Page 72 of Meet Me at the Metro

“Yeah, ugh, oh, is exactly right,” I giggle. “I was literally one inch from reaching the damn thing when I fell right onto my face.” He winces. “Yeah, it was bad. Ended up having to get three stitches on my chin.”

Theo’s fingers brush my jaw, and he tilts my head back so he can inspect the pink scar engraved on my skin closer. “Ouch.”

“My Dad tells me it adds character and makes me look like a badass.”

“It does,” he chuckles, gently running his fingertips along the battle scar. “You look like a total badass.”

“I’m sorry for rambling.”

“I like hearing you ramble,” he says matter-of-factly. “And it’s nice to know that you’ve always been a little clumsy arse. I thought maybe it was me bringing it out of you.”

“Don’t get cocky, Teddy. I’ve just got two left feet.”

“So I’m guessing you must be close to your parents?”

“Yeah,” I grin, remembering them—missingthem. “They’re pretty amazing. They’re,umm—not actually my birth parents, though. I was adopted.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, my birth mother never wanted anything to do with me, and my birth father… well, I don’t even know what his name is.”

“That’s shit,” he frowns. “Sucks for them. They’ve missed out.”

“I wouldn’t change it, though. Not for anything. My adoptive parents struggled with infertility for years. They found me when I was a little over three, and ever since the moment they met me, they’ve treated me as their own. I’m so thankful they chose me.”

“I’d guarantee they’re just as thankful they chose you. Your parents lucked out. They got a kick-arse daughter out of it.”

Hearing him say that brings the brightest smile to my face. “What about you? What about your family?”

I watch him swallow. “What about them?”

“Well,” I exhale, not wanting to push him too hard. I just want to learn more about him.What I’d give to hear this man ramble.“What are they like? Are you close to them?”

“No.”

I give him silence and allow him the option to speak further on the matter or stay quiet. I honestly don’t expect him to speak up again, but if there’s one thing about him—he’s always full of surprises.

“My birth mom was shit, too.” He continues. “She left my Dad to take care of me on his own when I was a baby, and I still have yet to hear from her. I don’t expect to either.”

The air in the room has changed, now thick and heavy with the sliver of truth he was willing to give me. I can see him getting caught in his own head as I look at him, so I say the first thing that comes to mind so I can see his handsome smile again.

“That’s shit.”

“It is fucking shit, isn’t it?” His boyish grin returns, and I wonder if he notices how much more he’s been letting me see it lately. “My Dad was the best, though. He always made sure I was provided for—and loved.”

“Did he ever remarry?”

Theo tenses, but after another few beats of silence, he finally answers me. “Yeah, he did. I haven’t spoken to her in months, though. Well, at least not until,umm—today.”

“Today?”I’m confused about how he had time to do that, work, and help sort out my class schedule until it suddenly all clicked. “Wait—the head advisor. She’s your…stepmom?”

He nods.

“You went and talked with her just to help me out?”

“Yeah.”

“Theo,” I sigh. Judging by the way he’s never spoken about his stepmom before now and how rigid he becomes just at mentioning her, I can tell that having to go talk to her today wasn’t an easy feat. “You didn’t have to do that for me. I hate that I made you feel like you needed to.”

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