Page 24 of On His Mind

That’s new.

“And you didn’t even offer her a new shirt, but look at you. You can change into something clean.” She turns around and storms back to the door. “Let’s go, Penelope.”

I let out a breath because she’s drunk, and I don’t want to apologize for her, but it was a little uncalled for. The two guys stare at me for an awkward millisecond.

The one who bumped into me clears his throat. “Do you want a new shirt?”

“For the love of God!” Ivory snaps, grabbing my arm and pulling me back into the house. She shuts the door and says, while rolling her eyes, “Freshmen.”

We walk around the party until we find Drew and Theo.

“Ready,” she says, tucking herself under Drew’s arm. “Let’s go.”

The drive back to Linden Street is louder than the party. Drew and Ivory occupy the entire back seat, talking over one another between bursts of laughter, arguing about whether Stanley actually landed the backflip or merely survived it. Every time Drew finishes a sentence, Ivory starts another one, and somewhere in the middle of it all, she reaches forward and turns the radio up another notch.

Theo sits beside me with one elbow resting against the open window.

The late-summer air rolls through the car, carrying just enough coolness to cut through the warmth of the crowded house we’d left behind. At the next red light, his hand settles lightly against my knee. I don’t think twice about it.

“I forgot how nice this town is,” he says, looking out the windshield.

The rest of the drive passes easily. Drew tells a story from preseason that makes absolutely no sense to me but has everyone else laughing. Theo joins in, adding details, while I keep my eyes on the road and let them fill the silence. By the time I pull into our parking spot, everyone’s still talking. Ivory is out of the car before I’ve even turned the engine off.

“Race you upstairs,” she says.

“I’ll give you a head start,” Drew calls after her.

Theo waits while I lock the car. “Are you having a good time?”

I flash him an exaggerated smile and nod.

He smiles. “Okay.”

Ivory doesn’t win the race.

The apartment is warm when we step inside. I lock the door behind us. Ivory grabs Drew’s hand and laughs at something only the two of them understand. They disappear down thehallway. Her bedroom door closes, and silence settles over the apartment.

Theo looks around once. “Nice place.”

“Thanks.”

That’s all. No questions. No curiosity about the sketches spread across my drafting table or the dozens of trinkets I have on the bookshelf or the charcoal drawing clipped beside the window that took me almost three weeks to finish. He doesn’t ask because he isn’t here for any of it. I don’t mind. In fact, I prefer it. People spend so much time trying to dig underneath one another, convinced there’s always something hidden worth finding. Theo has never done that. He likes spending time with me. I like spending time with him. Neither of us has mistaken that for something bigger. There are no promises. No expectations. No conversations about next month or next year. Just tonight, and I like the simplicity of it. Simple has never asked too much of me.

He steps closer, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Everything okay?”

I look up at him.

“Want me to take your mind off of things?”

I nod.

He doesn’t say anything more. He kisses me until my mind quiets. I kiss him back and lead him to my bedroom. The whole time, I can’t stop thinking about how casual this is. I never thought I’d be that girl, only in it for one thing.

On my bed, he slides his hand under my dress. He pushes my underwear to the side and works two fingers into me. I moan against his mouth.

It isn’t that hole that needs filling, but it’ll do.

Chapter 5