Page 50 of Theodore

Theo bolted up.

"What sort of party?"

"Just a cookout." I shrugged as he relaxed.

"Oh. Okay. If you need anything, Jax—"

"I know, baby. I won't. How are you feeling?"

"Shit. How many days till you are back?"

"Three," I murmured.

Theo chewed on the inside of his cheek silently. He didn't seem like himself at all, but he wouldn't open up to me. It was so unlike him.

"What ya wearing? It better be a trash bag," he muttered.

Mara giggled from beside me. Vix was curling her hair, and Freya was applying her makeup.

"You aren't wearing those dungarees." I snorted, laughing at Mara's reaction. "I've got to get ready, baby..." I sighed as he frowned.

"Okay. Text me later. Love you."

"Love you too," I whispered, kissing the screen, wishing it was his lips I was touching.

The screen went blank as I smiled brightly at the others.

An hour later, I wished I'd eaten something, my stomach now filled with the sickly punch someone had handed out. I followed Mara through the crowd when suddenly a hand caught my arm, pulling me against a hard chest.

"I've been told to look after you tonight, Phillips," Jax declared as I steadied myself against him.

"Yeah, well, you need to meet my friend," I twisted to see Mara had disappeared into the crowd. "Shit," I muttered, scanning the crowd for her.

"Shall we get some shots?" Jax grinned, pulling me towards the punch. He nodded at the guy pouring the drinks as I searched for Mara. "How are you coping without your boy?" Jax sipped the punch as he coughed. "Fuck, that's strong."

"Shit. I miss Theosomuch. But he's just...not himself. I don't know."

"Theo loves you, always has. I know he's tripping about this Lissa shit, but really—"

'What? What about Lissa?” I demanded as Jax froze. "Tripping about the Lissa shit, what do you mean?"

Jax paled slightly, swallowing hard.

"He said you knew..."

"That she's pregnant? Yes, I know. It's not Theo's,” I muttered.

"How do you know it's not?"

"Because he slept with hermonthsbefore. It'snothis."

"Yeah?" Jax stepped towards me, and his eyes were burning into mine. "If it is, what then?"

I set my drink down on the side, meeting his gaze head-on.

What did he know that I didn't? Since when did stepping up to the girlfriend make me less of a best friend?

I glared at Jax as he raised his eyebrows.