Page 8 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
That annoyance fades when I recall that healthy sheet of stubble he’s now sporting along his chiseled jawline. I’ve never been a fan of a clean shave or thick beards, and Theo has the perfect amount of facial hair…
My mind flashes back to an image of Theo in that Gatsby-style gray suit he wore, how it looked like it was tailored to fit his tall, broad body. Even through the thick fabric of his jacket, I could tell that his shoulders and arms were jacked.
And that kiss…
Just the memory ofthat kisshas my clit pulsing. God, it was good.So fucking good.My mind flashes back to how Theo’s tongue was teasing, soft, and firm all at once, how he hummed into my mouth, how he smelled like pine and pepper, how he tasted like whiskey and mint…
I gulp from my water glass, irritated with just how flustered I’m getting at Theo’s physical appearance. Sure, he’s an undeniable hottie, but he’s also obnoxiously cocky and smug. Always has been and always will be. Yeah, kissing him was off-the-charts hot, but it was also a terrible mistake. I’ll chalk that up to the fact that I was reeling from seeing Aaron kiss another woman right in front of me and wasn’t thinking straight.
I start sipping my second mimosa and refocus on brunch with Ingrid. “Thank you again, Ingrid. You didn’t have to go all out like this. We’re just arrived in San Diego and we’re supposed to be working.”
“Maya, you know I don’t have to do anything when it comes to you. Iwantedto do all this for my best friend to cheer her up after you had to witness your ex practically cheating on you.”
I smile at my best friend. “It’s really okay. I’m over it, and I’ve learned my lesson. No more dating for me. I’ll just stick to hook-ups like I normally do.”
Ingrid looks like she wants to say something, but instead, she takes another long pull of her drink.
“Enough about Aaron. Let’s go over what’s on the schedule for the rest of today.” I grab my phone and pull up my notes. “I took care of your dry cleaning this morning and sorted through those handbag samples. You’ve got a Zoom meeting with those YouTube influencers at three. Oh, and later today I’ll pick up your dress for that boutique opening tomorrow night.”
When I look up, I notice she’s frowning.
“Did I forget something?”
She shakes her head. “No, you’re doing a perfect job, Maya. Seriously. You’ve been my assistant for a week and you’re knocking it out of the park.” She stops to clear her throat. “But, um, I have a favor to ask you.”
“Sure. You know I’ll do anything for you, Ingrid.”
She grimaces. “Please don’t hate me.”
I hold my breath, wondering what my best friend is about to ask me. The last time she uttered those words, she signed us up for bungee jumping.
She lets out a breath. “Theo called me on New Year’s Day. And he’s, um…well, he’s kind of a train wreck.”
I choke out a laugh. “Really? He seemed in a pretty great mood at your party.”
Her shoulders fall slightly as she exhales, her expression on the edge of pained. For a second, I feel awful for being so dismissive. As much as I dislike Theo, he’s still Ingrid’s family.
“I know, but apparently it was all an act. He’s hit rock bottom. Hard.”
“What? How?”
I don’t follow sports at all, but last I heard Theo was playing for the Denver Bashers and had earned quite a reputation for being a playboy, always partying and hooking up. And he’s often all over social media because of it.
She shakes her head and explains that because of a knee injury, Theo’s been dropped from his team. No other league in the team wants him either.
“Oh.” I go quiet for a few seconds. Even though I can’t stand the guy, I feel bad for him that his career is over.
“I’m sorry, Ingrid. That sucks he’s going through that,” I say softly.
“When he called me, he admitted that he brought it on himself.” She hesitates. “I guess he, um, fooled around with the wife of his team’s assistant coach. And he walked in on them and attacked Theo with a hockey stick.” Ingrid clears her throat. “That’s why his knee’s messed up.”
I sit there, my mouth hanging open in disbelief. That sounds like something out of a soap opera. Wow, Theo is a dog.
Ingrid sighs. “He admitted that his frat boy lifestyle finally caught up with him and that’s part of the reason why no team wants him, even if he were to recover from his injury,” she says. “I’ve never seen him like this. I’m so used to him joking around and being the life of the party. Now he sounds so sad, so defeated. It’s so unnerving. I’m really worried about him.”
I’m stunned. Theo didn’t come off like he was upset or worried about anything when I saw him at Ingrid’s New Year’s Eve party. He was his cocky and smug self.
She pauses for a second, like she’s working up the nerve to say more. “He asked to hide out for a while at my place in the mountains outside of Denver. Just so he could get away and clear his head for a while. And, um…my favor is this: could you maybe go and stay at my house with him for the next couple of months?”
