Page 62 of Last Letters to Ara
Theo chuckles. “Haven’t you ever read a romance novel? We fake-dated tonight. Then we kissed and I cared for your injury.”
Shit, he is so painfully right. “You’re the one who’s been stalking me since day one.”
“I had my reasons.”
Reasons he has yet to share. I need to play this cool as a cucumber. “It wasyouridea to fake-date.Youkissedme.”
He gives me a shrug, all confidence. “I was doing you a favor, and don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it.”
“Your moans told me that it was more of a favor for yourself.”
“I’m surprised you could even hear that over the soundsyouwere making, right up until the point where you practically undressed me right there on the street.”
My cheeks are flaming. “Were you also doing me a favor when you reached over and sucked on my finger during dinner?”
“Yeah. I told you that you had something on your finger.”
His unaffected act sets me off. I stab my finger into his chest. “I will not be admittinganything.”
Theo covers my hand with his and leans in closely. I hadn’t realized how close we had gotten during our little battle of wills. He’s pressed up against me and his breath is tickling my face. “At least you agree thereissomething to admit.”
He pulls back, leaving me stunned as he walks to my door to let himself out.
“I didn’t say that!” My voice comes out flustered, bothered, blatantly obvious.
“Let me know when you want to do something about it.” He tosses over his shoulder.
“I have nothing to admit!” I yell as he closes the door.
I jump off the counter and swear.
How did today go from receiving Dad’s letter, to my first day at an amazing job, to celebrating with Theo, to running into my ex, to losing myself in Theo’s kiss and punching Blake in the face? All to end with Theo calling me out for feeling something…more?
I don’t acknowledge the double-sided revelation.
Theo has yet to see how stubborn I can be, but he is going to learn.
Though, I’m not stupid enough to think that after that kiss I will be able to keep resisting temptation on my own. I will need reinforcements, someone to keep me strong.
With a quick text to Lou, we make plans to meet in the morning.
Because nobody wins a war without strategy.
Present - Ara
“OKAY, REPEAT ITback to me again. We need to make sure you’re solid on this.” Lou must have been a drill sergeant in a past life.
We got up at the ass crack of dawn to meet at Starbucks before my shift at Jane’s starts. Lou is currently drilling me on the new protocol to avoid all Theo-related temptations. I haven’t told her the full story yet, just enough so she can help me get my head on straight.
She didn’t even remember who Theo was by name, and I hate that it put me at ease having to remind her that he was the friend who visited me at the café. I guess part of me was still worried about having a female friend again, no matter how much I’ve grown to like her during our little Starbucks rendezvous.
“If Theo enters my personal space, do not put my hand up to stop him. This could lead to touching and further distractions. Instead, sidestep him and change the subject,” I rattle off.
We’ve thought through every single scenario where Theo could tempt me into admitting feelings. I don’t know what feelings I would be admitting to, seeing as though I haven’t even admitted them to myself, but nonetheless I will not allow myself to get into a situation where desire gets me talking nonsense.
“Good, you’re getting it, but I do see why you’re struggling. Men don’t do it for me, but if they did…damn.” Lou glances up at me, slightly wary, gauging my reaction to her revelation.
She must think there is a chance that I won’t be accepting. The best way to prove that her sexual preference doesn’t make a difference to me is to move right along, so I do.
