kind of sucks.
I’ll have to drive back with Henry,” I said, making him laugh.
“Is that the only reason it sucks?” “No.
I don’t want you to leave, obviously,” I admitted quickly.
His smile softened, and I shook my head, leaning my forehead against his shoulder for a moment.
“I really didn’t want to kick you out of my room last night, you know that, right?” he murmured.
I shrugged, and he chuckled, his breath warm against my hair.
“Next time you come find me, just make sure you’re sober.
Trust me, I won’t deny you anything.” His thumb brushed my jaw, and our eyes met.
My resolve wavered as I considered asking him to leave with me right then, to head upstairs where we could finally erase the space between us.
“Theo…” I began, my voice catching.
“Yeah?” he asked, his lips curving into a small smile.
Before I could say anything else, a voice called out from the terrace.
“Theo!” We both turned toward the sound.
I glanced back at him, and he chuckled, shaking his head.
“Maybe this house isn’t the right place,” he said, and I nodded, the moment slipping away.
As we stepped outside, the sunlight made me squint.
Without missing a beat, Theo pulled his sunglasses from where they hung on his shirt and handed them to me.
“Can’t let those pretty eyes suffer.” “Fuck off,” I said, shoving him lightly as I slid them on.
He drifted to his father’s side while I sat next to Remy.
Lex was beside her, eyeing me with thinly veiled suspicion.
His gaze flicked between Theo’s sunglasses on my face and the bracelet on my wrist.
Heat rose to my cheeks, and I quickly placed my hand in my lap, out of view.