Page 108 of Under His Jersey

“Sorry,” I say, and laugh, because Theo looks horrified. “I’m blunt. That’s what happened, and I’m over it.”

“How long were you together?” Brandon asks.

“Three years. Since the summer before sophomore year. It ended the first week here.”

Theo puts both hands on top of his head. “That’s heavy. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, I swear. That’s why you should ask her. I spent three years with somebody who didn’t say one true thing to me for the last two weeks of it, and it turns out I’d rather he’d just told me.”

Theo looks at me for a second. “Okay. I’ll ask her.”

“When?” I say too quickly like it’s a test.

He side-eyes me.

“When, Theo?” I ask. “Put a date on it.”

“Fine,” he sighs, smiling. “Tomorrow.”

I point at him and open my mouth to promise I’ll find out if he doesn’t, and the door opens, and all of us turn our heads.

It’s Nash, in a hoodie and joggers with his hands at his sides. His eyes go around the room once, fast, and land on me, and then on my finger pointed at Theo. I drop my hand and look at Kenzie, who’s staring at him with her cup halfway to her mouth.

“Uh,” Theo says, standing up off the couch. “Wrong room, man. You might be looking for two doors down.”

“Who are you?” Brandon says.

Nash looks at Theo, then back at me, and doesn’t say anything. He crosses the room. Theo says, “Hey, man,” but doesn’t get in his way, because Nash has about four inches and forty pounds on him.

“Come on,” Nash says to me. “We’re leaving.”

I laugh. “We’re leaving? What are you even doing here?”

The room goes silent. And Theo, who has known me for two and a half hours and is a genuinely nice person, squints at Nash and says, “Kylie, is this the guy who cheated on you?”

I laugh so hard I have to cover my mouth. Nash’s head turns very slowly toward Theo.

“No,” I say through my fingers. “No, no. This isn’t my ex.” I look up at Nash. “Told you. Told you you have the vibe.”