Tainted Black - Williams Shanora - Страница 59

I gave him the evil-eye and sat in the recliner. “This is a fucking train wreck waiting to happen.” He sympathized with me, sitting forward as if he were all ears. “That bitch,” I whispered. “She actually had the nerve to hug me in front of Izzy.”

“Why do you call her a bitch? What did she do to you?”

“She is coming between me and Theo. She said she’d snitch if he tried to leave her for me. She found out about us the same night you did. She saw him climbing out of my window.”

“Really?” He was shocked to hear that.

“Yes.” I slouched back, wishing it were Trixie’s head on that soccer field on screen and me doing the kicking.

“Well, maybe it’s a good thing she’s here right now, Chloe. Just saying.”

I whipped my head to look at him, brows going thin. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… maybe it’s a good thing she’s here tonight. You’ll have no choice but to keep your distance from him.”

“Fuck that,” I muttered, glancing towards the balcony. “She doesn’t even deserve him.”

“And you do?”

I turned my gaze on Sterling again. I hated his smart mouth, his mellow face, but most of all, I hated that he was right. I hated that he knew so much and had gone through something similar to this himself. Speaking of…

“Hey, there’s something I should tell you—” I started to speak, tell him all about Mrs. Black being Theo’s wife and even about how Theo was once in The Union, but Theo came inside, shutting the balcony door behind him with a tray of burgers in hand. My mouth snapped shut when I looked back.

“Food is almost ready.” He glared at Sterling.

Sterling stood, extending his arm. Theo accepted the handshake, but his brown eyes never drifted. “I’m Sterling. A friend of Chloe’s.”

Theo cocked a brow. “Just a friend?”

Sterling was hesitant, looking from him to me. “Stop it, Theo,” I butted in. I stood up, and walked closer. “He knows everything about us. So just stop.”

Releasing his grip, Theo stepped back, giving Sterling a once over. “Everything as in what?”

“Well, I know you two are a thing and also that you shouldn’t be. I also know about the girl out there on the balcony, how she’s trying to cause hell.” Sterling ran his palms across the back of his jeans. “Just found that one out actually. You don’t have to worry about me, though. I get it. No judgment here. I understand.” Yeah, I bet he did.

“Mmm.” Theo grunted, turning away from Sterling and looking at me. “Come with me to the kitchen,” he said before walking away.

I waited a moment, giving Sterling a nod before going to the kitchen. “Need help?” I asked with bland enthusiasm.

“There’s seafood pasta in the fridge. Take that out please.” Theo’s voice was clearly irritated. I turned for the fridge, pulling the door open and taking out the clear bowl.

“Can’t believe she actually touched me,” I grumbled, slamming the bowl on the counter. “Theo, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do this all night. I think I’m going to leave after we eat. Izzy will understand.”

“Leave early with him?” He scowled in Sterling’s direction. Sterling was oblivious. “Why didn’t you tell me he was staying at your house?”

“What’s the big deal? He’s the caregiver’s son. She wanted to see him after not seeing him for three whole years.”

“I don’t care. I don’t like how he looks at you. And how the fuck does he know everything about us?” He puffed, slinging out a knife to cut some cucumber. “Did you tell him?”

“He heard us the night you snuck through my window. And… he also heard me asking for advice from Margie.”

“Margie?” He looked confused.

“The caregiver.”

He still looked lost.

I rolled my eyes. “His mom.”

“Oh.”

“Seriously, you have nothing to worry about with him. He’s a good guy. But… he’s also what I wanted to talk to you about.”

He stopped cutting, dropping the knife on the cutting board. “What do you mean?” His face paled.

“I’ll tell you when we meet at Dirty Black. I should go back out there. I shouldn’t be seen too close to you.” I began to turn, but Theo caught my arm, his head angled. “Do you… like him?”

His question was absurd. My face contorted, and I pulled my arm away, grimacing at him. “Are you serious?” I hissed, thinning my eyes. “I’m standing in your condo feeling like the worst woman and friend in the world because I love you, and you ask me if I like him?” I scoffed. “You’re ridiculous, Theo. Seriously.” I started to turn, but quickly caught myself, ready to add more fuel to the fire. “Oh, by the way, Izzy hates Trixie. Just a heads up. I’m pretty sure this night is about to get a whole lot worse.”

He looked at me briefly before snatching his gaze away, jaw ticking, nostrils flaring.

I folded my arms. “Just like me, she can see right through her. You shouldn’t have invited her.”

“And you shouldn’t have brought your friend over there.”

“I had no choice. Izzy wanted him to join us.”

“Yeah, well, neither did I.”

Theo’s nostrils flared again, his upper lip peeling back as he looked towards Sterling again. Sterling cheered over the game, and Theo’s mouth twitched. What was the big deal? Sterling was a nice guy. The last thing I was worried about was him. I worried about Theo. Us. That whole damn night was going to have my nerves running wild.

The balcony door drew shut, and Trixie’s heels clicked along the floor. I jerked back, fiddling with the plastic wrap covering the pasta. “Theo, baby, I think the hotdogs are done.” She stepped into the kitchen, coming up on his side as he diced cucumber.

“They’re not done. Told you to stay out there.”

“Why? It’s too hot out there.”

Theo’s jaw clenched. “Whatever, Trixie.” He collected all the cucumber, put it on top of the prepared salad, and then grabbed a pan for the hotdogs. He was out of the kitchen, but not before looking at me with guilt running deep in those brown irises.

I watched him disappear around the corner, and from behind, Trixie cleared her throat. I turned, looking straight into her blue eyes.  She stood with her arms folded, looking me over as if I was the ugliest thing she’d ever seen. “If you know what’s best for you and Theo, I suggest you stay away from him tonight. Actually, stay away from him period.”

My mouth fixed on a heated response, and I stepped forward, but a hand touched my shoulder. Sterling appeared at my side. “Hey, got anything to drink in here?”

Trixie was surprised to see him. She liked what she saw. That was obvious. “Oh, sure!” She went for the fridge, stepping in front of me and pulling it open. “I bought some of Theo’s favorite beer and some wine coolers for myself… and the girls.” There was venom in her voice when she referred to us… well, me. “Help yourself!”

“Thanks.” Sterling took charge of the fridge, and Trixie sauntered past me, giving me one final lookover before leaving the kitchen and returning to the balcony. When she was gone, I uncurled the fists that I hadn’t realized I’d made, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Alright?” Sterling asked.

“Fine,” I muttered, leaving the kitchen. I went down the hallway and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me and locking it. It was hard not to slam it, not to break everything in sight, but I kept my emotions stable.

Breathing evenly through flared nostrils, I stared into the mirror above the vanity, gripping the edge of the granite countertop. The tears had already started, and two slid down my cheeks. A knock sounded on the door seconds later.

“Chloe?” It was Izzy.

“Yeah.” I cleared my face, but she heard the thickness in my voice.

“What’s wrong?” She jiggled the doorknob, her voice sincere. “Come on. Open up.”

I contemplated opening the door. I didn’t want her to see me crying. Not only that, but I needed a lie to back the tears up.

So, like Sterling did, I knew I had to use the very thing that made me volunteer to spend my summer in Bristle Wave. Unlocking the door, I stepped back and sat on the edge of the tub. Izzy walked in, looking right at me with concerned eyes. “Chloe?”