Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Problems at home?” I ask, needing to know if he has a sweet wife waiting at home for him. I don’t see a ring, but that doesn’t mean anything. Men can be dogs.
But Theo?
He seems so…gentle. Sweet.
He snorts out a laugh and shakes his head. “No. Recently divorced.”
I hop off the stool and walk over to where he’s now pulling things out of a cupboard. As he sets them on the counter, I start collecting them.
“But,” he says once he also has an armful of supplies and nods toward a work table, “you hit the nail on the head. My ex-wife is…”
“Harassing you?” I supply.
“Yes,” he says in exasperation. He studies me for a long beat as if deciding whether or not to tell me what he’s thinking. Finally, he sighs and blurts it out. “She claims she’s pregnant and that it might be mine.”
For some reason, this makes my chest hurt. Like this woman has an invisible tether still attached to him despite their divorce.
“Oh. Are you excited to be a father?”
“It’s not mine,” he practically growls. “She just likes playing head games. I’m not giving in and documenting everything.”
Relief floods through me. “She sounds like a real winner. Like my mom.” I wince at the last part.
He doesn’t call me out and then proceeds to explain his ideas for Greenhouse Club. A fall plant sale. Providing mums for the homecoming dance. Fixing up the dilapidated greenhouse. It all sounds fun to me.
“Everything okay at home?” he asks, sneakily circling back to my mom comment.
I chew on my lip and then decide to just tell him. “Not really. Nothing bad. I’m being punished.”
He turns to face me, eyebrows pinched in concern. “Punished how?”
I blink my lashes at him, unable to keep the smile from tugging my lips up. There’s a fierceness in his expression that endears me to him. Like he’s a safe space.
“Nothing bad,” I assure him. “I was made to leave Dad’s house to live with Mom.”
He steps a little closer to swat a gnat away from my face. This close, I have to tilt my head up to meet his stare.
“Does this have anything to do with the expulsion you casually mentioned before?” he asks, eyebrow arched in question.
A blast of shame races over my skin, making it feel hot and my flesh sticky with sweat. I can’t look him in the eyes and tell him. It’s not like he’d believe me anyway. No one but Cason did.
“Yeah. It was bad.”
His head cocks to the side as he studies me intently. “We’re friends now. You can tell me.”
Friends.
Why does that make my heart so ridiculously happy?
“I don’t want you to think less of me,” I whisper, eyes prickling with tears. “What if you hate me and think I’m a slut too?”
His face darkens and he takes hold of my hand that’s smudged with potting soil. “I could never hate you, Addison. And, honestly, I think it might be a problem.”
Chapter 6
Theo
I’ve put enough puzzle pieces together to have an idea, but I want to hear it from her. And I was telling the truth. Nothing could make me hate this girl. She’s too sweet and needs to be protected at all costs.
Why?
Because you think she’s beautiful?
It’s more than that.
The sadness that lurks in her eyes mirrors mine. I find it fascinating and worth peeling apart to see what’s hiding beneath. I ache for her friendship. It makes me a creep, sure, but I can’t change how I feel.
“I got expelled for sending Mr. Thompson a topless picture when I was underage.” She lifts her chin and snares my gaze with her watery eyes as if to challenge me.
I keep my expression impassive despite the bomb she dropped on me. “Mr. Thompson was your teacher?”
My stomach twists with nerves.
She swipes at a rogue tear and her bottom lip wobbles. “I didn’t do it, Theo. A friend of mine took a photo I sent her in confidence and showed it to Mr. Thompson from an account with my name.” She covers her face with both hands and then starts to sob. “I didn’t do it. I swear. You have to believe me.”
“Shhh,” I murmur as I pull her to me for a much-needed hug. “I believe you. You’re a good girl.”
She hugs my middle tight. I note how perfect she feels in my arms. Like she belongs in them.
“It was supposed to get quietly swept under the rug. My punishment was public school and living with my mom. But then Lucy told everyone on the first day of school when I didn’t show up. Now everyone thinks I’m a whore who was having an affair with her teacher.” She winces and then pulls away from my hug. “Sorry. I, uh, shouldn’t have hugged you.”
I step away to grab a box of tissues. Then, I hand them to her. “I hugged you, Addison. You don’t have to take the blame for something you didn’t do.”