Secrets Look Different in the Light

Chapter 27

Theo's POV

    We watch her, quiet and tense, waiting to see how this call plays out. I'm honestly surprised she even dialed his number. Is this really about Jayden, or just her trying to prove something to me? I shouldn't have pushed.

"You win. Where do you wanna do this?" she says into the phone, cool and composed.

"My parents are home, we're not meeting there," she says flatly. Jackie and I glance at each other a few times, but neither of us speaks.

"Okay, I'll be waiting on the bleachers," she finishes, then hangs up abruptly.

"He's wrapping up practice. I'm meeting him at the school," she tells us, already standing.

"Don't you need a ride?" I ask.

"Uber exists Theo, I don't need you for everything." Her tone is sharp but not cruel. Still, it stings more than it should.

"Call me if you need me, Avery," Jackie says, her concern obvious. Avery nods and heads out.

Two minutes later I have a Venmo alert: For the salad

"What happened between you and Avery?" Jackie asks me once the silence settles.

It sounds like a question, but there's a statement buried in it. She's Avery's best friend. She knows when somethings up with her. Unfortunately I'm the something this time. 

"We kissed," I say. The words tumble out like a breath I've been holding all day.

She chokes, whether on air, or just pure shock, I have no idea. 

"Theo you didn't..." she says softly.

"Why is it a bad thing?" I snap, sharper than I mean to.

"It's not," she says quickly. "I just... I don't want you to get hurt."

"How did it happen?" she asks.

"I came back in the middle of the night. I hadn't slept. I just kept thinking- this is it. That fight between Avery and Jayden... it was going to make them or break them. And if it broke them, it might be my last shot. I didn't show up to steal her away. I just wanted her to see what she's settling for."

I pause, the memory unfolding behind my eyes.

"But then she said it. She acknowledged whatever this is between us. She said she couldn't be the one to cross the line. So I did. And I thought- if she said that, it had to mean she feels something too. But now she's running back to him, and I don't know if I misread everything." 

The waitress drops the check. I quietly set my card down.

"This is messy Theo. You know that right?" 

"I know."

"I know you care about her. And I know part of her cares about you. But Avery? She's awful at change. Always has been. Jayden's her first everything. And now that you kissed, now that it's real? She's going to spin out. And she's already sprinting into this talk with Jayden, and who knows how that'll go."

We start walking to the car, slow and silent. On the drive, I ask quietly:

"Am I good for her?"

Jackie hesitates. "Better than Jayden."

"But am I good for her?"

She looks at me. "Yes. I just don't think she's any good for you."

Avery's POV

The bleachers are cold and unforgiving, but we sit in silence anyway. Both of us too stubborn to be the first to speak.