I open my mouth to say no, but he beats me to it. “Please.
And it’s the please that gets me.
Chapter 28
Lily
“Where are we going?”
I’m riding in Theo’s truck. He’s leaning against his door, his arm on the window sill, completely unbothered by me sitting in his passenger seat. A satisfied grin rests on his lips, and his other arm hangs over the steering wheel. He’s so handsome. He nearly breaks my heart just looking at him.
It’s annoying.
“To my house.”
“No.”
His eyes dart to me, pinning me with a look that says I agreed to this.
I sit back in my seat with a humph, crossing my arms over my chest and turning my head to the window to stick my tongue out at his reflection.
Theo chuckles. “I saw that.”
Turning back to him, I narrow my eyes. “I meant for you to.”
His grin grows wider, and I turn back to the window to hide that mine does, too.
We sit in comfortable silence for a minute before Theo speaks again. “I need your help.”
Surprised, I turn toward him in my seat. “With what?”
“Tanner.” He admits reluctantly. His fingers drum against the steering wheel, and he doesn’t look at me. A hint of pink tints his cheeks. “He is—we aren’t—I just don’t know how to talk to him. He hates me, and I don’t blame him. But I—I don’t want to give up. I just—figured it might help if we have a dinner where someone else is around. Maybe he will talk to me.”
Understanding washes over me. Theo didn’t ask me out just to have dinner with me. This is part of our game, and while I have no qualms about helping him bridge the gap between him and Tanner, disappointment still pokes at my chest, which is silly because this is fake.
Theo’s house is not far from mine, which I guess can be said for everything in Benton Falls. We arrive at his house in no time, and he pulls into the drive. He doesn’t shut the truck off, though. His arm moves off the door, both hands gripping the bottom of the steering wheel, and he avoids my gaze.
“Will you help me?” he pleads, and I reach out, placing my hand against his arm.
“All you had to do was ask.”
He looks up at me now, his eyes begging me to understand. “I don’t know how.”
I shrug, giving him a truth for a truth. “Me either.”
After a moment, he sucks in a deep breath, and I wait for him to open my door. Walking into Theo’s house with him, side by side, feels natural—strangely and uncomfortably natural.
When we walk in, Tanner is sitting on the couch next to Bella in the living room. Bella’s legs are thrown over Tanner’s, and a movie plays in the background. They both glance our way.
Tanner looks at Theo, and tension thrums in the air. Tanner’s jaw ticks. Once. Twice. And then he turns back to the television, cutting Theo out.
My brows shoot up, and Theo awkwardly clears his throat.
“I’m going to—uh—get started on the food.
“I’ll help,” I offer, but he shakes his head.
“This is my treat, hopeless. Make yourself at home.”
