Page 98 of Break Point
Henry: Excuse me?
You asked about Theo. About what “stuff” meant. Well, now you know.
Henry: Did you sleep with him?
Seething, I put my phone down without bothering to reply. Let him sit with it. Let the thought haunt him. Let him picture me pinned against a wall with Theo’s mouth on mine. Us tangled up in bed, even if that last part never happened.
Let him imagine the worst.
If my instincts are right, he won’t reply. But I know I’ll see him at the cocktail party tonight. And I’ll make sure Gemma picks out the perfect dress for the occasion, courtesy of my most beloved sponsor.
CHAPTER 23
NEEL ULTEX X COOP CRAFT BREWERY
GREG JUST LEFTafter checking on my unexpected muscle cramps. Henry wasn’t here, though Greg hoped he would be. He said he’d text Henry later with the stretches I need to do before the match. He also mentioned he wouldn’t be able to personally assist me since he’s got a lineup of athletes to getdoped upbefore the day begins.
More assisted stretching.
Greg refused to let me do the exercises on my own, insisting that the only way to warm up the muscles properly is with assistance. Just to be safe. He didn’t seem too concerned about the cramps, chalking them up to lack of sleep, stress, and overall exhaustion from the tournament. He suggested I stay on top of my meals and supplements, which I have.
If Greg isn’t worried, I’m not either.
Drew and Dad stopped by my suite to congratulate me right after Robbie and Gemma arrived. Drew handed me the debit card Neel Ultex sent as a gift, and within minutes, Gemma and I were on our way to shop for my dress. She nearly wept with joy when I told her the budget for ourpanic dress search.
Since we were short on time, Vlad drove us straight to an Enzio de Luca boutique on Collins Street, just a few blocks from the hotel. Gemma’s orders. Meanwhile, Dad and Robbie headed to the hotel bar to hang out while we shopped. Drew had another client to see but promised to meet us later at the cocktail party.
Gemma picked a golden silk halter dress with an open back that fits me perfectly and falls just below the knee. The shoes she found to match are just as beautiful. The silk feels buttery soft. I’ve never worn anything like it before. But this dress puts me at ease. It’s simple yet elegant. Nothing too flashy, nothing too dull. Just like Gemma envisioned it.
We’re back at the hotel with an hour to spare before the cocktail party. Gemma’s doing my makeup: a subtle smokey eye, rosy cheeks, and a natural soft, peachy rose lip. She styled my hair in an effortless low bun to show off the back. I wanted to wear it down, but she said it would ruin the look. And this is her domain, so I let her take the reins.
My nerves are getting the best of me.
What am I hoping will happen tonight? That Henry will ignore me? That he’ll fight for me? A part of me wishes Henry would skip the party altogether. I regret the things I said in my last texts. As furious as I was, it was immature, and I know it, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to keep taunting him like some middle-school kid with a crush.
Pathetic.
I didn’t reply to his last text. I left him hanging on purpose. If the roles were reversed, I’d set something on fire.
Seeing Theo, as fun as I know it can be, doesn’t excite me the way it used to. I like him, though. He’s a good guy beneath that bad boy front he’s always got going on. We used to talk and laugh a lot, too, in between all the kissing. But ultimately, we were just friends who found each other attractive.
Thankfully, neither of us caught feelings. It would’ve ended badly. That much I know. The two of us together? Total recipe for disaster. We were just two people filling the silence between tournaments with distractions we mistook for intimacy.
So much has happened since Theo and I last talked before yesterday’s texts. Sure, we’ve bumped into each other at tournaments, but after a quick hello and a smile, that’s as far as it goes. We both try to stay focused on the game. I like it that way because Theo is trouble. Fun trouble, but trouble nonetheless.
I wonder if I made a mistake rattling the viper’s nest. There’s no turning back now. Theo will be there, and I’ll handle him. Like I always do.
Once we walk through the event’s red carpet and get photographed by the press, Gemma and I step inside the venue. It’s an impressive old factory-turned-museum. The original metallic fixtures and exposed walls are washed in amber light, giving the space a warm, cinematic glow. Soft jazz plays in the background, setting the perfect mood.
I can’t help but think about how I met Liam exactly one year ago.
Shaking those thoughts away, I walk in with Gemma at my side, spotting more than a few familiar faces, many of whom approach to wish me a happy birthday. Robbie and my dad arrived a few minutes earlier, and I catch them mingling near the bar at the far end of the venue.
No sign of Theo. No sign of Henry.
Yet.
Could be a no-show for both of them. I didn’t reply to Theo’s last message after all. But knowing him, that’ll only make him more determined to come.
