All Chapters of Rivals on ice: the bet is on: Chapter 11 - Chapter 18

18 Chapters

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THEODOREThe house became chaotic overnight.Caterers calling every hour. Douglas at the dining table with seating charts spread out like battle plans. My mother on the phone coordinating with venues, flowers and photographers. And somehow Elijah and I kept getting pulled into it."Boys, I need you to fold these programs," Mom said, dropping a stack of cards on the kitchen table."We need to sort out invitations as well." Douglas added, setting down a box of envelopes and a guest list."And you both need to taste-test the menu options the caterer's sending over," Mom continued. "Make sure we're not picking anything terrible."Elijah said, "Happy to help."I said nothing. Just sat down and started folding programs like I'd been ordered to.We worked in silence for twenty minutes. Folding, addressing, organizing. Our parents moved in and out of the room, too busy to notice the tension. And too distracted to see the way Elijah kept positioning himself closer to me.Then I felt his knee p

CHAPTER TWELVE

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

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THEOI woke up furious.It woke me up as early as 5:30 AM with my hand and jaw clenched tight as my body vibrated with rage. I was furious at Elijah, the bet and the fact that I'd sat on that couch last night and let him kiss me. Also because of how bad I wanted to pull him close and kiss him back. I went to bed with a very hard dick that I wanted him to touch. All this made me very angry.I got up and went straight to the basement gym. I didn't even bother with stretching as I loaded weight onto the bar and started bench pressing with more force than form. Push up. Down. Again. Again. My muscles screamed but I didn't stop.I was halfway through my third set when I felt someone watching.I looked up and Elijah was standing in the doorway already dressed for a run in shorts and a t-shirt, looking fresh and awake while I was here destroying myself at 6 AM. He didn't say anything as he watched me with that calm expression that made me want to throw the barbell at him.I did another rep.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THEOI couldn't sleep. At 1:30 AM I gave up trying and went downstairs for water. The house was dark, quiet and I was halfway to the kitchen when I saw the light on.Elijah was sitting at the table with a mug of tea and a book, looking like he'd been there for a while. Maybe he also couldn't sleep. He looked up when he heard my footsteps and for a moment, we just stared at each other and I contemplated turning back when something stopped me.I wasn't sure if it was exhaustion, curiosity or maybe just loneliness so I got my water and sat down across from him without saying anything. Five minutes passed, then ten in silence. I sipped my water and the only sound was the occasional one from his book when he flipped the page."What are you reading?" I asked finally.He showed me the cover and it was some fantasy novel I'd never heard of about a dragon or something."Didn't think you read fiction," I said."I don't broadcast everything about myself.""Could've fooled me." The corner of his

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THEODana arrived on Friday afternoon in a burst of sunshine, perfume and energy that felt wrong the second she stepped out of her car. She hugged, kissed me and smiled so brightly which was supposed to be everything I wanted but even as I hugged her back and tried to feel something, I just felt hollow instead."I missed you so much," she said against my shoulder."Missed you too."My mother came out onto the porch, already smiling. Dana pulled away from me and went straight to her. "Mrs. Callahan, it's so good to finally meet you.""Please, call me Maggie. And it's wonderful to meet you too. Theodore talks about you all the time."That was a lie but Dana beamed like it was true. Douglas appeared next and they did the introductions with handshakes as Dana was already charming everyone like she always did. Then Elijah walked out and I felt my entire body tense."Dana, this is Elijah," I said, keeping my tone and face neutral. "My mom's fiancé's son."Dana's eyes lit up with recognition

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

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

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