32. Jeremiah
Jeremiah
Of course he’s pissed.
The thing is, I know I fucked up.
I took his first experience with a guy and managed to screw it all up.
I may be new at this, but I’m not blind.
Theo has been competing with Chase for as long as I can remember—girls, grades, sports.
The top spot was Chase’s and if anyone were to take it from him, it’d be Theo. And there I went, saying yes to drinks.
My grip tightens around my phone.
I genuinely like Theo. We used to be friends. Real friends. Being around him is easy. Quiet. My mind doesn't keep drifting back to him every five minutes the way it does with Chase.
I glance around my bedroom. Chase has never been in here yet it feels emptier knowing he’s upset with me. As though if he weren’t on rough terms, maybe he’d be here right now…
Pulling out my phone again, I pull up the text conversation between Chase and I from the other night.
My fingers hover over the keyboard as I think about what to say.
Does he even want to hear from me right now? Probably not.
I just wish there was a way to put into words what’s been going on. But, how can I, when I don’t even understand it myself?
Chase Rutherford is…well, Chase Rutherford. But the more time that goes on, the less that fact makes me angry. The feelings are fast and intense and... no other person has ever made me feel like this.
Fuck.
I start typing out a text message.
Me: Hey. I get you being angry. You have every right to be. I just wish I could make you see that you’re the only thing that’s made me happy in a long time…
I stare at the message for a while. My thumb hovers over the send button. What would he even say back to that? Would he just ignore me? Call me an idiot?
Suddenly a new message from Theo comes through, stopping me in my tracks.
It’s an address to a club that I’m unfamiliar with that’s deeper into the city.
I have no clue what he’s up to but I know that he’s well travelled so he must know all the cool spots around here.
More than I would know, that’s for sure.
My brows pinch at the message from him that follows:
Theo: Wear all black.
I take my time getting dressed, throwing on a black button-up collared shirt, and some black dress pants.
Where the hell is Theo sending me?
I sigh and close out of my messages, heading out of my apartment. I guess there’s only one way to find out.
***
The city’s quieter on a Tuesday, but downtown still hums with that low, restless energy Toronto never quite loses. It’s just after 9 p.m. when I pull up to the address Theo sent.
The club is almost hidden, wedged between two narrow storefronts with graffiti-tagged brick walls and tinted windows. There’s no sign. Just a matte black door under a soft purple light, and a lone security guard.
Once I cross the street, the doorman gives me a once-over, nods, and pulls the door open. I take a deep breath and walk inside.
Inside, it takes a second for my eyes to adjust. The air is thick with bass, vibrating through the floors and into my chest. The walls are draped in rich fabrics—dark purples, smoky blues, and delicate black lace trailing like vines. It’s beautiful.
“Excuse me,” a soft voice says beside me.
A woman, around my age, turns to me. She’s dressed in a short silk black nightgown with a lace mask covering half her face. She holds out a box of elaborate masquerade masks in silver, gold, and black.
She hands me a gold one with a knowing smile. “This one will look great on you.”
I scan around. Everyone’s already wearing one.
After hesitating for only a moment, I slip it on and say a thank you before wandering deeper inside.
What is this place?
And where the hell is Theo?
The crowd shifts around me—half-dressed women in silk and lace, men in bowties and sleek black pants. It honestly looks like a sex club. Not that I’ve ever seen one in person, but… I’m guessing.
I check my phone.
Theo: I’m on the roof. I got you a drink.
I purse my lips. This guy is really putting me through it tonight.
I circle the bar and spot a staircase at the back. The steps are narrow and dark, and when I push open the rooftop door, a rush of night air greets me.
It’s quieter out here. Pillows and blankets are sprawled out on the floor. People cuddle and kiss in little pockets of candlelit haze. Honestly, Chase would love this place. He’s curious like that. Adventurous. This would have him giddy and grinning and asking a hundred questions.
Guilt stings at my chest. He should be here. Should I have invited him?
Fuck.
“Blackwood! You made it.”
Theo grins at me at the far railing, loose black button-up billowing in the breeze, his silver mask perfectly molded to his face. He’s holding two drinks, already ready for me. One amber on the rocks and the other is clear with lime and mint floating inside.
“Yeah, hey,” I say, making my way over. He hands me the clear one.
“Mojito,” he says with a wink.
I take the glass, giving him a polite nod. “Thanks.”
He watches me for a beat, brows pulling together. “You don’t drink?”
