Page 69 of Something to Someone

Natalie smiled and tapped Theo’s chest. He finally looked away from us and down to her. His expression immediately softened, and an uncharacteristically sweet smile slipped over his lips.

“Okay, then, I vote we go to bed. My feet are killing me.” Theo nodded as Natalie squirmed and bounced from foot to foot.

Theo nodded. “Go ahead. I have to talk to Ryder really quick.”

Natalie said good night, but Theo didn’t begin speaking until she was out of earshot. He watched her walk away then turned back to us.

“You two are not as sly as you think you are. If you don’t want Natalie to know you’re fucking, then you’re doing a shitty job.”

I straightened and dropped my arms to my sides. Immediately, I whipped my head toward Ryder who was shaking his head and scrubbing a hand over his jaw.

“Seriously, Theo, why?—”

I smacked Ryder’s side and angrily whispered, “You told him?”

“No, he didn’t,” Theo answered. All my frustration dissipated in one swift rush. “After I caught you leaving the bathroom together, I asked him, but he didn’t give much up. Then the photos at graduation. I’ve also just watched the two of you together ever since, and it’s hard to miss whatever”—he motioned between us—“this is.”

Nervous energy swam through me and churned my gut. Theo turned to walk away, and I had to know for sure. I reached out and grasped his forearm.

He stopped and slowly looked back at me. “She doesn’t know?” I asked quickly.

He shook his head and tucked his hands into his pants pockets. Seeing Theo dressed in a suit was a strange sight, although he hadn’t altered his usual all-black attire.

“No, but I also don’t like lying to her. You should think about telling her. I think we all learned that secrets only make things worse.” He glanced at Ryder, and I let go of his arm. Without any other context, we knew what he meant. Maybe the situation would have gone smoother if he and Natalie had told Ryder earlier about their relationship instead of waiting for it to blow up.

Theo followed the same path Natalie took out of the room and to the right where the curved staircase would take him to the second floor and the guest bedrooms.

Ryder and I were left in the middle of the room, silently standing side-by-side.

“He won’t say anything,” Ryder said.

I scoffed and tugged the hair tie out of my hair, running my fingers through the tangled strands and massaging my tender scalp. Exhaustion was creeping in, and I couldn’t think straight when I was worried about keeping my eyes open.

“He might not say anything, but if he’s noticed, it’s only a matter of time before Natalie does, too.”

“We could tell her,” Ryder said like it was asking her to grab something at the grocery store or reminding her of an appointment. Like it wasn’t something that could possibly irreparably change my friendship with her forever.

“And how do you think that conversation would go?” I asked. “Something like, ‘Hey, Nat. Ryder and I have been sneaking aroundbehind your back for a few months. We’re just fucking, so don’t worry about me becoming your daughter-in-law or anything. Hope you don’t hate me now.’”

When I looked back up at him, Ryder’s blue eyes were filled with a vulnerability I yearned to erase.

“Let’s…I don’t think this is the time for this conversation,” I said and began to walk past him. But I didn’t make it far. Ryder’s arm shot out and caught me around the waist, effectively stopping me mid-step.

He bent his head, and I could feel his breath against my cheek. He was so close, his nose brushed my hair. Suddenly, everything else disappeared, and all I could think about was how much I liked when he touched me or when I felt the heat of his body. My focus was solely on his fingers gripping my hip and his forearm pressing into my lower stomach.

“Don’t walk away like this, Caroline,” he whispered. “We should talk about it.”

I tilted my head in his direction, and his lips brushed my forehead. “Not now,” I said, remembering myself. I straightened and scanned the room. We were alone, but for how long, I wasn’t sure.

“I’ll come find you tonight.”

He let me step away as I choked out a disbelieving laugh. “Your mom and Theo are in the room between us. Sneaking into my room is tempting fate.”

Ryder shrugged and retrieved his jacket from the chair he’d tossed it on an hour earlier. “I’ll get creative, but tempting fate is worth it when it comes to you, pretty girl.”

THIRTY

A TWELVE-FOOT DROP

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