Page 118 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

“Exactly. You have great grades despite him. I’d never let how I feel about him change how I feel about you.”

Her anger faded into something pained. “I listened to you, Miss Walker. I thought you actually cared about me.”

I’d never wanted to wrap my arms around someone as badly as I wanted to now. “Oh, love. I do care about you.”

“You’re just saying that because of my dad.”

I had to put my hands behind my back to stop myself from touching her. She was so hurt. I hated it.

“Kira, I didn’t plan for this to happen. But I do care. Tell me how to fix this, and I will.”

She lifted her head, her bottom lip wobbling as she said, “I want you to break up with my dad.”

I was afraid she’d say that. But Theo and I weren’t actually… were we? I still hadn’t pieced together last night’s phone call. How could I break up something that had barely started?

“I don’t think I–”

“Leave us alone,” she suddenly yelled. “I don’t want you with him.”

And with that, Kira pushed past me, opened the door, and slammed it shut behind her.

I’d dealt with teenage outbursts for years, and they never affected me much. But Kira’s did. As the door rattled in its frame, so did my nerves.

This… definitely felt like regret.

Chapter 46

Theo

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Wednesday Morning

I stood in the reception area, waiting as May eyed me from her seat. “You can’t treat me because of a scheduling mix-up?”

“Mike knows what he’s doing. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands.”

“I don’t want good hands; I want your hands.” May grinned up at me, and I had to admit, I walked right into that one.

“I can’t blame her.” Mia’s voice drifted into the room. “Your hands are pretty magical.”

All the tension seeped out of me the second she stepped in. It was so fucking good to see her.

She wore a powder-blue dress with small yellow flowers on it. It hung from her shoulders, nipped in at her waist, and flared out, stopping mid-thigh. Already, I was thinking of all the ways I could slide it down her body.

Mia threw out a quiet, “Hi,” and looked away. I caught the slight blush on her cheeks as she walked ahead of me.

I wanted to lift her into my arms and carry her to my room. Instead, I watched her hips sway as she moved. As soon as she set foot in my office, I caught the edge of the door and slammed it shut.

She turned to face me and held out her hands. “Listen, I might’ve saaaauhh–”

I gripped her by the back of her thighs, lifting her onto me. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and I braced her back against the door. I loved the way her dress hitched higher along her thighs, the way her body melted into mine, the feel of her gasp against my mouth. I loved all of it.

“Theo,” she breathed. “We need to talk.”

But I couldn’t wait another second. My mouth was on hers, taking in the full curve of her bottom lip. She locked her arms around my neck, fingers threading through my hair, prickling my scalp as I pushed deeper between her legs.

She broke away and dragged her teeth along my throat.