She stops by the sectional couch, and I hear her lick something. Then that “something” groans, and I realize I’m not the only one here. Ready to kick out the rando on the couch, I rush to the living room and find Theo sleeping.
He’s shirtless, lying on his stomach without a blanket, his brawny back and tight muscles on display. His dark hair cascades in front of his green eyes, his cheek mashed against the cushion.
“Lexie, stop,” Theo groans, half-asleep.
A few seconds tick by.
Then realization seems to dawn over him because his eyes snap open.
“Wait, Lexie?”
Theo flips on his back, then sits up straight. Ah. Finn must’ve told him I took her back to my place, which explains why he’s surprised that she’s home.
“Dia, you’re… here,” he says when he sees me. “I didn’t think you were coming back.”
I didn’t think I was coming back either.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?” I skip the small talk. “You could’ve told me Lex was alon—”
“No, I couldn’t,” he cuts in. “I can’t answer my phone without a phone.”
I purse my lips. “What happened?”
“Fuck if I know. I put it down for a second, then it was gone.”
So, he got robbed, too.
I bet it was the same jackasses that stole my mom’s shirt.
My anger dwindles. “Still, you could’ve waited for me to get home. I couldn’t find you.”
“I was… busy.” He drags a hand through his coal-black hair, a small smirk stretching his lips.
“Translation, you were off fucking some girl.”
“I warned you about the party, didn’t I?” Rubbing his eyes, Theo plants his feet on the floor and sits with his legs parted, elbows braced on his knees. “Doesn’t that count for something?”
I’m quick to understand that’s the closest thing to an apology I’m going to get from this guy. Releasing a sigh, I sit on the couch’s armrest.
“You should’ve told me about Lexie in your first text,” I scold as Theo pets the excited golden retriever next to him.
“I didn’t know,” he says, seemingly truthful. “No one did.”
“Finn had to know,” I counter.
“How could he? He’s not the one who put her there.”
Back up.
“He’s not?” I don’t buy it.
“Fuck no. Have you met the guy?” Theo snorts. “Brody fed him some BS about having dropped Lexie at the neighbor’s house. The lady’s a widow who’s watched Lexie in the past.”
Wait… Finn had nothing to do with it?
Well, technically, the only mistakes he made weretrusting his brother and not bothering to check every room in his million-dollar mansion. Still, this might’ve been a good piece of information to have before I rained hell down on him.
No, Dia, he’s still the reason your mom’s shirt is gone.