Page 85 of Grounded
"Okay," I drag the word out as we settle on a spot overlooking the ocean.
"I'm going to my ten-year reunion."
"I hope you have fun. But I'm still not going to mine, if that's the favor."
"No, it's not."
He takes a large sip of his coffee, and this can't be what he wanted to talk to me about.
"I was hoping you'd come with me to mine," Theo confesses quietly.
I’m stunned. "I don't even want to go to my own. Why would I go to yours?"
"Because I need you to go as my date."
"Pardon me?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but I can't go back there and show up alone."
"If it's an issue of dignity, I guarantee you won't beleavingalone."
"Well, obviously." His smile is playful with a hint of mischief, which helps break the tension.
I take a moment to admire the ocean and close my eyes. I don't even know how to answer him.
"Think about it. It's one night."
"Won't all your friends be there? They'll remember me, and word will get back to our parents about what we did and they'll have so many questions."
"Let me handle that. I'm sure they'd understand you doing this small favor. We'd tell them we are going as friends. It's not like anything physical would happen…"
His words are ironic and borderline arrogant. We've already been physical.
"It sounds like a bad idea." I'm replying to his suggestion now and to every situation we've put ourselves in.
The sun is brutal, and we're overheating by the minute. I'm about to drip sweat like the condensation on my iced coffee cup.
"Can you think about it?" Theo looks like he's about to get on his knees and beg.
"Why is it so important you don't go alone? And why me?"
"Why not you?"
Oof, that simple question could be picked apart and analyzed to death. And my broken heart is trying its best not to cling to that compliment to boost my dwindling pride.
"This isn't what I expected," I tell him. "I was anticipating something worse. Like you were moving out because of what happened last night."
"Did somethingbadhappen last night?"
His tone is caustic but truthful.
"Theo, are we ever going to talk about it? How we keep moving the goalpost?"
He leans closer. "You're implying we are looking to score, and I think I like that," he whispers in my ear.
His warm hand rests on the thickest part of my thigh. My skin is on fire. It's a combination of the sun's powerful rays, Theo's body heat next to me, and the intense yet combustible passion remaining from last night.
"Theo," I practically moan. "What are you—"
