Page 70 of Meet Me at the Metro

“Not really. I don’t have any real evidence that anything happened, and John would just deny it, so I don’t know what the school could do for me. Seeing him like that last night was so strange. His anger has never gone that farbefore.”

Harvey’s thumb rubs reassuring circles against the back of my hand. “It makes me worried for you.”

“Me too,” Evie whispers.

“Promise us that you will tell Theo eventually,” Harvey pleads. “He’ll find out either way because nothing slides by that man. We’re here for you until then, you know that.”

“I promise.”

I allow myself to relax into their embrace, feeling the weight of my problems become alittleless heavy. It’s because of them that I know I’ll get through this. Even in the short time I’ve been here, they’ve been such good friends to me. I don’t know what I’d do without them.

A knock at the door interrupts our conversation in perfect timing. I’m thankful for its distraction because having to think about John and remember the way he acted toward me last night has bile rising in the back of my throat. I honestly just wish I could forget it all.

“I’ve got it.” I quickly stand from the sofa and make my way toward the door. This is my excuse for dropping the conversation, and I’m pleased when I open it to find Theo standing on the other side.

“Well, hey there, stranger,” I smile, enjoying the sight of the man before me. His dark blonde hair is mussed on the top of his head, carefully disheveled. His face is flushed like he ran to get over here, and he’s got a stack of papers in his hands.

He looks like he’s had areallylong day.

“Stranger,” he nods, slightly grinning as he runs his eyes from my head to my toes. “I’ve got something for you.”

“For me?What is it?”

“See for yourself.”

I read the blank ink printed against the very front paper, showing that I’ve been registered for anActing IIcourse starting in October for the late fall semester.

“Wait, you—how did you do this, Theo? Is this for real? Like, these areactually real?”

“Yes. They’re real.”

“Oh, Teddy,” I sigh, content and relieved. I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a fierce, unapologetic hug. “Thank you! Thank you so much!”

He squeezes me right back and picks my feet off the floor as he says against my neck, “You’re welcome.”

“How in the world did you do this?”

“With hellfire and brimstone.” He sets me back down on my feet. “Let’s just say I know how to pull a few strings.”

“You’ve got him whipped like a fucking racehorse,” Evie taunts.

Theo’s shoulders tense, and I can see the weight of the day he’s had suddenly overcome him. I don’t know what he had to do to miraculously get this done for me, but whatever it was, it didn’t come at the easy cost he’s trying to convince me of.

“Will you tell me how you were really able to do this?” I whisper for only him to hear.

“I just spoke to the head advisor,” he mutters. “Have you guys eaten already?”

“Harvey and I have.” A promiscuous expression rises to Evie’s face. “But I think Ellie might have quite a craving that needs to be taken care of.”

“Alrighty then,” Harvey interjects. “I think it’s our bedtime now, Evie.” She opens her mouth to blurt something else, but he covers it before she can get another word out. I laugh as he drags her toward the back of the flat. “Night, guys. See you in the morning, Ellie!”

“Sainsbury’s is open 24/7 if you guys need to stop and pick up some condoms!”

“Evie, enough!”

I turn back to Theo, my cheeks flushed and hot with humiliation. Once the coast is clear, he lifts my feet off the floor again. I wrap my arms around his neck while my legs encircle his waist.

“Come spend the night with me,” he suggests, looking me over.

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