Page 45 of Stop and Seek
Why the fuck did he go through all that?
“Theo,” Rachel said, her voice gentle as she put a hand over his own. “You’re going to crush the cup. It’s heinous as hell, but it’s not guilty.”
“He’s such a prick,” Theo muttered.
Alyssa sat up. “Who? Golden Boy?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Theo took another deep breath. Looked back at Rachel. “I’m sorry I didn’t text back. I was tired.”
“It’s okay. I was just nervous you wrapped your car around a pole, man.” She took the cup from him, and he stretched his cramped fingers.
“Yousureyou’re alright?”
Theo nodded.
Stopped.
Shrugged.
He threw his hands up in the air.
“Fuck if I know. I’m—I need a shower.”
Theo had pulled the shower curtain closed when Rachel poked her head in the bathroom door.
“I got work in like an hour, Teddy. I need to head out,” she said, tapping on the frame.
Theo cranked the tap onto the coldest setting, hand over the shower head to slow the icy stream. “Is Alyssa leaving with you?”
“I dunno, she’s still on your bed.”
“Can yougether to leave?” he asked, a little too sharp. “Please?”
“Uh,” she stopped talking for a minute. “Well, maybe? What’s your deal with her?”
Besides the fact she’s the fucking reason I ran into Noah last night?
If she never insisted he stay, he wouldn’t have had to deal with any of Noah’s bullshit, fucking antics.
The game.
Thebar.
The drive home.
None of it.
“Never mind,” he called back, shivering when he moved his hand and the water hit him. “I got it. Thanks for lunch.”
“Yep. You’re lucky I love you.”
The door slammed shut again.
Theo leaned his head against the tile. He wasfreezing, but it always helped the headaches, and he had a few minutes of silence.
Twenty-five thousand dollars.
No more shitty apartment.
