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“Because Tom Zajik had chlamydia and you didn’t want her to get it on their date.”
WHAT? My mouth fell open and I leaned against the wall because… wow.
Thatwas why Theo had been at The Lodge. That was why Tom had fled. Not diarrhea. That was why Theo had stepped in to have sex with me. Because the only guy who’d want me slept around and picked up sexually transmitted diseases.
“We don’t talk about patients, Verna,” Theo warned.
“I heard it from Sandra Nimoy, the gym teacher at the high school. I was in line behind her at the grocery store. I said hello and she told me all about it. It’s definitely not a secret.”
Everyone knew about Tom but me.
But that wasn’t important because Theo knew. He just inferred he was a patient.
“I’m talking about you and Mallory.”
“Why are we talking about me and Mallory? There’s nothing to say. There’s just… nothing.”
Nothing. I was nothing. I meant nothing to him. After everything we did together, that’s what he felt. Nothing.
I bit my lip. God, fuck. Shit. Dammit! Was I lovable for anyone?
Now I was pissed.
I stomped over to Verna, who wisely stepped out of the way.
Theo’s eyes widened. Clearly, he was surprised to see me. I tossed the coat at him. He caught it. “Mallory.”
“Theo,” I said. I was sure Theo could give some sort of wordy explanation for the adrenaline dump I just had. My body was shaking. My heart was pounding. “I wanted sex. I made that very clear. It was understood. You definitely gave it to me.”
“Mallory–”
I held up my hand and pushed on. “You didn’t offer anything more. You set no false expectations.”
Fuck, was I glad I gave him the house back. Yeah, fuck. Not fudge. Screw fudge and sugar and all the stupid swear word alternatives.
“Just sex. I think I’ve had a thorough education now and you’ve done your job. So thank you.”
“Mallory,” he said, his eyes narrowing in anger.
Why the hell would he be angry?
“It’s not like that.”
I nodded. “It is. It’s nothing, remember?”
Those words hurt to come out, but I had to do it. I couldn’t linger where I wasn’t wanted.
“See you around.”
I spun on my heel, faced Verna. Her eyes held sympathy, but she tipped her chin up. I tipped mine up in return. I knew, silently, she’d started that conversation for me and was telling me to be strong.
I could do that. I could take care of myself. I always had.
54
THEO
“What was that, Verna?”I asked, gripping my coat. I followed after her into the waiting room. Mallory was long gone.
