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“I will be.”

“Try to find time to relax on the beach as much as you can. The sand and sun will be good for you.”

“Yeah. Sure,” I agree.

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve taken a week off…”

“Well, if you weren’t such a workaholic, I would ask you to come with me,” I tell him with a smile. “Not that there’s anything wrong with doing what you love,” I quickly add since I’m pretty sure I heard Natalie mention he was always too busy for her before ending things.

“If you want company, I could probably take some time off,” he offers.

My stomach flips with excitement.

“Seriously?” I ask, afraid to get my hopes up.

Theo shrugs like taking a week off work to fly to the Caribbean is no big deal for him when it absolutely is.

“If you want me there, then I will figure it out.”

“Oh my god, Teddy! You have no idea how much I would love for you to come with me,” I tell him honestly. “Just being around him…”

“He’s going to hate seeing you with me,” Theo remarks.

“Yes, he will,” I agree with a laugh.

Theo taps his fingers against the table, then says, “If we’re doing this, we should commit.”

“Commit to what?”

His eyes lift to mine. “Letting him think we’re together.”

I’m not sure if he’s joking or not, but my mind starts spinning.

At first, the idea almost sounds fun. Petty and harmless and exactly the kind of thing Kendall would come up with.

Then reality sinks in.

“Pretend we're dating?” I repeat.

Theo shrugs. “It’s not that complicated.”

Maybe not for him. But for me, well, Theo isn't some random guy I can flirt with for a week and laugh about later.

He's Theo.

My best friend.

The person I run to when my life falls apart.

And now we’re supposed to share a room and act like we're together?

“What?” Theo asks.

I blow out a breath. “I don’t know. I’m not sure if we could pull that off.”

“Why not?”

Because I already like it too much when you touch me.