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“No, thanks”

He stands there for anotheras he looks me over When he suddenly turns and walks across the roo him in the corner

He stops at the door and turns back “If you ever get scared, you can always co her bed back”

My stouilt fillsto try and close the rift between us Theo’s been very patient and understanding with me, and all I’ve done is feel sorry for myself and distancethe situation worse by not trying to form a bond with him

Sing, I tell him, “Maybe we can try that soon”

The look that overco other than pure happiness

“Good night, Jules I’ll see you tomorrow”

“Good night, Theo”

He opens the door and quietly closes it behind hi flat in bed I flick off the light and stare at the dark ceiling As I think about the possibility of sleeping in the same bed as Theo, I subconsciously wipe away the residual feeling of his lips on the back of my hand

I’M SITTING AT THE kitchen table eating leftover homemade chicken noodle soup Aria, who’s already finished her dinner, is in the chair next to e When she first showed ht an accomplished adult drew it I was shocked when she told irl can be hyper at ti, she’s calm and concentrated It somehow soothes me to watch her in her element

I notice the tiin to worry Theo was supposed to be here thirty minutes a

go to see Aria off when Luca comes to pick her up This isn’t the first ti late on a couple of cars for customers ant them repaired as soon as possible I’ve ses of red from lipstick on his neck that he wasn’t able to fully wipe away

It doesn’t surprisewith someone you’re sexually attracted to—and I know he’s sexually attracted to ives me—and not be able to act on that attraction

What does surprisehe’s been with other woy on soe I know once s I once held for Theo, that relief will turn to hurt

I get up and take my empty bowl to the sink, where I rinse it and put it in the dish drain I sit back at the table