My brother’s voice was unmistakable as it rang through the house, followed by the slam of the front door.
God fucking damnit.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ellie
“WE’RE UP HERE!” I called, my voice scratchy as I scrambled to my feet.
Sully had sat up as soon as he’d heard Theo’s voice, and now he was leaning against the side of his bed. He’d propped his arm on his bent knee. It might have looked casual, if it weren’t for the rapid rise and fall of his chest or the wild look in his gaze, like he was realizing how close we’d been to…well, I don’t know what exactly. But?—
“Ellieee!”
A second voice floated up the stairs, and I realized it wasn’t just Theo who’d shown up. It was Cooper, too.
Sully’s jaw ticked, and I was having a hard time figuring out if he was mad at them or mad at me.
“I didn’t know they were coming,” he said, and I decided he was mad at them.
I wished I didn’t struggle so much to get a read on where he stood when it came to me, but I suspected it was becausehehadn’t fully decided yet—that a part of him was torn in two about the entire situation.
I couldn’t blame him, but it was a painful reality. He’d admitted to being scared, and not for the first time, which guttedme. There was nothing I could say right now that would make a difference, though, and no use in prolonging this moment. Not with Theo and Cooper downstairs.
“I should…” I started, and Sully gave a little wave of his fingers.
“Go,” he said, and it felt like a little shove away, even if he hadn’t meant it that way.
Nodding, I turned and walked out the door, leaving Sully behind as I treaded down creaky steps. Theo and Cooper came into my line of vision as they lingered just inside the front door, almost as though waiting for permission to come any further.
It felt weird,soweird. After all, this was Theo’s home more than it was mine.
“Hey!” I forced a smile as I wiped my sweaty palms on my dress. “Long time no see.”
For Theo, I meant it figuratively. I’d seen him at the start of the summer, which was already much more than I was used to these days. But for Cooper, it was literal. He’d been a couple of years older than me in high school, Theo’s grade. But like me, he was a frequent guest at the London house. And after high school, he stayed in Minnesota, too. Even though Cooper hadn’t gone to the U like the rest of us, he was still always around, and we’d become friends.
And then I moved away, and everything changed.
“No kidding,” Cooper laughed, clapping me on my back.
Theo came in from the other side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and tugging me in.
“Hey, you,” he muttered, his deep, low-pitched voice so familiar. “Look who finally came back.”
He said it like he’d always known I would return eventually, and I barely managed a response.
“Hey, Theo.”
When he released me, I took a step back, only to run into a wall of muscle that I immediately recognized.
An arm wrapped around me. A palm pressed into my stomach,steadying me. Fingers stretched over my lower belly, but whether it was by accident or on purpose, I couldn’t say.
I gave myself exactly two seconds to lean into Sully before shooting out of his grasp. When I turned to look at him, his expression was tight.
“I didn’t realize we’d be having a little reunion this evening, or I would have picked up something to celebrate the occasion,” I said, forcing a light laugh.
God, this was awkward.
“Sorry,” Theo said, sounding a little sheepish and genuine. “My mom asked me to swing by and clean out my room, and I didn’t realize you’d be around already. And Sul here hasn’t been returning my calls…”
