Page 18 of Echoes

"If you didn't kill him, then who did?" I murmur, out loud.

Theo shrugs. "Beats me. The asshole had it coming though. I hope he suffered."

"Theo!" I scold. "Don't say that."

His eyes darken even more than usual. "I told you. I'm not a good guy, Avery. I don't give a shit about people like him. Frankly, the world is better off without him. After what he did to you, he deserved every single bit of misery. I'm just sad someone else took care of it."

"But you didn't want to leave me?" I repeat, changing the subject as my heart flutters nervously.

Theo looks away, smiling. "Don't get all mushy on me. Besides, you're avoiding the real question here. Why are you avoiding me?"

Chapter 7

Theo

Avery stills, her body tensing up. I flick my gaze back to her, watching the wave of emotions run over her face. She's trying to fight them, deliberately taking her time with an answer. Maybe she hopes I'll drop the subject, but there's no fucking chance of that.

"I'm not avoiding you," she says softly. "I'm just—"

"Tired, yes. You've said," I cut her off. "But you purposely avoided me at meals today. You also refuse to look at me whenever I ask."

Slowly, she locks eyes with mine, pain reflecting back at me. When she doesn't answer, I start putting the puzzle together myself.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Everything," she whispers, defeated. "Fucking everything."

My eyebrows furrow and I shift closer to her, grabbing her hand to calm her. "Listen to me. There's nothing you can say or do that will make me run."

Avery shakes her head sadly. "You will. Everyone always does."

"Is this about Hawthorne?" I ask her, watching as her face lights up in shock.

"Grey?" she murmurs. "What do you mean?"

Great. Now we're skirting aroundthatissue too.

Of course I'm aware of their relationship. It wasn't like he was hiding anything—purposely always with her, dragging her into their mess. I don't know what their deal is, but I couldn't give a shit. Not my circus, not my monkeys. But, regardless, I know he has it bad for her. I also know that it's because of him and his little bitch boy that Avery has been dragged into their shit.

And judging by the look of despair on her face, he's a sore point. But I don't believe that's the whole story. Still, it's a start. The sooner I can break down those walls and get her to talk, the sooner we can move forward.

"You and him had something, didn't you?" I ask her casually.

More emotions cross her face, faster than last time. I can barely keep track as a war rages behind her eyes. Finally, she shrugs, getting glassy-eyed.

"Are you going to leave if I tell you?"

I growl quietly, semi-frustrated. Was she not just listening to me?

"I already told you the answer to that."

Avery looks surprised—caught off-guard. "Theo, there's a lot you don't understand."

"I understand well enough," I snarl. "But patience has never been my virtue."

"Yes," she says, confirming it with a broken voice. "But we had a fight. He found out… about you."

"Right," I draw out slowly. "And is he the reason you're avoiding me?"

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