Theo
I readjusted the cufflinks on my shirt as I looked around the room.
Soft jazz drifted through the air, carrying with it chatter and the scent of food.
Ronan stood beside me, looking ridiculously uncomfortable in the suit I bought him.
Willow was floating around, putting out fires and making sure everything went smoothly.
Trinity was somewhere, probably with Willow as her right hand. But there was a redhead I kept looking for. Every time I saw a flash of red, I expected it to be Brynne, and every time I took a closer look, I was disappointed to find it wasn’t.
After I asked her to be my girlfriend—something that shouldn’t make a thirty-seven-year-old man giddy, but did—we texted every day. We were officially off the app, and in each other’s texts instead.
But I hadn’t seen her in person since last weekend. She was busy at school, and I was busy helping Willow put the final touches on tonight. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of chaos, but after tonight, things were going to settle down.
Ronan shook his arms around, letting out a harsh sigh. “Adam would make so much fun of us if he were here,” he grumbled, and my lips curled into a grin.
“Yeah. But he always secretly liked dressing up,” I said.
“He liked looking at Gracie dressed up.” I snorted, because that was true. When they went to prom, he never took his eyes off her.
“I really thought they were going to be end game,” I said quietly.
He nodded his agreement, gaze flitting over the crowd.
I shook off the emotions clawing up my throat and smacked the back of my hand against Ronan’s solid chest. “Hey, let’s take a pic and send it to him. Show him what he’s missing out on.”
He muttered something under his breath, but pressed his head closer to mine as I extended my phone out. I snapped a few photos, then sent them in the family group chat.
ME:
Wish you were here, bro
*Attachment: 3 images*
I didn’t hold my breath waiting for a reply—one I knew would never come. Instead, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and scanned the room again.
“I don’t know how you wear this shit,” Ronan said under his breath, rolling his shoulders again.
“Take the jacket off, then.” I glanced at him, finding him staring at me.
“Willow will kill me if I fuck tonight up for her.”
“Taking your jacket off won’t fuck the night up.” I laughed. “Take it off, loosen the buttons, roll the sleeves. Whatever will make you comfortable.”
“Jeans and a T-shirt will make me comfortable,” he muttered, and I rolled my eyes.
“I don’t know what to tell you, man.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “Suffer, I guess.” He huffed out an annoyed breath. “At least we’re not in tuxes. Trin wanted to have a James Bond casino night.”
“Oh, thank god.” He tipped his head back, as if truly thanking whatever god he believed in.
“Theo Caldwell?” A soft, feminine voice snaked around me, sending a wave of unwanted chills down my spine. I plastered an easy smile on my face as I turned.
“Laura. Good to see you.” She let out a shy giggle as she dropped her gaze to the ground, and tucked a loose strand of dark blonde hair behind her ear.
“It’s Lauren,” she said. “I haven’t seen you in—phew, weeks!” Her laugh was tight and too loud. “I thought I’d see you at The Taphouse more often.”
“Not really my scene.” I slid my hands into my pockets and glanced around the room once more.
Where was Brynne?
“You seemed to enjoy yourself the night we ran into each other,” she said smoothly.
Ronan shifted uncomfortably again before letting out a frustrated growl. “I’m going to find Willow,” he announced, then disappeared into the throng of people.
Lauren slid closer to me, her sparkly silver dress reflecting the lights above. “I saw you’re one of the bachelors up for auction.”
Another forced laugh. “I am.”
Should I call Brynne to make sure she was coming? I twisted my lips to the side. She said she’d be here.
“Maybe I’ll bid on you,” Lauren purred. Finally, my gaze shifted to her and stayed.
“Sure.” I shrugged. “It’s for a good cause, you know?”
“And I wouldn’t mind having you to myself for a night.” She rested her hand on my arm, and it took all the strength in my body not to curl my lip in disgust.
“Yeah.” I laughed, taking a step away. Her hand fell back to her side, though I didn’t think she got the hint.
Like a predator, she moved closer. The sweet, floral mix of her heavy perfume suffocated me, and I felt my allergies well up. I turned my head, letting out a small sneeze.
Lauren said something else, her voice soft and kind. She was attractive, and the old Theo definitely would’ve paid attention to her.
Taking her home for the night would’ve been easy. All it would take was a subtle look from me, a smile, a gentle caress against her arm, then putting my hand on her lower back.
They were moves I’d used almost every night for years. Practiced. Comfortable.
Like second nature.
But the thought of doing that with her , made my skin crawl like a million fire ants were skittering over it.
She wasn’t Brynne, and she never would be.
So I shuffled farther away, the movement subtle but obvious enough to let her know I wasn’t interested. At least, I thought it was obvious, but apparently she didn’t get it.
