Page 15 of Theo

The way Theo asks the question makes a shiver snake up my spine. “I could eat.”

“Great!” Callum slaps Theo on the shoulder as he moves toward the back of the house. “I’ll let the guys know and text you our orders.”

I watch Callum disappear around the side of the house, unsure if I should follow him. A movement behind me makes me pause, sudden warmth spreading across my skin.

“You want to get lunch with me, Viper?” The question is breathed directly into my ear, followed by a sharp bite to the bottom of my ear lobe.

Fuck me.

“Only if you drive.”

SIX

SECOND CHANCES

THEO

“Forty minutes.”

“Perfect, thank you.” I drop the phone in the cup holder, trying to split my attention between the woman at my side and the road ahead. It will only take about five minutes to get to Bray Creek, which means we have thirty-five minutes to kill. I know how I would like to spend those minutes and every other free minute I have for the rest of my life, but I can’t shake the way Charity shoved me away from her last night.

I will not have a repeat of that.

“Ice cream?” Charity stares at the sign in front of the parking space I chose, the question evident in her eyes.

“Ice cream,” I agree, getting out of the car. When she doesn’t immediately follow, I move around to open her door. “Why do you look so surprised?”

“I thought we were getting food?”

“We are, but it isn’t ready yet.”

“So, you thought...ice cream?”

“Do you not like ice cream?” She does. Her favorite is coffee, but she’ll eat chocolate as a begrudging second. She covers both flavors in more caramel than should be legal, and she always gets more than she can eat.

But I shouldn’t know those things.

“I like ice cream,” she rolls her eyes, moving past me without explaining any further. I know she thinks she’s moving fast enough I won’t see the blush creeping across her cheeks, but I do, and now I’m re-evaluating everything.

Again.

Fuck.

I send Charity to find us a table to sit at while I pay. She rolls her eyes at me but picks a spot in a corner near the door. She sits with her back to the entrance, allowing me to take the chair facing the door. I’m not sure if it’s intentional, but I appreciate it either way.

“Why aren’t you fucking Rainbow Brite?”

My attention snaps to her face. She’s watching me with a curious expression, but there’s something unreadable in her gaze. “I told you. She’s too sweet for me.”

“Oh, come on,” Charity flaps a hand in my general direction, her face scrunching as if deep in thought. “No one is too sweet for you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“We both know I’m not gentle enough for you.” My eyebrows shoot up so fast I’m afraid I might pull a muscle in my forehead. “Stop looking at me like that, Dickbag. I only meant I’ve heard the rumors about the type of women you go for, and I’m not...that.”

“You’ve ‘heard the rumors’?” My smile grows wider, making Charity roll her eyes. “Have you been checking up on me, Viper?”

The irony isn’t lost on me, but I do my best to hide my smirk behind another spoonful of ice cream.

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