Theo

Nah

Phil’s POV

It’s been three days and Theo won’t leave.  He’s been sleeping in my bed, complaining that he wants rice and beans, bugging me to play video games—it’s almost like old times, actually.  Only different because my phone keeps buzzing.

    “Is he still there?”

    “When is he leaving?”

    “I thought we were going to hang out.”

    Harrison kept pushing, trying to come over but only if Theo isn’t here—for obvious reasons.

    The irony is that Harrison knows who I actually like.  Who I’d always choose.

    But he also knows I need him.

    When my phone buzzed for the hundredth time, I moved to grab it and Theo caught me by my shirt, tossing me backwards on the bed, grabbing my phone.  He’s a bully.  Usually jokes that he’s the bully’s bully but Theo is just . . . mean sometimes.  He’s rude and does whatever he wants and nobody would fault him for it because he’s probably the most popular guy in our class right next to Trey but that’s his best friend so there was no getting around Theo.

    He answered the call.  “Need something?”

    My face paled as I realized who would be on the other line.

    “You can come over, you know.”  His green eyes flickered to me, this wicked smirk sliding across his full lips.  There was no denying the threat in his voice.  If Harrison showed, I was pretty sure Theo would make things ugly for him.

    I could hear Harrison talking and swallowed.  Was he cussing him out?

    Theo chuckled.  “Nah, cant.  We're having a Naruto marathon over here.”

    My mouth felt dry.  I knew what Harrison would think.  I just didn’t know what Theo was thinking.  Was Theo trying to make Harrison think that we were—

    When he hung up, he tossed my phone back to me, taking a seat on my bed.  “He calls you more than Tania calls me,” he muttered, picking up the control.  When I didn’t move, he turned his attention back to me, quirking a dark brow.  It’s so annoying, trying to be angry with someone who is wildly attractive.  I used to feel so uncomfortable locked in that gaze and I hated the way he stared at me, completely unabashed, fearless.  He does whatever he wants and everybody just bows to him.  I just bow to him.  Even now, taking in that challenging look, leaning back against his hand, powerful body stretched with ease.  No anxiety.  No worry.  How can somebody walk through life without any sense of caution?  Of . . . boundaries?  I tried to set personal boundaries, I did.  We talked about knocking on the door.  We talked about him eating chips on the floor, not my bed.  We talked about him not using the bathroom when I’m in the shower--who even does that?  We talked about a number of boundaries but he never hesitated to cross them.  And worse, he’d do it while making direct eye contact with me.  Almost like he’s curious what I’ll do about it.  And what could I do?

    He’s nearly six feet tall, I’m just crossing five and half feet tall.  He’s built like a young gladiator in training, working out every day, conditioning his body—I don’t do sports.  Clutching my phone, I grit my teeth, glaring at him and he just c****d his head to the side, unabashed.  “You’re mad.”

    My face felt hot.  Yes, I was mad.  I was furious.

    He was . . . he was purposely c**k-blocking me.  Is it because it’s a guy or because he doesn’t like Harrison?  I wasn’t sure which one was worse.  When Tania got with Theo, I politely stepped out of the way to give them their space, their privacy.  Why couldn’t Theo do the same for me?

    “Don’t be mad.”  He reached out then and I flinched, ducking my head as he ruffled my hair.  Like I was a dog.  His puppy.  Am I a pet to him?

    I could scream at him.  I could throw things, could argue but he’d just crush me to his chest, pull me close, tell me to calm down.  I could still feel his mouth at my ear, the rumble of his chest as he laughs.  He’s . . . he’s such a controlling asshole sometimes.  I was pretty sure it just came naturally to him.  Some kind of dominant trait he got from his father.

    I’d seen his dad, the way he gripped the back of Theo’s mother’s neck sometimes.  I’d once walked into the kitchen and found him pressed behind Liv, whispering into her ear, his hands pressed firmly over hers, gripping the edge of the counter.  It was all in the body language—the bend of her head, the aggression in his stance—he was definitely a Dom.  Though Liv obviously liked it.  They had a great relationship, his parents.  The kind people aspire to have.

    “Harrison isn’t good for you.  I’m doing you a favor.”

    A favor?  Glaring up at him, I pursed my lips.  Why did he think he had a say in who was or wasn’t good for me?  Does he think that he’s good for me?  I felt my jaw tick, my aggression in check by clenched teeth and tensed shoulders.  He had a girlfriend.  He was a normal guy.  Strait.  Couldn’t he just mind his own business?  He should stick to what he knows and get out of my face.

    “C’mon Phil.”  He rolled his eyes, raising his controller pointedly.

    It was so—he was so infuriating.

    I could punch him.  I’ve punched him before.  He laughs.  Teases me about being weak.  He once told me I was too cute to be a real guy, laughing lightly, stirring up some messed up feelings in my chest.  No, Theo doesn’t get boundaries.  And he’s not scared to say the first thing that pops into his head.  Rolling over so my back was to the TV, I climbed under my covers.  I didn’t want to be with him right now.  I didn’t want to look at him.

    He groaned.  “Phil, for real?  Are we doing this again?”

    For real? Doing what?  “You should leave.”

    “Nah.”

    Nah.  He just told me nah.  Like leaving wasn’t an option for him.  Like he hadn’t even thought, for a second, that he should let me have my personal space.  Just nah.  Because he knew I wouldn’t kick him out.  He knew he could sit here, do what he wanted, and I’d eventually come around to him, wind up playing that stupid game, making him food.  A doormat.  I’m his doormat.

    He got up for a minute and I dumbly thought maybe, just maybe, he’d finally left.  He’d let me call up Harrison, give me the opportunity to lose myself in somebody else, to make my bedsheets smell like somebody else for a couple of hours.

    When the bed dipped beside me, I knew that wasn’t the case.

    This was Theo.  Theo wasn’t thoughtful.  Didn’t care.

    I heard him munch on some chips and rolled my eyes.  Naruto.  He’d switched to watching Anime since I wasn’t cooperating and would play the video game.

    A light chuckle, more munching.  He was happy, I realized.  Relaxed.

    Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to ignore the rising rage.  This was temporary, I reminded myself,  Just a few more days and Tania would be back.  He'd be too busy to bother with me again.

    He'd be too busy with his girlfriend.

    I should hate him.

    My eyes burned and I bit my cheek.  I swore to myself that I wouldn't cry again.

    I wish I could hate him.