I shrug casually, not wanting to make it a thing. “Not really.”
Without hesitating, Theo glances over my shoulder and flags down a passing waitress.
“Sorry, I made a mistake. Could my friend here have a—” Theo arches his brow at me.
“Sprite. Please.” I smile, politely.
She nods, takes the mojito from my hand and disappears into the crowd.
“You like it here?” Theo asks, watching me closely. “I used to come here all the time when I lived in the city.”
I glance around at the scene. “It’s… cool. Why here?”
The young woman returns with a glass of Sprite and I say my thanks before taking a sip.
He sighs, leaning back on the railing. “I’m thinking of coming back. Getting out of New York. I need a break. Put down some roots.”
That surprises me. “Really? Thought you loved it out there.”
“What seems and what is…” He shrugs, looking distantly at the city lights. “...can be very different.”
Something about the way he says it twists in my chest. I gnaw on my lip, watching the city flicker past his shoulder.
He turns his attention back to me with a slight smile on his face. “WingMate… it’s different than I expected.”
My gut twists. It’s like he pulls the words straight from out of me. “I… didn’t expect it either.”
“I mean, if it wasn’t for Chase, I’d say I’d want to work here with you.”
My lip twitches. “Y-yeah, about that—”
“It’s just such a shame.” He frowns, shaking his head slowly. “WingMate really would’ve been great.”
My brows pinch. “What? What do you mean?”
He sets his glass down on the ledge. “Wait…you don’t know?” Theo’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Jesus, Jay. This is why I wanted to talk.”
“What happened?”
“I went through the numbers the other night and, Jay... they're cutting it way too close.” He rubs the back of his neck. “WingMate is growing, which is great, but growth doesn't matter if you run out of runway first.”
Cold dread settles low in my chest.
“Wait...” I stare at him. “You're saying WingMate's out of money?”
Theo gives me a grim look. “I'm saying if they don't get an investor soon, they won't survive the year.”
My gut drops. How did I not see it before?
I’ve been so… distracted.
“So, we need David to invest—”
Theo barks out a sarcastic laugh. “David? David is a total ass-hat. He’s sexist, homophobic, honestly, you name it. He’s the worst of the worst. After seeing what WingMate is, David will do nothing but shit all over it.”
I groan, clutching my hands on the ledge.
No, no, no. This is wrong. It’s all wrong.
“Yeah, man. David will either buy it and ruin it, or WingMate goes kaput.” Theo shrugs, picking up his drink and taking a swig.
“Those are our only options?” I exhale, exhausted just from thinking about it.
“You see any other way? Because I don’t,” he frowns.
I thread my fingers through my hair.
If David gets it, he’ll warp it into something it’s not. Or even worse—tear it down. But, if no one gets it…
I freeze.
Heather and her blinding optimism. Mia and her witty quips. Chase.
Fuck.
Chase.
Memories of his smile on the pickleball court flash through my mind.
“We can’t let it go down,” I mutter under my breath.
Theo sighs. He waves his hand like it’s no big deal. “Don’t worry about it. This shit happens all the time in my line of work. Yeah, it sucks. But, there will be other businesses for you to conquer.”
“WingMate… isn’t what I thought it’d be.” I lick my lips. “It’s actually a good place. With nice people and—”
“And Chase.” Theo squints. “Or, did you forget about the guy who tormented you so badly that you left town without a word? Because I didn’t.” Theo shakes his head, looking at me like I’ve grown three heads.
My jaw clenches. “Doesn’t mean the company has to suffer because of it.”
“Heather will be fine. She’ll find a new investor.” He shrugs.
“You think she’ll have time?”
I hold my breath while Theo darts his eyes away. “No… no, I don’t.”
My mind starts racing. There has to be another option.
David can't be it. If I could do it, I would…
The realization hits me right in the chest.
“We have to help.”
Theo’s eyes widen as he almost coughs up his drink. “Wait, what—”
“You said it yourself. David sucks.”
“Yeah. He’s the worst,” Theo agrees, folding his arms across his chest.
“And you want to get out from under him.”
“Hate your choice of words, but you’re not wrong. Go on.”
“Well… what if there’s a way we take down David and save WingMate?”
A small smile begins to spread on Theo’s face.
“I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.
You should’ve heard him after we left pickleball.
All smiles and sunshine until we left that court.
” Theo shakes his head. “The man wouldn’t shut up about how lame it was and how much we should’ve been talking business at the strippers. It was nine in the morning—”
“Theo… what if we did this deal ourselves?”
