Page 21 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

I groaned. “Okay, okay, you win. It isn’t the universe. But then, is this really just happening?”

Lilly shrugged. “I guess it is.”

I collapsed into a chair. “And I’m just supposed to accept it? Theo and I are forced to work together until the play’s done?”

“It won’t be so bad. Theo’s nice enough.”

I shot her a look that could’ve pickled marmalade. “He has the personality of a wet dog’s ass.”

She laughed, then had the audacity to point out, “Oh, come on. You’ve dated worse than him. Remember Walter? He rolled his eyes at everything you said.”

Well, Lilly had a point.

Walter wasn’t great. But it wasn’t exactly easy to find someone who… liked me past a certain point. Either my humor was too sarcastic, too dry, or just too much. Lilly was the only long-term relationship I’d ever managed.

But I didn’t miss dating. Not once I’d discovered the one-hundred-percent success rate of a good vibrator.

Still, I gave her a pout. “He was really good at licking my clit.”

She raised a brow. “And that makes the way he treated you okay?”

“No, but at least I was getting orgasms out of him. What do I get out of Theo? I’m morally obligated not to fuck him.”

“I’m really glad you remembered that.”

I gestured to my forehead. “I’d rather get a bull’s ass tattooed here before sleeping with him.”

She held her breath, then seemed to make a decision as a breathy, “Okay,” escaped from her in a puff of air. “Let’s focus on what we can control here. Your classes are going well?”

My shoulders dropped. I wasn’t sure I was done talking about this, but Lilly was right. I had to focus on what I could control, and that included getting through my days until Theo disappeared from my life.

“Yes. And my program students have their first practice grading at the end of this week.”

Lilly’s brows shot up. “Wow. That’s fast.”

“Well, if we want them to get those spots, we have to treat this seriously.”

“That’s true... You’ll let me know if you have any problems?”

“You mean if I have another Theo sighting?” I drawled. At the look on Lilly’s face, I added, “Fine, yes. Of course I will.”

Not too long later, the bell rang. And wouldn’t you know it? The rest of the week passed by without an issue.

Maybe the whole universe thing was in my head after all.

Chapter 10

Theo

SOUTH BRONX CLASSICAL

Friday

“It’s in my head. It has to be,” Mia muttered beside me, and I tried to ignore it as I put a hand on her shoulder and led her through the set design.

I’d spent this past week avoiding Mia, and it worked. I managed an entire ten days before I had to see her again.

I thought the distance would help. It didn’t. I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I couldn’t get the feel of her out of my head.