Page 49 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
“You ever think about selling them? I bet you’d make some good money,” Xander says.
I smile politely even though this is the millionth time I’ve been asked this question.
I give my standard answer. “Maybe someday. We’ll see.”
Xander downs the rest of his beer, sets the empty glass on the table, and looks at me. “Wanna hit up another place? Or maybe you could come over to my place for a nightcap.” His half-smile turns wicked.
“We have to get going,” Theo says before I can even answer.
I whip my head at him, annoyed that he has the audacity to speak for me.
“It’s getting late. Gotta feed Mr. Pudding, remember? He hasn’t eaten since this afternoon.” He slides out of the booth and pulls on his coat.
My annoyance tempers at his valid point.
“Who’s Mr. Pudding?” Xander asks.
“My fish. I forgot to feed him earlier,” I say.
“Ah.” He smiles, but I can tell he’s disappointed that we’re cutting the night short. “You’ll have to let me take you out for a proper meal tomorrow night,” Xander says, that panty-dropping smile on display once more.
“I’d like that.”
We slide out of the booth. The three of us walk out of the bar and stand off to the side of the entrance.
“I’ll text you tomorrow,” Xander says.
“Perfect.”
He leans in and kisses me on the cheek before turning to Theo and clapping him on the shoulder. “Good to see you, man,” he says, his tone on the edge of curt.
Xander walks off, leaving Theo and I standing in awkward silence together. It’s so obvious that Theo is jealous. I just wish he would admit it. Then maybe we could clear the air and go from there instead of navigating this weird cloud of tension and awkwardness.
His brows are furrowed and his jaw is bulging again from biting down hard. He clears his throat. “We should go. Mr. Pudding needs food.”
“Yeah.”
It’s more tense, awkward silence on the walk to the car and the drive back to the cabin.
Chapter18
Theo
When we walk back into the cabin, my jaw is aching and I feel the beginnings of a tension headache.
But that’s what I deserve. I spent the entire drive gritting my teeth because I knew if I opened my mouth, the first thing I’d say to Maya is that I don’t want her going on another date with Xander, and I’d come off like even more of a psycho than I already have.
I make a beeline for the kitchen as I relax my jaw and down a glass of cold water. Maya walks up to the refrigerator, grabs a bottle of water, and opens it.
When I finally work up the nerve to look at her, she’s staring at me, her eyes focused. Like she’s studying me, like she’s working out what she wants to say to me.
“So tonight was fun,” she says.
I almost laugh. “Yeah. Tons of fun.”
She sighs. “Okay, Theo. What’s going on with you? You were fine at the game, but as soon as Xander came out with us, you turned into a broody jerk. What gives?”
I rinse out my glass. “Nothing.”
