บททั้งหมดของ Rivals on ice: the bet is on: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 18

THEOWhen I walked into the living room around 11pm, I surprisingly saw him there.I'd been lying in bed staring at the ceiling for two hours, listening to the quiet house and I still couldn't fall asleep. Then I decided to go downstairs and maybe watch a movie but there he was.Elijah was sitting on the couch in the dark with no TV and no book. It looked like he had been waiting and knew that I'd come down.How he knew? I wasn't so sure.I stood in the doorway for a moment contemplating turning around and pretending I had never come down here but I summoned courage, walked in and sat on the other end of the couch.We didn't speak for a good moment, just staring into the darkness. I could hear him breathing and smell the soap on him which oddly made me relax a bit."Come here," he said.I didn't move."Come here, Theodore."Reluctantly, I slid a bit closer but still left a foot of space between us to maintain some sort of distance. But of course, Elijah closed it up as he shifted on t

THEODana's name flashed on my phone while I was hiding in my car in the driveway.I'd been sitting there for ten minutes already, trying to convince myself to go back inside when she called and I picked up instantly."Hey," I said."Hey! I have the best idea."Something in her voice made my stomach drop. I knew that excited tone, she had made plans for something."What idea?""I'm driving up this weekend. I miss you too much and I want to meet your mom. We can spend the whole weekend together and I can help with wedding stuff, it'll be perfect."My chest tightened. "This weekend?""Yeah! I already checked and I don't have any major assignments due. I can leave Friday after my morning class and be there by afternoon.""Dana, I don't think that's a good idea.""Why not?""The house is chaotic with wedding planning. There's stuff everywhere. It's not a good time for visitors.""I don't mind chaos. I just want to see you, Theo. I miss you.""I miss you too, but—""But what? You've been g

THEOI woke up angry.No, not angry. Terrified.I'd gotten comfortable last night and I couldn't afford to let that happen again. I avoided him all morning. When he came into the kitchen, I went outside. When he was in the living room, I stayed upstairs. I took my breakfast on the back porch and ate alone while watching the sun come up.Elijah didn't chase me, corner me or say anything but I felt his eyes on me all through so by noon I decided I needed to get out and away from the house and him. I told my mom I had some errands to run and practically ran out of the house before she could ask questions.I ended up at a local bookstore in town, wandering the aisles without looking for anything specific. Just needing to be somewhere that wasn't that house."Theodore Callahan?"I turned and two guys were standing there, they were around my age and holding hands. One of them looked awfully familiar."James?" I said, placing him finally. "James Morrison from high school, yeah?""Yeah! Oh my

THEOSaturday was torture.Dana wanted to spend time together with just the two of us so we drove into town, had lunch at some cafe she picked, walked around looking at shops without buying anything and simply enjoying our day. Except… I just wasn't enjoying it.She was affectionate as she held my hand, leaned into me when we walked, kissed me at stoplights like we were in a movie and I played my part by smiling when need be, kissed her back and said the right things at the right times. It was all performative and I felt so bad for it.But I felt like I was watching myself from outside my body. I was faking being Theodore Callahan instead of actually being him. We got back to the house around 5PM because dinner was at six and Elijah was already there when we walked in. He was sitting in the living room reading a book, he looked up, nodded at us then went back to his book.He acted as though he and I were just strangers and somehow that made me feel weird even though it was what I ough