Page 30 of Hearts Adrift (A Texas Beach Town Romance #4)
“Saw the framed pictures in your house. One in the den downstairs, the other in the game room,” he growls.
I blink. I suppose that’s thanks to Heather, the real one who never let go of my ex.
Theo gasps. “Y-You know who I am? By … name?”
I turn to shoot Theo a look. He sounds more honored River knows his name than he is concerned about being the second jaw River’s fist might meet this month—not that anyone’s counting except maybe the tabloids.
I quickly put a hand to River’s chest. “Not Theo. The guy he’s seeing. He’s been stalking me.”
River’s eyebrows twitch. He eyes Theo. “Really?”
“Not seeing anymore,” Theo quickly corrects me. “He is gone . Broke up with him the second I saw the article.”
River looks like he’s literally chewing on his words, a storm cloud raging over his eyes. Then at once it dissipates, and he lowers his gaze. “I shouldn’t be one to point fingers. This wouldn’t be happening at all if it weren’t for me …”
“Not that again,” I groan, turning back to him.
“I’m always as careful as I need to be in my line of work. But with you, I lost myself.” River grips me by both of my shoulders and gently brings his forehead to mine. “I am so sorry this is happening, and if I have to spend every last cent to my name to fix this for you and your family …”
“Please don’t do that,” cuts in Theo, rushing forward—but not too close, likely in fear of River changing his mind about socking him. “I want to help.”
“You can’t help,” I throw back at Theo.
“If it wasn’t for me clinging to my heartache, driving the guy I was seeing bonkers, your privacy would never—”
“And if I hadn’t clocked a director in the jaw,” River cuts in just as grievingly, letting go of me to face off with Theo—though it looks less in anger and more in sadness, like each is determined to be more at fault than the other, “this nightmare wouldn’t have come to Dreamwood Isle.”
“And neither would you,” says Theo, “and then Finn wouldn’t look so happy!”
“Happy?” I cut in, surprised.
“Happy!” Theo doubles down. “I mean, yeah, the pics were creepy, but didn’t you see your face?”
“My … face?”
“It’s the … the first thing I noticed … your face …” Theo’s eyes sparkle with joy, picturing it. “Well, before the shock of reality hit me. I saw the … the joy in your eyes.”
The joy in my eyes.
It was truly a magical moment we shared, River and I, in that secluded spot in Cottonwood Cove. A moment I’ll never capture again in my lifetime.
“There were other pics, too,” Theo goes on. “Pics I saw just before I deleted them off his phone. Your laughter … how River lit up your whole face … I have never seen you so happy, Finn.” He swallows before saying the rest. “Even when … when you were with me.”
I feel the breath escaping my lungs at his words.
This really isn’t the same Theo.
Our breakup has done him favors, too.
“Let me make this right,” he says once more. “For both of you,” he adds with a nervous glance at River.
The sound of distant shouting draws us quiet. Outside. Indistinct shouting, as if from a concert, the swelling buzz of anticipation for something huge, itching for the band to come back out onto the stage for an encore, the drumming of feet against pavement.
“It’s only a matter of time,” murmurs River with dread.
Theo comes up to me. “Give me your clothes.”
I turn to him. “Say what?”
“Want me to go?” he asks. “You said so a minute ago. Said you wanted me to walk outta here and take the circus with me.” He smiles, inspired. “Fine. I’ll do exactly that.”
Then Theo starts to undress.
“Whoa, whoa …” River lifts his hands. “What the fuck are you doing, man?”
“C’mon, Finn,” urges Theo, his mesh tank top off, now kicking off his shoes and going for his shorts. “You gotta trade clothes with me. Give me that loud-ass hoodie thing.”
“What are you doing?” I ask, reaching out to stop him.
He grins at me, his eyes twinkling with motivation. “I’m becoming the man of the hour: you.”
I stare back at him, stunned. “Theo … you can’t—”
He takes hold of my Hopewell hoodie-tank—drenched from my workout and sweated through from racing away from the news van outside in the heat—and starts peeling it off for me.
I’m in a daze as I slowly succumb to the insane idea, putting on Theo’s mesh tank, then trading out my gym shorts for his ripped up black ones with the chain.
Theo has done a plethora of absurd, unexpected things in our time together. This is by far the most absurd.
“You’re not actually—” I start.
He tugs my bright hoodie-tank and gym shorts on, then chuckles like his old self. “Still the same size. You and I, creatures of habit. Seems like our greatest peeve of being called twins is about to pay off. Phew, that hot pavement’s gonna murder my feet. At least I’m parked nearby.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I’ll text you when I’m in the clear, out of town with the whole circus on my tail. Might do a lap or two of the island before leading them up the causeway.”
“Out of town?” I ask, surprised.
“Gotta get as many of the whackos to follow me out as I can, right? Make them think you’ve fled so your family’s left alone.
Hey, uh … Mr. River?” He winks at him. “Take care of the love of my life, will you? … And maybe if it … wouldn’t inconvenience you too much, can you autograph my tank before returning it?
I cherished your performance in Wingless Angels and am dying for the sequel. ”
River frowns. “You’re insane.”
Theo pats us both on our shoulders. “Make the most of my bold move, alright?” He tugs the hood over his head, covering his bleached and pink tips, then rushes out of the door.
The crowd outside explodes, shouting my name.
And then slowly, like a crashing wave pulling back to the sea, the crowd fades away, going after Theo, farther and farther away, until all River and I know is blissful silence.