Page 131 of Where Roads Lead

I paused, working my jaw as I considered my answer.

“I just figured I’d save him the walk,” I lied. “I was leaving anyway.”

“You figured you’d save him the walk?” She frowned. “You do realize that on dates, people actually want to spend time together.”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t go on dates.”

At that, she looked furious.

“You don’t date?”

“Not in years,” I admitted, waiting to see if that horrified her. If she’d still be willing to take a chance on me, anyway, even though I had absolutely no clue what I was doing.

“Then why the hell are you trying to sabotage mine?” Her hands flung in the air in manic energy. “Just because you aren’t interested in it, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be!”

I flinched from her anger, feeling like a complete asshole.

I hadn’t thought it could be true, but maybe she really did like Theo and I’d just blown up what could’ve been their perfect, romantic night together.

The idea of it made my stomach churn.

When I didn’t respond, she got out of the truck and slammed the door behind her.

“Elsie, wait,” I said, slamming my door behind me as I chased her. I was frustrated with myself. With fucking Theo. At the fact that I had no idea how to navigate something as stupidly mundane as a crush.

Elsie, being herself, didn’t wait.

The door to her house slammed in my face right as I got to it, but at least she had the decency not to lock it.

I followed her into the kitchen, where she was furiously hanging up my jacket on a hook, as if it belonged there.

“Why are you pissed at me?”

I knew she had several reasons to be. I was just curious as to the exact one.

“Because I’m confused and I’m lashing out!” she cried out, looking so small for someone so angry, and all I wanted to do was go and pull her into my arms until whatever nerves were wracking her subsided.

Jesus Christ, the girl was turning me into a hugger. Fortunately, I had just enough self-restraint left to keep myself firmly on the opposite side of the kitchen, because once I closed the distance between us, I wasn’t sure I’d have the sense to keep it.

She spun in circles, muttering to herself about grumpy men who didn’t date and saboteurs. I arched a brow, watching her, hating that I made her unravel like this.

“Elsie, what can I do to fix this?”

“You really want to know?” She ceased her pacing to stare at me with those angry kitten eyes I hadn’t seen quite so fiercely since that first day.

“Yes, I want to know.”

“Then answer me honestly and clearly.”

I held my breath, waiting.

“Why don’t you want me to date Theo?”

Shit. I guess it was time to come clean.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Elsie