Theo took a seat across from Lock, set up his computer, and pulled out a notebook, all without offering an explanation or apology for his tardiness. When he had it all set up, he released a heavy breath.
“Do you have the historical comparison prepared?” Lock asked.
“Uh…” Theo shifted, “no. I haven’t had the chance to get to it.”
Lock’s head dipped, and his eyes met mine for a fleeting moment. “Okay. Have you started?”
“Not yet,” Theo admitted. “My nights have been freed up, though, so I’ll have the time this weekend to pound it out.”
The truth behind those words made me flinch, even though giving Theo a reaction was the last thing I wanted to do. His absence at the end of my nights had been the worst part of this week. Knowing he’d been waiting for me with a smile and a kiss at the end of my shift had made it so much more bearable. Now that I’d lost that, I wished I’d never had it in the first place.
“What were you doing?” Lock asked without intonation.
“What?” Theo came up short with an answer.
“I’m asking what you were doing instead of working on our group project. If your nights have been free, then you had extra time to do your part. You didn’t, so I want to know what you were doing instead.” Lock kept his voice level, but there was no missing what he was saying and exactly how he felt about it. I happily stayed silent behind my computer screen, allowing Theo to dig his own grave.
“I’ll have it ready the next time we meet.” Theo’s jaw twitched.
Lock clasped his hands on the table and leaned forward. “We all know you asked Davis to leave this group, which is fair. Helen and I would have done fine without you, since you’ve barely pulled your weight from the beginning. I let it go then, but I’m less inclined now.”
“I said I have it handled,” Theo gritted out.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Lock said lowly.
“I didn’t. Because it isn’t your business.”
He leaned farther across the table, his massive shoulders bunching into boulders. “It is if it affects me. You not doing your part on our group project certainly affects me. Helen and I both work full-time hours along with going to school, but we were here today, on time and prepared. As far as I can tell, you’re jobless and living off your dad’s dime. You don’t have wrestling or a girlfriend to use as an excuse for not getting shit done. So, from where I’m sitting, you spent all week holding your dick instead of doing what you were supposed to be doing.”
I chanced a glance from my screen to find Theo’s glare trained on me, filled with accusation. “Are you fucking him now?”
I didn’t know that I would have answered that ludicrous and insulting question, but I never had the chance. Lock slammed his palms on the table with a resounding bang.
“You can leave, Whitlock. You show up to a group session like this again, I’ll report you to Davis. And I will have valid reasons not to want you in this group.” Lock’s tone was low and unmistakably serious. He brooked no argument because he was so right. Theo was behaving like a tool, and with all the work Lock and I were putting into this project, he didn’t deserve a free ride from us.
Theo took in a long breath, then his gaze skimmed from me to Lock. “I was out of line. I apologize for being late, unprepared, and bringing personal issues into the group. It won’t happen again.”
Lock stared him down. There was nothing teddy bear about him then. He was unyielding in his demeanor. Quite honestly, if I were on his bad side, I’d be shitting my pants. But Theo managed to hold eye contact until they both nodded, like something was settled.
Lock patted my arm. “Do you want to continue with what you were telling me about the plague and quarantine?”
“Yeah.” I slid my eyes to Theo, who was watching me carefully. “I don’t know if you remember I researched—”
“I remember,” he cut me off, but he did it gently, and I hated it. Especially because he’d accused me of fucking Lock only a couple minutes ago.
“Great. Then I won’t have to backtrack for you.” There was nothing gentle about the way I addressed him. I’d given him my soft, and he’d trampled all over it. He could take my spikes and fuck himself with them.
We stayed in that room for another hour. The tension had eased minute by minute, but it was still thick by the time we were packing up. My stomach ached from it, and my chest throbbed from the stabbing sensation being in proximity to Theo caused. But it was good. I’d remember this feeling the next time a handsome guy with twinkly eyes tried to get too close. It wouldn't happen again.
The three of us left the library at the same time. I gave Lock a punch on his tree trunk arm. “Have a good weekend, dude.”
He tapped my shoulder with his huge fist. “Be good, Hells.”
“I always am.”
We split off, Lock heading toward the campus maintenance building, me in the direction of my dorm. It took me a second to determine I was not alone.
“Do you and Luc need a ride tomorrow? With your groceries?”
I stopped walking and stared at Theo Whitlock, my mouth hanging open. Because what the fuck?
“You’re kidding me.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “No. I’m not.”
“You are kidding me. There’s no way that’s a real question.”
“I’m completely real.”
I shook my head. “What if someone saw me with you, Theo? They might tell your dad you’re riding around with a stripper.” I spread my arms out at my sides and started to walk backward. “No thank you. If I need a ride, I’ll ask one of the many, many men I’m currently spreading my legs for, because apparently that’s what I’m doing.”
“What do you expect from me, Helen? You lied to me. That makes me wonder what else you’ve been lying about. But Luciana shouldn’t be riding her skateboard on the side of the road, loaded down with groceries. I’d like to give you both a ride to keep—”
“Shut up, Theo. I don’t want to hear what you’d like. You said enough to me Sunday night. I heard you. You and I never started, but we’re really through now. That includes my sister. I don’t care what you’d like. It doesn't mean anything to me.”
His jaw worked, and I wondered how much vitriol he was biting back. “Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”
My stomach was on fire, and his question was kerosene to my flames. I walked up to him, clutching my middle.
“No, I don’t. Besides, you never asked for one.”
He bowed his head. “I’m asking for one now.”