“Theo!” I whipped my head around, gaze meeting Troy’s as he strode toward me. He glanced at Lauren, his cheeks reddening slightly. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she said, batting her long, dark lashes. “Lauren.” Her hand shot out, the other gripping a champagne flute.
“Troy.” He fought a smile as he looked between us. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting anything,” I said flatly. “What’s up? Look at you, man. You clean up nice.”
“Nah.” He waved his hand, but I could tell he felt good about himself tonight. “I was just coming over because I don’t think I know anyone here. These are not people I usually hang around with.”
“I’m pretty sure Stacy from school is here.” I craned my neck, trying to find her. “And Kurt, too.”
Troy’s lips tightened. “That asshole’s here?”
Lauren’s ears perked, and her eyes lit up at the possibility of gossip. Roughly, I cleared my throat and put my hand on his upper back. “Let’s go grab a drink before the auction starts. I think we’re gonna need it.”
“I’ll come?—”
“Boy talk,” I said, trying to keep from snapping. “See you around, Laura.”
“Lauren,” she hissed. But I ignored her as I turned Troy toward the drink tables in the back.
“You knew her name,” he muttered, and I shrugged.
“She was annoying me. I had to let her know I wasn’t interested.”
He glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. “I don’t think that worked, man. I think you just made her more infatuated.”
A groan slipped out, but I forced myself to look ahead, to ignore the desperate woman at my back. I snatched a glass of champagne from the table and took a long swig, scanning the room. It was almost time for the auction, and Brynne still wasn’t there.
Ronan and Willow chatted in a corner, his jacket gone, and buttons undone around his neck. Trin was talking with a group of people I didn’t recognize. And I was in the back, watching it all unfold before me.
For the first time in my life, I was the wallflower.
Champagne bubbles tickled the inside of my mouth as I took another sip. My gaze flitted around, scanning each face, each head of hair. Flashes of red caught my attention, but it wasn’t her.
Life moved around me. People laughed, and they flirted, and they moved freely. That used to be me—floating around a party like I was everyone’s best friend.
But something over the last few months changed. I felt it shift inside my chest, a subtle nudge to the other side. My soul teetered on the line, one foot in Cedar Ridge, and the other still longing for New York.
I couldn’t say the change was only because of Scout. If I was being totally honest, a part of me, though incredibly small, was ready for change. For something to come into my world and shake everything up.
I just didn’t think it would be a kid.
Or moving back to my hometown.
Or my sister’s best friend.
I looked around a final time, nearly ready to give up all hope. But then, like it was scripted, the door on the opposite side of the room opened.
Maroon dress with a high slit. Hair lifted into an elegantly messy up-do. Jewelry glinting under the lights. Tattoo on full display.
Brynne Hughes .
Before I realized what I was doing, I was striding across the room, sight set on the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen.
The dress showed off her body beautifully—thick and curvy, soft thighs pressing together with every step, breasts large and heavy—more than a handful. More than I knew what to do with.
She clung to the wall, her tiny purse grasped tightly in her hand. Honey-brown eyes surveyed the amount of people, and I saw it. I saw the thought take root— run .
I lifted my hand, waving to get her attention. She nearly missed me, having to do a double take. Her red lips, just as full as the rest of her, pulled into a smile when our eyes met and held.
Nothing could pull my gaze from her. Nothing could distract me.
But then Trinity was there, standing almost too close. Blonde hair she’d painstakingly curled for hours fell around her shoulders; the dress she wore high necked and low backed.
Brynne’s attention fell from me, and it felt like the first windchill on an early winter morning—sudden and hated. Warmth was what I wanted, what I was desperate for.
But iciness was all I got.
A loud squeal sounded through the speakers, and I jerked my head toward the stage. No. No, no, no. Not yet. Not before I could talk to Brynne.
“We’re getting ready to start the auction,” Mr. McBryde said into the mic. The old man chuckled as a few drunk women whooped from the crowd. “If our bachelors could make their way to the stage—” He gestured to the spots behind him, small white X’s taped on the ground so we knew where to stand.
I looked back at Brynne, finding her in deep conversation with Trinity. She wasn’t even paying attention to the auction. She didn’t look up, didn’t notice me. Her attention was solely on my sister.
She was supposed to bid on me. If Lauren won, I’d throw myself off the top of the lighthouse.
“Theo!” Willow called, gesturing for me to go to the stage. Troy was already there, standing in his spot. The other men slowly made their way to their marks, but all I could do was stare. She waved her hand again, smiling so brightly, so broadly, it was blinding.
I tossed the rest of my champagne back, dropped the glass off at the nearest table, and sighed. My shoulders fell as I waded through the thick crowd.
I’d been excited about this. But now, every step felt like a step closer to the gallows—like I was a step closer to sealing my fate.