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My eyes glisten behind my sunglasses as I also admit, “I don’t know what I would do without you. I don’t want you to throw me away like Natalie.”
Theo frowns and takes back his sunglasses from my hand that I forgot I was holding to slip them back over his eyes.
“Maggie, I would never throw you away,” he says. “That’s not what happened…”
“You didn’t want to marry her, perfect Natalie, even after a year.”
“I don’t want to marry anyone,” he says.
His words make me feel like I’m being submerged in ice cold water.
“Relationships always end,” he adds. “Friendships last forever.”
He’s not wrong.
But if our friendship is going to last, then I need to stop wanting him in ways I’ll never have him.
“I don’t want to mess up our friendship. I’ll move out when we get home,” I promise him. “I’ll take any job I can get.”
“No, Maggie.” Theo’s voice sharpens for the first time all afternoon. “You should be doing something you love. I don’t want you to take a job you hate just to move out of my house.”
“I don’t have much of a choice now,” I remark.
“Yes, you do. I bought you a damn food truck that you’re too stubborn to accept.”
I blink at him in confusion.
Theo had mentioned getting me a truck, but he already has one?
“You bought me a food truck?”
“Yes. I thought you would eventually come around…”
That’s really sweet of him.
And most likely his way of saying that he wants me earning a living so I can finally afford to move out of his house.
“Okay. I’ll accept the truck and find my own place as soon as we get back,” I tell him as I slide off the float into the water, feeling completely sober now.
I have to stop wishing for more than Theo can give me.
I meant what I said.
He’s my favorite person in the world. My best friend for ten years.
And that’s just going to have to be enough.
14
Theo
Our new room with two beds is much bigger and has a better ocean view.
I fucking hate it.
That night, after a day at the pool and not sleeping the night before, Maggie and I both crash into our own beds without a word.
The next few days are even more hectic with goofy wedding activities with the entire group where Maggie and I pretend to be a happy couple but never go further than a quick peck on the cheek or lips and her hand in mine.
