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“Myrelationship with her is none of your fucking business,” I mimic him, pick up my bag, and slam the door behind me.
“Wanna talk about it?” Thea twirls her colorful lock. “It’s eating you, and I’m having trouble eating my appetizer because of your attitude.”
I break the bread, dip it in the olive oil pesto dish, and feed her. “Eat.”
“Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?” she asks after swallowing the bread.
The waiter chooses that moment to step back to pour some more sparkling water into our glasses. His eyes move from Thea to me. She can’t help but laugh. I’ve been kissing her and flirting with her since we arrived, and now she’s talking about my boyfriend. No wonder the man is about to slap us,orsit down and hear the gossip.
“That sounded bad, didn’t it?” Thea asks the waiter, who stares at her. “I swear it’s not what you’re thinking. It’s worse. We’re talking about our boyfriend. We’re a triad.”
She winks at him. “Thank you for the water.”
“That’s bold, Butterfly.” I hold my words, not wanting to make a big deal out of the conversation. However, she’s publicly accepting that she’s dating two men. “Any chance that boldness will continue throughout the night?”
Her face turns serious. There’s no flirty smile to match mine, or anything close to a caress that can reassure me that I might get some action. Instead, she slams me with the question one more time. “What happened with Coop, Mattie?”
This different version of Thea makes me believe we aren’t in individual relationships. Just as Tristan wanted to know if I was going to have sex with Thea, she wants to know what the hell happened between him and me.
“Are you shrinking me?”
She searches my face and begins to laugh. Her fingers start sizing my head, going from a huge gap between them to a small one. “Are you telling me I have shrinking rays?”
“No, you’re acting like a therapist, Butterfly. I love you, and spending time with you is my favorite thing to do. Talking about my feelings isn’t. I’m all talked out with you.”
She lifts her palms. “Fine, keep that bitter bug inside you. It’s all the same to me.”
I groan and let everything out because it isn’t fine with her. Nothing of what I say changes her relaxed expression. Not the fact that I had an overnight bag, that I almost had sex with Tristan. That I haven’t followed her advice and had sex with him. While I talk, I hope that nothing I say will upset her.
“I can’t believe you two are still hung up on it,” Thea blurts, confusing the hell out of me.
I lean closer and give her anexplainglare.
“We already discussed our relationship. I understand why he behaved the way he did. He’s… you two have to talk. I’m not going to become the middleman—or in this case, woman—of this relationship.”
Thea looks up to the ceiling, then at me, and shakes her head. “I adore him, but this is our night, Mattie. Coop has to deal with his issues. The way I’m dealing with mine—confronting myself.”
I take her hand and kiss it, knowing that every other afternoon she heads to a different counselor. “We plan on going to couples therapy, but I don’t know when we’ll be ready for that.”
“Do you think he’s still seeing his therapist?”
“Mattie, either we forget about him tonight, or we go home and sit down to put this to rest. Your choice.”
That’s an easy choice. I don’t have to think about it twice. “Tonight, I’m having you for dessert. At least a taste.”
ChapterEighteen
Matthew
As Thea opensthe main door of the building, I eye the windows of the third floor. It’s been so long since the last time I set foot here. Twelve years? College. The year I thought I’d be at frat parties doing crazy shit. By the end of the semester, I was back at home caring for my broken brother.
“Are the roommates gone?” I enter behind Thea without waiting for her to invite me. Tonight I want to stay with her, even if we only kiss one time.
“I don’t know.” Thea fake shivers as we climb the stairs. “Damn, tonight I’m going to have a hard time falling asleep. Mason swears there’s not one insect within a ten-mile radius of the building. But if I can’t sleep, I’ll be knocking down your door and taking over your guest room.”
“I can keep you company.”
Thea opens the apartment door, and I’m amazed to find that the entire apartment has been remodeled. The white walls are gone, transformed by a soft green. Pictures with nature themes cover the walls, and if Arthur Bradley sees this, he might have a heart attack. His somber place is now a hippie-chic spot.
