Chapter 22 Théo #2
Almost.
“Okay.” Sabrina set down her empty glass and fixed me with a look. “I’ve let you stall long enough. Who is he?”
“Who is who?”
“The reason you look like you haven’t slept in a week. The reason you’re drinking vodka Red Bulls like you’re trying to forget something. The reason you keep checking your phone every five minutes even though you’re pretending you’re not.”
I opened my mouth to deny it.
“Don’t even try,” she said. “Spill.”
At that moment, my phone—lying facedown on the table—buzzed. I fought the urge to check it but Sabrina was faster. She snatched it up and held it to my face to unlock it without an ounce of hesitation.
“It’s Avery. He wants to know if we can meet up for drinks since he’ll be gone most of the time I’m here.”
I grabbed the phone out of her hand before she could start scrolling through my threads. I texted Avery that we were at the Twisted Cactus and he replied: We’ll be there soon.
We.
I didn’t know who that included. The uncertainty filled me with equal parts dread and anticipation.
I still hadn’t told Sabrina about staying at Derek’s place. Might as well get it over with.
“So, Avery’s teammate—his dogsitter had a family emergency. I’ve been watching his dog while they’re away and Avery’s place doesn’t allow pets. Would you be cool with staying at his place while you’re here? He said it was fine if you came.”
She shook her head slowly, disbelief creeping across her features. “Your brother’s teammate?”
“He’s a friend.”
“Right.” She drew the word out. “I once asked you to watch Princess Peach for a few days and you refused.”
“She is literally the spawn of Satan. She pisses in my shoes every time I visit.”
“She’s asserting dominance. You should be honoured.” Sabrina waved a dismissive hand. “Stop trying to distract me. How friendly are we talking? What’s his name?”
“Derek. He’s a… nice guy.”
“What a ringing endorsement.”
“I like talking to him.”
She raised a perfectly arched brow. “Is that all you’re doing with him?”
“God, Sabrina.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
“It’s none of your fucking business.”
“That’s what I thought,” she said primly, taking a satisfied sip of the dregs of her spritz.
“It’s not a big deal.” I traced a finger around the rim of my glass. “I don’t even know if he’s gay. Or bi. Or whatever. He used to be engaged to a woman.”
Her eyes went wide. “Holy shit, you broke up his engagement?”
“No, of course not! This was a year ago. She cheated on him with his best friend. And then he tripped over his dog running away from them, tore his ACL, and got concussed. Made him miss most of last season.”
“Wait, what?” Sabrina leaned back in her chair. “That sounds like something out of a K-drama.”
“Yeah. It was really fucked up.” I drained the last of my vodka Red Bull, the artificial sweetness coating my tongue. “And then enter me. The villain of any drama.”
“Théo, you’re not the villain—”
“You thought I broke up his engagement.” I cut in before she could finish and she cringed. “And why wouldn’t you? I’m not a good person.”
I set the empty glass down harder than I meant to, the sound sharp against the table.
“I can look back and see every wrong turn. Every moment where I should’ve walked away or kept my mouth shut or just..
. been better.” My throat tightened. “And I tell myself next time will be different. Next time I’ll make the right choice.
But I keep making the wrong ones. That’s my villain origin story—not one big betrayal, just a thousand small failures adding up until you’re the person everyone warns people about. ”
I laughed but there was no humour in it. “I don’t want to keep repeating this cycle. He doesn’t deserve any more drama.”
Sabrina went quiet for a beat, studying me. “You’re not a bad person, Théo,” she said finally. “Flawed, sure. But not evil.”
Before I could respond, I spotted my brother pushing through the door and waved him over. Close behind him was Hana, followed by her brother, the loud Russian guy, and finally—the person I was craning my neck to see—Derek.
He looked recently showered, his dark hair wet and brushed back from his face. He was wearing a simple grey t-shirt that stretched across his shoulders in a way that should be illegal. Those earnest dark eyes scanned the bar until they landed on me.
My heart did that fluttery thing. Probably heartburn from all the Red Bull I had consumed on an empty stomach. I looked away first.
“Sabrina! Welcome to Chi-town!” Avery yelled, pulling her into a bear hug and lifting her slightly off her feet. He was wearing one of his many cutaway shirts, showing off the tattoos on his arms that were slowly bleeding into his chest and rib cage.
When he set her down, I caught a strange expression flicker across Hana’s face before it smoothed into something warm and friendly.
Up close she was almost unfairly gorgeous.
Warm brown skin, high cheekbones, full mouth, natural curls pulled back into a bun.
She looked both striking and effortless at the same time.
