Page 63 of Twist of Fate
Part of me wants to intervene. To remind Theo that he didn’t grow up starving on the streets. While he may not have had the charmed life Finn did, his life was never lacking. His parents sent him to soccer camps and training academies and paid for college.
He wasneverwithout.
But I can’t intervene. If I do, it will seem as though I’ve chosen a side, and I don’t want either of them to feel slighted by me.
So, for now. I am neutral. I am Switzerland.
“Don’t assume you know my life,” Finn says, and I almost shiver at the cold edge in his voice. “Unless, of course, you wish for me to make assumptions about yours.”
What the hell does he mean by that?
“So, you two were engaged?” Torey, who has been quiet until now, suddenly speaks up. No doubt she’s hoping to change the subject.Thank you, Torey, but maybe we could switch to a different, less awkward subject, yeah?“What happened?”
“Yeah,” Finn echoes as he casually sips his Guinness. “What happened there, Theo?”
I feel Theo tense next to me as he fixes his gaze on Finn. “Didn’t work out, I’m afraid,” he says through gritted teeth before his focus shifts to me and his expression softens. “She’ll always be the one who got away.”
“That’s so sweet,” Shea sighs.
I avoid explaining the real reason I “got away.” There’s no need to make things more awkward.
“So, Arsenal, huh?” Damien asks after the waiter comes by, and we all place our food orders. “What made you decide to leave La Liga and move to the Premier League? It seems like you had a pretty sweet deal there.”
Theo shrugs indifferently. “It felt like the right moment, and I was looking for a change.”
“But mid-season? It’s kind of unusual.”
Another shrug. “Saw an opportunity. Didn’t want to pass it up.” Then he chuckles, flashing a grin, before adding, “Plus, they made it worth my while.”
A chorus of laughter follows just as Finn’s hand settles on my thigh. I nearly jump out of my seat, but his grip keeps me in place as he turns his attention past me toward the man on my other side.
“Didn’t I read, though, that you took a pay cut to transfer?”
Wait, what?
The table goes silent. All eyes focus on Theo as Finn’s large hand slides up an inch or two. I swallow hard, trying not to look at him.
What the hell is he up to?
“I could slip my hand between your legs and get you off while we sat at a pub or one of those meetings you ignore me in. No one would know all the dirty things I was doing to you right under their nose.”
Oh my god, he wouldn’t?
Theo clears his throat, his cheeks reddening in embarrassment. Clearly, he didn’t expect to be called out on that. Why did he imply that Arsenal had paid him a ransom to switch? And why is he exaggerating the truth so much? Does he feel that intimidated by Finn? “Well, that may be true, but I am still making more than I could ever need, especially when you factor in all my sponsorships.”
“So, you didn’t move for the money, then?” Finn presses, and I nearly gasp as his fingers graze the thick inner seam of my jeans that’s nestled right between my legs. He applies a bit of pressure, and I try not to gasp as it hits…right…there.
My eyes dart to my left, and Finn looks completely at ease. His free hand—you know, the one that’s not trying to finger-bang me through my jeans—casually rests on the table, giving Theo a passive stare.
Meanwhile, Theo seems ready to pour an entire pint of Guinness over his head, but before he can reply, a group of teenage girls walks up to the table.
“Are you Theo Vasquez?”
His entire demeanor shifts, and he suddenly becomes pleasant, calm, and cordial. “Yes,” he replies with a smile. They burst into a fit of giggles.
Finn rubs his thumb across the denim seam, and I can feel it right against my clit. I grip his knee and squeeze to keep from moaning.Son of a bitch.
Should I stop this? Why am I not stopping it?
