Page 67 of Sixty Days Of Summer

Without a second thought, I pull her close to me the instant the door clicks shut. No words, just a desperate need to kiss her, to feel her close. As our lips meet, she melts into the kiss.

When I pull back, I take a moment to soak her in—those eyes, that smile, the way she lights up the room just by being here. “What do you want to do today?” I ask, curious about her plans. Yesterday, she and Theo spent time sightseeing together, and I’m relieved that, at least with him, I haven’t screwed things up like I have between him and Xander.

“Not much,” she replies, crossing the room, before glancing back at me with a grin. “I’ve got something to show you,” she adds, reaching for her phone. “Oh, you texted me,” she notices, her eyes lighting up. “I was in the shower.”

The thought of her soaping up that hot, naked body causes my cock to twitch. I can’t help but wish I’d been there with her—feeling her slick, wet skin under my hands, holding her against the wall, listening to her moan as I pound into her. My mind races with all the things I’d do if I had been there.

But then she’s back, focused on her phone, swiping and tapping, yanking me out of my daydream as she moves closer, bringing whatever she’s been checking out with her.

“I get what you’re saying,” she replies, letting out that soft laugh I could listen to for hours. She angles her phone toward me, revealing Theo in all his glory—sporting those ridiculous sideburns and that porn-stache. “I told him he looks like a joke, and he actually seemed to love it. He’s such a moron,” she adds, shaking her head with a smile.

As I study the photo, an unexpected wave of nostalgia crashes over me. Shit, I miss that idiot way more than I thought I would. His stupid comments and relentless teasing—it's wild to realize how much I crave that banter, but here I am. Not that I’d ever say that to his face, though.

“Want to grab a bite at the restaurant downstairs?” I ask, not really caring what we do as long as we’re together. I need to make it clear to Scarlet—and everyone else—that this isn’t just about sex, even if the thought of making her come on my cock is always there in the back of my mind. But it’s about so much more than that.

Scarlet shoots me that playful look, like she knows exactly what I’m thinking. "Sure, let's go," she says, snatching her jacket off the back of the couch.

As we step out, I take her hand in mine. The silence between us feels easy, comfortable, but it’s also the kind of silence that lets my mind wander. I start to think about all the shit still weighing on me—Theo, my mom, and Daisy, my sister.

We stroll down the hall, and as we turn the corner, we nearly crash into Theo. He’s just come from the pool, looking like a wet dog with that goofy grin plastered on his face. For a moment,I almost forget the tension between us. His gaze drops to our entwined hands, and I see his jaw tighten with a hint of unease.

“Where are you two headed?” he asks, trying to sound casual, but I can tell he’s testing the waters. I’m curious about what went down between him and Scarlet yesterday—usually, he’d be losing his shit by now.

Scarlet glances at me, then back at Theo. “Just grabbing something to eat. You wanna join?”

I hold my breath, waiting to see if Theo’s going to blow us off or tag along.

“Yeah, why not?” he finally says. “I could use a bite.”

As he moves forward, Scarlet and I hang back, waiting for him to disappear into his room. My gaze remains fixed on the door, contemplating whether it might be better to let Theo and Scarlet grab something to eat on their own. But if I want to show Theo that my connection with Scarlet is genuine, and not just fucking like everyone assumes, I need to step up and prove myself to him. Normally, I wouldn’t give a damn about Theo’s opinion, but with this, I do.

Within a few minutes, Theo’s back, wearing jeans and a shirt, his hair still damp from the pool. He shoots me a look, as if daring me to say something. I meet his gaze head-on, a playful smirk on my face, showing him that his attempts to intimidate me won’t work. He strides past me, his footsteps echoing down the hall as he makes his way toward the elevator.

I watch him go, the smirk firmly planted on my face. Yeah, bring it on, asshole. Show me what you’ve got. I’m ready for whatever shit you throw my way.

Scarlet and I fall in line behind Theo as we wait for the elevator. When the bell dings and the doors slide open, he steps inside and moves to the back wall. We enter, our backs turned to him, but I can feel his gaze boring into me, scrutinizing every single move I make.

I start to wonder what this must look like to Theo. He’s never seen me like this before. It’s always been the same old story—Ace, the guy who chases anything with two legs just to get his dick wet. I know he thinks that’s exactly what I’m doing with Scarlet, and I’ve got no idea how to prove him wrong.

I’m not one for romantic bullshit. Hell, even when Xander started showing affection toward Poppy after they finally worked their shit out, it felt weird seeing my friend like that. I guess it’s the same for Theo. He’s never seen me like this, and no wonder he’s got a fucking problem.

The elevator doors slide open, and Theo brushes past us, stepping out of the lift. I can’t help but smirk at the idiot, knowing we’ve got some shit to settle.

“Theo,” I call out. He stops a few steps away, hesitating as if weighing whether to turn around and hear me out or just keep walking.

“What?” Theo snaps, still facing away but ensuring Scarlet and I have to part to get around him. She hesitates at his side for a moment before heading toward the bar, leaving us to sort out this shit. I know this isn’t the best place to air our problems for the world to see, but damn it, something’s gotta give. I step right in front of him, locking eyes as he does the same with me.

“We need to talk,” I say, my tone firm. "About Xander."

Theo doesn’t say a word, he just stands there, a wall of silence between us. I need to know if things between him and Xander are okay.

I grasp his arm and guide us into a secluded corridor, away from prying eyes. If this is my only shot to talk to him—since he’s been ignoring all my texts and calls—then this is where we’re having this conversation.

“Xander’s not at fault here,” I say firmly. “I am.”

“So you’re telling me he didn’t know you fucked Scar?” Theo’s voice is raw, hurt seeping through his tone.

I swallow hard. “Yeah, he knew,” I admit, not backing down.

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