Page 63 of Sixty Days Of Summer

He grins, that familiar Theo charm breaking through. "No, not when we're on the bus. Though, that hasn't stopped me from trying to sneak one on, but it just doesn't feel the same without Nate."

Theo turns his head, and I catch the brief moment when his gaze meets Ace’s. Ace quickly looks away as soon as Xander’s voice breaks the silence.

“That little guitar battle you guys did,” Xander says. “You should do that shit again.”

I glance over at him and spot a smirk on Xander's lips. “And next time, Ace, how about letting the dickhead win at least once?” he adds, throwing Theo a grin.

“Fuck off,” Theo replies, rolling his eyes. “I let the asshole win.”

“Yeah, right,” Ace shoots back. “The day you win will be the day I fucking let you.”

Theo grins. “Keep dreaming, old man. Even a broken guitar can play a decent tune. You’re living proof.”

“Coming from the guy who thinks three chords make a masterpiece, that’s rich.”

Theo raises his whisky bottle in a mock toast. “Hey, better three solid chords than six strings of pure bullshit, right?”

With each passing hour of the night, the atmosphere undergoes a gradual transformation, accompanied by the constant hum of the bus as it makes its way to the next city, seven hours away.

When Ace and I made our way down to the lake earlier today, there was one of those rare moments—just the two of us, sitting on a bench with ice creams in our hands. That’s when he started opening up about his mom. He said it feels like the walls are caving in with all the bullshit stories she keeps spinning, and how the media won’t stop hounding Kit to get his side of things. I understand why he doesn’t want to go there. I’ve watched Theo struggle with memories that send him spiraling. The past has such a tight grip on them both, even when all they want is for it to vanish. But the truth is, it won’t vanish—not until they confront it head-on.

Xander left us about an hour ago and made his way to the back of the bus after getting a call from Poppy. So now it’s just the three of us. Nursing the last drops of his whisky, Theoremains sprawled out on the couch. It’s clear he’s lingering, his eyes darting between Ace and me, as if waiting for one of us to retreat to the bunk beds in the back. The last time we found ourselves in this situation, Theo had no problem leaving me alone with Ace. But now that he knows about our secret affair, I’m pretty sure he’s sticking around, convinced he’s playing the ultimate cock block for Ace.

Theo’s had way too much to drink. He’s gone quiet, sinking into a brooding silence, clearly stewing over whatever’s on his mind. “Why, Scar?” he asks Ace. “Why not just fuck a groupie instead? Why’d you have to go there, man?”

Turning my head to Ace, I hope this conversation won't escalate any further. His gaze locks onto Theo’s, and I see him swallow hard before glancing down at the empty bottle in his hand. He fiddles with the label, making me wonder if he’s trying to ignore Theo. But then he looks up, meeting Theo's gaze, and I brace myself for what’s coming next.

“It’s not about just fucking around with groupies, Theo. This is different.” Ace's voice is steady but tight.

Theo blinks, clearly trying to wrap his head around Ace's words. “Come on, Ace. I know you better than that. You really expect me to believe that you fucking care for her?”

Ace’s gaze hardens. “Yeah, you could say that. And I know you won’t remember this shit in the morning.”

Theo remains skeptical, his brow furrowing. “You think you’re fooling anyone? You’re not exactly the poster boy for long-term relationships. So what makes this one different?”

Ace’s jaw tightens as he glares at Theo. “Look, I’m not here to convince you of anything. I just know it’s not the same as the other shit.”

Theo scoffs, clearly not buying it. “Oh really? Since when did you become the expert on feelings?”

I can feel my patience wearing thin, caught in the middle of their escalating argument and the tension that’s suffocating the room. “I’m heading to bed,” I say, my frustration seeping through. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

Without waiting for a response, I head towards the back of the bus, needing to escape and find a little space to breathe.

Chapter 23

Ace

Iwatch as Scarlet makes her way to the door at the back of the bus. I can’t shake the guilt for having this conversation in front of her. Theo’s furious and clearly drunk, and I’ve never seen him like this—brooding and stewing over shit. I wait until the door clicks shut behind her before shifting my focus completely back to Theo.

Theo downs the last drops of whisky, his eyes narrowing into a glare.

“I don’t get why this is so hard for you, man,” I say, the frustration slipping into my tone. “I’ve tried to explain—”

“Because it’s fucking Scar, dipshit,” he interrupts, his voice rising. “Of all the fucking chicks out there, you had to go after her. I’ve seen your game. I know why you fuck them. So don’t feed me some bullshit story to make it sound alright. This will never be okay.”

I’m at a loss for words. How do I explain this pull I feel towards her, something I’ve never experienced with anyone else? It’s like trying to explain why gravity keeps my feet on the ground—it’s just there.

“Yeah, I know, Theo” I finally admit, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily on my chest. “And I shouldn’t have crossed that line, but like I said before, I do care about her.”

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