Theo’s jaw drops. “Wait—you want me to invest in WingMate?”
I stand up taller than I feel. If there’s any time for Theo not to see me as that small, timid kid he used to protect, it’s now.
“Not you. Us,” I state firmly.
His eyes widen, and then flicker away. “That’s… that’s a pretty big ask.” He finishes his drink in a big swoop. “You realize you’re not asking for a little loan. This is—call in some serious favors—type of money.”
I think about it for a moment. Sure, it’ll take some dipping into my savings… possibly asking my dad for help… but it’s possible.
I push, energy spiking through me. “You’ve always wanted to leave that company. It’s going to take a big deal like this.” I hit him with the back of my hand, lightly on his chest.
A small laugh escapes him. “What’s gotten into you? I’ve never seen you like this.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. I can think of one great reason.
Theo’s eyes curiously look over my face. “You’re really serious about this?”
I square my shoulders, giving him a firm nod.
Theo clenches his jaw. With a sigh, he sets his empty glass down.
“Okay…then we need to get things together. Really make a plan for it… and then, maybe, possibly, we’ll go for it,” he says quietly, stepping closer. "But Jay, if the numbers don't work before the Gala…I can't drag it out. David gets the deal and at least Heather gets to walk away with something.”
I gnaw on my lip. “Yeah, I get that.”
“Okay.” Tension visibly leaves his shoulders as he reaches out and cups the back of my neck before running his hand down my arm. “You know I’ll do anything for you.”
My throat tightens at that. I don’t know why it feels heavier than it should.
I clear my throat. “Before we dive into this… I should ask you something.”
“Yeah, sure. You can ask me anything.”
I inhale deeply. This is going to be uncomfortable but it needs to be done before this partnership goes further. “Theo…do you have feelings for me?”
His lips part, eyes darting away for just a second.
But right when panic starts to raise inside my chest, he surprises me by coughing through a laugh.
“Sorry, but where did that come from?” he chuckles, grabbing my Sprite and taking a long sip.
“I—”
“Yeah—no. I mean… Yeah, don't get me wrong. You’re hot as hell, unbelievably smart…great with money, and it’s pretty obvious that I’d do anything for you.” he says, leaning on the terrace. “Fuck, when I put it all together, we’d actually make a great match,” he huffs out a laugh.
Oh…
He waves me off. “But, no. I’m straight.
I mean, if we ever find ourselves stranded on a deserted island—then maybe let’s talk.
” He winks, making me chuckle. “But no, there’s nothing for you to worry about in that department.
And, even if I was interested, something tells me someone is probably tripping over themselves trying to be with you. Am I right?”
I hope so.
I take a deep breath in. Worry consuming me. I nod, sadly.
Theo gives me a sad smile. “See?” He takes another sip. “Whoever he is, he’s a lucky guy.”
A lump forms in my throat as I snag my Sprite out of his hands and bring it to my lips.
I glance over my rim as I swallow my sip down. “So…this doesn’t change anything? I mean, it’s not weird that I asked you that, right?”
“Of course not,” he says, softly. “But, tell me this. Does this guy treat you well?”
I lick my lips thinking about Chase. We haven’t gotten that far into… whatever this is, yet. But judging by the way he treats me, I think he’d do anything I ask of him just to see me happy.
It’s me that needs to smarten up.
I nod. “Very much.”
“Then that’s all I care about.” He shrugs. “Maybe I can meet him someday. We can all come to a place like this. Get a little freaky.” Theo shimmies.
I laugh, shaking my head. “No. He’s all mine.”
“Territorial. I should’ve known.”
“Thanks, Theo. For trusting me.”
“Always will. Let’s set everything up before Heather and Kemper make it official. Don’t want them to sign any papers before us, you know?”
“Yeah, okay. That sounds good.”
Theo lifts his finger in front of my face. “And of course, this stays between us. If David hears anything… this doesn’t just fall apart, Jay. It’s done. I’m trusting you big-time here.”
I nod, but it doesn’t sit right. I don’t know why I still agree anyway. “I got it.”
It sucks keeping secrets... especially while everyone has been so welcoming to me…but I get why this has to stay quiet. After all, this is for everyone.
Theo exhales. “Okay. Business talk over. Now tell me everything about Bali. How was the food?”
And just like that, we’re back to old friends catching up. But when the night ends and we say goodbye… There's only one person I want to see.