Chapter Thirty-One
Joey
You gotta fight, for your right
I’m not sure what has me sicker to my stomach right now.
The idea that tomorrow night I’ll be performing in front of three hundred audience members? Or witnessing Birdie’s hands all over my man?
My man?
It’s these thoughts that will get me into trouble and cause more pain than I need. Theo is not my man. He never was. He was simply a temporary fling and I was apparently his rebound girl.
And now it appears that he’s on to his next one, if he’s not already back with Alyssa.
I trudge my way down the hallway toward the converted office Theo and Birdie have been using when they need privacy for business matters. Shit, am I so stupid? Maybe they’ve been getting it on all the while without me even knowing it?
Knocking lightly, I wait to be welcomed in, the anger simmering low in my belly.
“Come in,” Theo’s voice summons me in and it sends a thrill down my spine. It’s the same low baritone he used when he was greedy in bed.
This is the first time we’ve been alone in four days. And I’m scared shitless. And angry. And frustrated. And I want angry sex.
As if Theo is going to whip my clothes off and fuck me against the door. He’s obviously already gotten over me.
No, he’s probably been waiting to give me feedback on how horribly off-kilter I was today. Our second to last rehearsal before the big performance and I sucked rotten eggs.
I couldn’t even look him in the eye when I was supposed to.
He’s going to take me out of the play, I just know it.
My hand grips the door handle, which jostles in my grip because it’s about a hundred years old and is about to fall off, but I take a fortifying breath to steel my nerves and walk in.
My eyes are cast down, but when I look up, I see Theo leaning back in his office chair, head tilted to the side, a strange look on his face. His hands go back and lock behind his neck, putting his amazing biceps on display.
I trip over my feet and go flying toward him. His quick reactions keep me upright, but his hands land on my boobs.
Quickly righting myself, I take a few steps backwards, mumbling apologies.
“Sorry.”
He chuckles. “Quite all right. Didn’t mean to cop a feel, but it certainly wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.”
When I look up, I see his brow lifted with humor. Damn, why does he have to be so cute?
“Not like you haven’t felt me up before.”
I immediately shut my mouth, biting my lower lip to keep myself from saying anything more incriminating.
Professional. Act professional.
The chair squeaks with his movement and he leans forward, his elbows on his knees.
“I’m sorry I’ve made things uncomfortable between us, Joey. That’s exactly what I didn’t want to have happen. It’s all my fault.”
I cross and uncross my feet, shifting left and right. How am I supposed to respond to that?
“I, uh…”
