Page 126 of Meet Me at the Metro

“No, fuck you!” Connor pushes up from his chair and makes the whole table shake. I steady the wobbling glass in front of me, my pulse hammering. “Do you think you were the only one that lost him that day? He was my dad, too! You always blame everyone else but never take accountability for yourself and how you went about things after everything that happened.”

“Speak for your fucking self. Haveyouever taken any accountability?”

There’s a meaning behind Theo’s words that I’m not entirely sure I want to decipher right now.

“Please stop, guys,” I beg.

Connor looks me over. “This is what you’ll get with him, Ellie. He’ll let you get close untilhe decidesthat you’re too much for him to handle on top of his own shit, and he’ll shut you out. He’ll ghost you.”

The sting of those words burns deep in my chest.

Theo's gaze hardens as it settles on Connor. “I’ll never consider you family again.”

Kim tentatively rises from her seat. “Boys, please.”

Connor ignores his mom entirely, too strung up with the high emotions swarming the room. “You haven’t considered me family since the day that he died. I think Dad would be disappointed in how you’ve pushed us away.”

“And I think Dad would still be here if not for you!”

“Stop blaming me for his death!”

Before I’m even aware of what’s happening, Connor’s bolting toward him. Kimberley shuffles to try to halt her son from advancing, but he yanks away before she can get a hold of him. Theo's standing his ground, so I quickly shove up from the table to intervene. My chair crashes to the ground behind me as I hurry to the space between them.

I push them both back a few inches. “Connor. Theo.Please, just take a second and—”

My words are cut off as Theo protectively yanks me behind him just before Connor shoves his chest.Theo's firm body crashes into mine, and my feet stumble backward. He immediately turns to assess me.

“I’m okay,” I breathe.

I am burning hot with adrenaline as Theo pivots to face his stepbrother again, fists tightening as he steps forward.

“Theo.Theo, please. Look at me.” I'm surprised by how quickly he listens to my plea, and when his eyes settle on mine again, I say, “Let’s just go, okay?Please.”

“Yeah.Let’s go.”

Without another word, Theo storms out of the dining room. Nothing but the sound of his fleeting footsteps and Connor’s ragged breathing fill the house. When Theo’s no longer visible, Kim finally releases Connor from her arms.

I swallow and give myself a moment to take in everything that just occurred before I quietly—and carefully—pick my chair off the floor and push it back under the table.

“Ellie, I’m—I’m so sorry,” Connor says softly, conjuring my eyes to look at him before I leave. His dark hair is a disheveled mess atop his head, and he looks me over with regret.

“It’s alright.”

I watch as red bleeds into the whites of his eyes—notice how they glisten under the room’s bright lights, filling with tears.

I take a quick moment to check on him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he lies hoarsely. “You should be careful, alright? I know you probably think you can save him, but he’s going to push you away eventually, and I don’t want to see you hurt by the end of all this.”

“I never said I was trying to save him. Believe it or not, he doesn’t need saving, Connor. He’s just needed time—and patience. I’m willing to be patient. So while I appreciate your concern, honestly, what’s going on between him and meisn’tyour concern.”

He swallows hard at that, blinking back the tears threatening his eyes. “Fair enough.”

“I’m sorry about tonight. I really am. I can’t imagine the weight of what you all must have gone—”

“I think it’d be best for you to leave,” Kimberley sternly interjects.

“Okay.”

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