Page 57 of Sweet Escape

And who knows?

Maybe I am.

I’m sitting in the coffee shop waiting for Murphy, earbuds in, a recording of the melody I’ve been working on playing in my ears, when Theo drops down into the seat across from me.

I audibly gasp, shock ricocheting through my body at his sudden presence in Rosewood. In front of me. Smiling and casual as if him being here is the most normal, natural thing in the world.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I whisper, pulling out one earbud.

“You wouldn’t come talk to me. So I’m here. Trying to talk to you.”

The look on his face is fucking smug. I want to slap that smile off, yank him out of that chair, and send him packing.

Theo has always presented himself like he’s charming, like he’s the great guy any mother would want dating their daughter.

And he ticks all the boxes at first glance. He’s classically handsome, with thick dark hair and bright eyes. Confident and well dressed. Successful at his job.

It took me far too long to realize that he’s actually a selfish, egotistical asshat.

And that smile is nothing more than a mask that covers up the truth of who is underneath.

“News flash. When someone says they don’t want to talk to you, and then they fly to another place to get away from you, and you show up uninvited, that’s called stalking.”

And not the good kind. Not like what Memphis and I have joked about a few times since I’ve been here.

No. This is the unwanted kind.

The kind that goes completely against my wishes.

And possibly a few laws.

“How the hell did you even know where I was?”

He sighs and holds up his phone like I’m an idiot. “You didn’t turn your tracking off,” he says.

As if that’s a normal response.

“Jesus, Vi. You act like me being here is some crazy thing.” He reaches out and puts his hand on mine. “You know you’re gonna forgive me. I’m here to grovel, okay? So just ... tell me I’m a prick or whatever and I’ll apologize and then we can go home.”

“Oh my gosh. Theo?”

The sound of Murphy’s voice draws my attention, and I find her standing a few feet away, an awkward smile on her face.

With Memphis at her side, an unreadable expression on his.

“Hey, Murphy!” Theo says, letting go of my hand and standing.

He gives a big smile before tugging her into a hug.

“Hi, Theo,” she says, watching me with wide eyes over his shoulder, patting his back before stepping away. “What are you doing here?”

“Came to visit Vivian. But it’s great to see you. It’s been a while.”

Murphy nods, that same strange look on her face as she glances at me, then up to Memphis.

“Well ... that’s great,” she says, before her voice dips slightly and she adds, “I think.”

Murphy turns then, gesturing to the man standing behind her, his expression like stone.

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