Page 62 of Sixty Days Of Summer

As soon as I sit next to him on the couch, Theo turns his head, offering me a small smile. It’s barely there, but enough to bring out his dimples and reveal a flicker of relief. He knows I’m dropping my guard, letting him in, and that little gesture tells me he’s ready to listen.

He holds out the whisky bottle, and I take it, letting the burn slide down my throat before passing it back.

“You were killing it out there tonight,” Theo says, and despite everything that’s happened, his words resonate with me. That’s the thing about Theo—no matter how frustrated I might feel, he always manages to lift me up.

“So were you,” I reply, a smile creeping onto my face.

"Are we good, Scar?" Theo asks, his gaze steady and searching, like he’s looking for some kind of reassurance.

“Yeah, we’re good,” I reply. “But I wanted to talk to you about some things.” I glance over at Ace and Xander by the fridge, grabbing beers, engrossed in their conversation. I don’t want them overhearing this, so I redirect my attention to Theo. Later, I plan to give Nate a call to have the same conversation. “I know you don’t like what’s been going on between me and Ace,” I say, treading carefully to avoid pushing too hard.

Theo tenses, his jaw tightening before he takes another swig from the bottle. “That’s because I know what he’s like, Scar. He’s solid with us, no question. But with women? He views them as nothing more than a distraction, a way to escape. Nate and I… we just don’t want you to be another notch on his belt. You deserve better than that.”

His words hit hard, but I can’t deny there’s some truth in them.

“I know what I’m doing, Theo,” I say, striving to sound confident.

He searches my eyes, a look of concern etched on his face. “Don’t fall in love with him, Scar. He’ll only break your heart.”

I hold his gaze, letting his words sink in, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

“Please tell me you haven’t already gone there, Scar,” he says, his voice softening into a near whisper, almost pleading.

I can’t bring myself to answer; the silence between us speaks volumes.

I glance down, picking at a loose thread on my ripped jeans, avoiding Theo’s intense gaze. He’s watching me closely, reading every subtle shift in my body language. I don’t know how to tell him it’s already too late—that I’ve fallen hard for Ace—without setting him off. I dread seeing the disappointment or frustration flicker across his face.

“Fuck, Scar,” Theo mutters, reaching for my hand. His touch is rough but oddly comforting. “He’ll never love you. You know that, right? He’s broken, just like me.”

The words hit hard, and I swallow, struggling to keep it together. I can’t ignore the truth in what he’s saying, even if it hurts like hell.

I lift my head, meeting his gaze. “But you loved Bianca.”

“Yeah, I did. Loved her more than life itself,” he admits, his voice cracking as tears glisten in his eyes. The pain of that love, of losing her, is etched all over his face, and it hits me hard. Theo loved Bianca with everything he had, and I know that kind of love doesn’t just fade away. It scars you, changes you forever.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” he continues, his tone heavy with concern. I can feel the weight of his words, and it’s crushing. He doesn’t want me to endure the same pain he did.

“I don’t want that either, Theo. But I can’t help who I love,” I reply, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. He releases my hand and pulls me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

“I know you can’t,” he murmurs, planting a gentle kiss on the top of my head. “I just want you to know that when that time comes—when he can’t return that love—I’ll want to kill the asshole for hurting you. But I’m always here for you, Scar. Always.”

I lean into him, grateful for his support, even as I step into something I know I can't fully control.

“Please don’t hold a grudge against him. I don’t want to come between the two of you,” I say.

Theo sighs, resting his cheek against the top of my head. “Don’t worry. It’s just what we do. We piss each other off, but we always come around. It’s just gonna take a little longer for me and Nate this time because… well, he should never have gotten involved with you, Scar. I think it’s going to take even longer for Nate to forgive him.”

We sit quietly for a while, the adrenaline from the night slowly fading. The bus doors close with a soft hiss, and the engine hums to life. Xander and Ace wander over and take their seats on the couch across from us. When Ace’s eyes meet mine, there’s a brief spark of connection, but he quickly looks away. Theo feels it too; I can sense his body tense beside me, wrestling with the reality of what’s going on between Ace and me.

I push myself up from the couch, creating some distance to allow the guys to work things out, hoping they can communicate or at least try to repair their strained relationship.

“Where are you going?” Theo asks.

I turn back to him and flash a light smile, hoping to ease the tension just a little. “I’ll leave you guys to talk.”

Before I can step away, Theo grabs my hand and pulls me back down onto the couch. “Fuck that, Scar. This is what we do after a great night. We sit and celebrate.”

I raise an eyebrow, smirking. “Funny, I thought it was usually you finding a groupie."

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