Ask him about it.
I just knew the second I saw him, something inside me would break all the way open.
I didn’t remember how I got to the stairwell.
Theo looked up from his phone, eyes softening the moment he saw me.
“Hey, I was looking everywhere for you. The car’s here.”
I didn’t even look at him as I walked past, my steps slow, sharp, and unsteady.
“Carmen?” His voice sounded strained now, following me down the stairs. I still said nothing as what could only be described as shock took hold of me.
“Hey, I’m talking to you. Are you upset? What happened?”
I didn’t respond.
He reached for my hand, and that simple touch snapped me out of the haze I was in.
“Don’t fucking touch me.” I yanked my hand back, my pulse racing.
He looked taken aback by my sudden outburst. “What is going on?”
I took a breath, then I asked the question clawing to get out. “Did you go home with your receptionist last Thanksgiving?”
Theo froze, looking into my eyes as something terrified took over his expression. “Who told you that?”
What. The. Fuck.
“So it’s true?”
My stomach twisted in ways I didn’t know were humanly possible as the words left my mouth. I wasn’t sure what hurt more—the question or his silence after.
“It’s more to it than that.” He took a step closer, but I took a step back.
“Oh my God.” I held my stomach, fighting the urge to throw up.
“Nothing happened with her.” His voice was low, but the look in his eyes made me want to scream.
“I’m such an idiot,” I said bitterly. “I let you fill my head up with that shit about being committed to me. I let you manipulateme into thinking I was being inappropriate with Marcus and Vince when the whole time, you were inviting women back to your room.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Yes, it is like that!” My voice cracked, and a few heads turned our way.
Theo’s jaw tightened. “Can you calm down, please?”
“Why should I?” I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “They’re all laughing at me anyway. Everyone knows about it.”
“No one is laughing, Carmen.” His eyes pleaded with me, but the hurt in his voice made my insides twist.
“Of course they are,” I shot back. “I’ve been oblivious to everything, thinking we were fine, when the whole time you were entertaining other women. And with your receptionist? Pathetic. Do you want to be like your father that badly?”
His face faltered, the hurt unmistakable now.
“Carmen, please—” He stepped forward, but I held my ground.
“Don’t you dare touch me.”
