as well. I still can’t believe what he did to my son. I held a real grudge against him there for a while, but I think I’m over it. Not so sure about Theo, though.”
I almost want to laugh, but damn, it’s true. Jessica deserves their hatred. Despite being a relative, so does Craig. Truthfully, maybe they should be madder at him. Yet these people are nice enough to go to the wedding anyway because they’re family of the groom.
“I say go for it. You should agree to be a groomsman,” Max continues. “It’ll probably drive her crazy that you’re in her wedding. Go ahead and torture her on her special day. She deserves more. It’s the least you can do.”
Thank you, Max, for agreeing with me, I think with a small smile.
Conversation switches to a different subject, but Jessica and Craig’s upcoming wedding is forefront in my mind for the rest of the time we’re there. We all help clear the table and bring everything into the kitchen. Patti serves chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream and I beg off, knowing that’ll all go straight to my thighs. Theo spoon-feeds me a couple of bites, though, which is a small, sexy moment we share.
Wild. Who knew I’d share sexy moments with Theo?
We leave soon after dessert, Theo and I both claiming that we’re tired when they all protest. The skeptical looks his entire family sends our way makes me think they don’t believe us, which is fine. Maybe we look like we want to escape so we can have a little private time on a Saturday night.
Perfect.
Once we’re in his car, headed back into town, Theo finally says something about…us. “I think they bought it.”
“Are you referring to your family?”
He nods.
“Buying us being in a relationship?”
He nods again.
“Great. That was our plan,” I say, sending him a meaningful look.
Not that he’s actually looking at me. He’s concentrating on the road. “My mom cornered me when you went to the bathroom.”
Unease slips down my spine. “Oh?” My voice is chill. I am chill.
Not really. Inside, I’m quaking. I don’t know if I want to hear what his mom had to say about me.
“She likes you.” He hesitates for a moment. “A lot.”
“I like her too,” I admit, savoring the relief that floods me. I’m not the woman who meets mothers. I usually don’t make it that far in a relationship.
“I feel like shit because I’m lying to her,” Theo says.
His words make me feel like shit too. Like we’re lying to each other. I know I can’t be in a relationship with Theo. Eventually I’ll break his heart. And he’s had it broken one too many times already, and in the most spectacular way. I refuse to do that to him. I care about him too much.
As a friend, though. Just as a friend.
“You want to come back to my place?” he asks after a long minutes of uncomfortable silence.
Yes. The word is on the tip of my tongue, but I pause. Maybe it’s a bad idea. Okay, there’s no maybe involved. It’s a really bad idea. I can’t hook up with Theo again. Sex might get tangled up in real emotions, and we’ll end up hurting each other.
We are a disaster waiting to happen.
“I get it if you don’t want to. Or can’t.” He flashes me a friendly, normal Theo smile, and it eases my worry a bit. “You’ve given me enough of your time today, coming to my parents’ house like you just did.”
“I didn’t mind, Theo,” I tell him softly. “I had fun. Your family is nice.”
He makes a dismissive noise. “They can be a pain in the ass.”
“Not really.” I shake my head. “I liked them a lot, even Mason.”
Theo laughs.
“And your mom is so sweet. So is your sister. I wish I could’ve met Cam, though.”
“I wish he’d been there too. Maybe we could get together with him for dinner one night this week.” Theo presses his lips together, like he realized too late he shouldn’t have made that offer. And I suppose he shouldn’t have. We really don’t need to make more plans together with his family until the day of the wedding, right?
“That sounds nice,” I finally say.
“Yeah.” He sounds distracted. I am too. I don’t think I should go back to his place, though I’ve never been there. It’ll be very…lonely if I go back to my shitty apartment by myself. But it’ll be a mistake if I go home with Theo.