Curves for days in a plain t-shirt and jeans that fit like they’d been made for her.
No artifice. No trying. She was much too good for my idiot brother, who had insisted they were “just friends.”
“You look beautiful, Hana.” I leaned over to hug her. “Good to see you.”
“You too.” She squeezed me back gently.
I stepped back and nodded toward the redhead beside me. “This is Sabrina. My best friend from Toronto—she flew in to keep me in line.”
“A girl can try,” Sabrina corrected, stepping in with her arms open.
“Good luck with that.” Hana met her halfway and pulled her into a quick, friendly hug. “I’ve been trying to keep his brother in line for months. It’s a full time job.”
“I believe it.” Sabrina’s eyes flicked to Avery, then back to Hana with a conspiratorial smile. “We should compare notes.”
“Oh, I like her,” Hana said to me.
“Everyone likes her,” I said. “It’s incredibly annoying.”
Sabrina just smiled, unbothered.
Hana gestured to the tall, stoic man beside her. “Théo, you remember Kenzo?”
“We met when I first got here.” I nodded at him. “Good to see you again.
“You too.” He returned the nod, expression neutral but not unfriendly. Kenzo wasn’t much for small talk—I’d gathered that much from our first meeting. He seemed like the type who’d rather be anywhere but a crowded bar, which I respected.
Hana caught my glance and shrugged affectionately. “I dragged him out. He’s happy to lock himself in his apartment when Bradley’s out of town.”
“She bribed me with the promise of leaving early,” Kenzo deadpanned.
“Lies. I promised him dinner.” Hana grinned. “Even though he’ll probably request grilled chicken breasts and asparagus. What a waste of my talents.”
Behind us, I could hear Avery going down the line, introducing Sabrina to his teammates. When he got to Derek, I felt her gaze burning into the side of my head. I refused to look.
“I’ll grab drinks,” Derek said, his voice cutting through the noise. “Petrov, come help me carry.”
Petrov, the loud Russian, clapped him on the shoulder and they headed toward the bar. I exhaled slowly.
“So.” Kenzo slid into the seat next to me, long limbs folding gracefully. “How are you finding Chicago? Besides the humidity, which is criminal.”
“It’s… different.” I glanced at Hana, who had taken the seat on my other side. “I’m still learning the city. It’s easy to get around, which is a plus.
“The food scene is incredible,” Hana said. “Honestly, it’s up there with some of the best cities I’ve lived in.”
“Where else have you lived?” Sabrina asked, sliding into the seat across from us.
“Oh, all over. I backpacked and taught English abroad for a few years after high school—Naples, Barcelona, Paris, Hanoi.” Hana smiled at the memory.
“Basically just chased good food around the world until I ran out of excuses not to come back to the States and actually learn how to cook it properly.”
“Meanwhile I’ve only been to Canada and Russia,” Kenzo said dryly. “For hockey.”
“That’s not true,” Hana said. “Bradley dragged you to Ibiza last month.”
“Right. It was… an experience.” Kenzo’s expression suggested he was still processing it.
“You told me you loved it.”
“Parts of it.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “The company was good. The food was okay.”
“That’s his highest compliment,” Hana told us, amused. “I don’t even know how we’re related. I’ve been eating my way through every neighbourhood here for class research—totally legitimate academic purposes.”
“She dragged me to an eight course tasting menu last week and made me take notes,” Kenzo said.
“I thought you liked it. You asked for seconds!”
“They barely gave us firsts,” he grumbled. “A spoonful doesn’t count as a course. But I’m back on my training diet now so she’ll need a new guinea pig.” He sighed dramatically. “A foodie sister and a foodie boyfriend and I’m stuck eating grilled chicken and vegetables.”
“Boyfriend?” I echoed, stupidly. Right. Of course. I’d been so wrapped up in my own mess I hadn’t even clocked what everyone else seemed to already know.
Sabrina’s eyes met mine across the table. She didn’t say anything but I could read her expression perfectly. Interesting.
“Yes, Bradley and I have been dating for almost a year,” Kenzo said and his face softened.
Hana rolled her eyes affectionately. “They’re disgustingly in love.
You’ll meet him eventually. He travels more than the team.
” She turned back to me. “You should come watch a game with us sometime. Bradley’s got a private box so we’re covered for any home game.
Or we could catch one at a bar if that’s more your speed—I know a place that does incredible wings. ”
“Maybe,” I said, noncommittal.
“Too bad they’re going away while I’m here, I’d love to watch from a private box. This one isn’t much of a hockey fan,” Sabrina stage whispered.