Theo

The call with my brother has me on edge for the rest of the day, his words

sitting in the back of my mind like a pesky conscience I’ve been trying my best to ignore.

“Is everything okay?” Avery asks from across the table. She cocks her head to the side and leans forward to run her fingers over my hand and strokes it gently. “You’re so quiet tonight.”

I sigh and run a hand through my hair, knowing I should probably tell her what I’m thinking instead of keeping it from her. “I’m sorry, I just have something on my mind.” She nods at me as if to say, well out with it. “I told my brother.” She stops stroking my hand and slowly slides it off of me. I immediately hate the loss of her touch so I reach for her hand before it’s completely out of my reach. “Hey.” I lean forward and press my lips to her fingers. I don’t say anything else but I hope my eyes say it all.

I still want this.

“What did he say?” She asks and her voice is soft and quiet before she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip, ass