Above us, the party continued. The melodious laughter, crystal champagne glasses tinkling, and the deep shiver of the cello flowed despite us.
“Don’t make the reject cry. Next time you’ll bleed.”
This was nothing, I told myself. It meant nothing. It was part of the job.
I shoved them harder into the sand; then I let off and wiped my hands clean, grains of sand sprinkled into their hair.
“You think we’re going to take this shit lying down, dog?”
“You’re fucking dead!” they called after me. “Dead!”
ABIGAIL
When I came out, I couldn’t find Theo. A few days ago, I would’ve been thrilled. I’d expected to find him opposite the wall, pale eyes piercing, and for some reason an odd ache settled in my gut.
I quickly brushed it off.
Back in the ballroom, the cellist had fixed her bow and the music was low, sweet, and haunting. I caught sight of Alaric and Geoff. Their eyes were blackening, noses red and running. Another trip to their on-retainer plastic surgeon. Something in my gut spurred me to stop walking and turn to them.
“What happened to you?” I asked.
Geoff gave me the finger. “Fuck off, Reject.”
Alaric shoved my shoulder so hard I stumbled back.
“What the fuck? Eat a dick, Rick.” I called him by the nickname he hated. He was Alaric, not some “blue-collar working man.”
Alaric was, quite honestly, the worst.
Alaric spun around, holding his nose, black and bruising eyes slits. “Keep your dog on a goddamn leash, cunt.”
The words stole any comeback I had prepared, and I stared long after they’d disappeared into Crowne Hall. Could Theo have had something to do with their faces?
No…that was impossible.
I should follow them back out to the patio. I should be watching the famous cellist, mingling with whatever politicians and wealthy elite had come. No doubt my sister Gemma was doing that, and my mom would notice my absence.
Instead I walked up to the balcony overlooking the empty ballroom, sitting down and scooting to the edge so my legs swung over open air. To my left one of the tall, gilded, latticed windows was opened onto the overcast sea. I pulled out a joint from my clutch, tracing my fingers along the inscription etched in the marble floor.
AC + TH
I’d etched this the night I fell in love with Theo.
My relationship with Theo was always different. From the very beginning, we were connected. Something else, something other. But this was where it became love.
“Thought you would have grown out of your bad teenage habit.”
I coughed out smoke at the voice, looking up to find Theo staring down at me.
Some habits are impossible to break.
I lightly punched my chest, trying to stifle the coughs. When I spoke, my throat was sore. “I only smoke—”
“When you have a problem you can’t solve,” he finished.
“I was going to say sometimes.”
“Oh, you were going to lie.” He did his Theo laugh. Not quite a laugh. Not quite a scoff. Like he wasn’t laughing with me or even at me, but because he knew something I didn’t.