Page 19 of Make Me Mean It

“I didn’t even really know you were-”

I stop.

Gay.

The word sits there, perfectly ordinary and somehow impossible to say with Theo glaring at me.

Because I didn’t know.

I knew he flirted with me. I knew he liked making everything sound suggestive because apparently irritating me is his favourite form of entertainment. But knowing he’s actually gay is different, and now every stupid interaction we’ve had rearranges itself in my head.

Theo scoffs, shaking his head.

“Whatever. See you around.”

He turns away again.

“Theo, wait.”

I follow him this time, but he doesn’t slow down.

Theo yanks the door open and it slams behind him hard enough to shake the frame, cutting me off with the rest of the apology still sitting uselessly on my tongue.

I stay where I am, staring at the closed door, waiting for something that doesn’t come. Another smartass comment. His footsteps coming back. Anything.

Nothing.

Fuck.

He thought I meant it.

Worse, I knew he did, and somehow I still let him walk out of here believing it.

My legs feel unsteady beneath me. I stumble backwards until my shoulders hit the wall, sliding slowly down it, dragging my knees up when I reach the floor.

I tip my head back against the wall and close my eyes, but all I can see is the exact moment Theo’s face changed.