“Apparently.” Had Theo really been jealous? The thought shouldn’t have given me a thrill.

“And he thought Anton was an abusive boyfriend or something? I know Anton shouldn’t have told him anything, but Theo was so worried about you. Honestly, I didn’t think he had it in him.”

Joy truly shouldn’t have filled me at the idea that Theo worried about me, yet there it was warming my chest. I reminded myself he’d gone behind my back. He’d pressed on that bruise when I’d specifically told him not to.

It was intolerable that he knew. I’d worked so hard to lock away my humiliation and protect myself. Now I was vulnerable again. The joy evaporated. I wanted to vomit.

“Henry?” Hannah’s face creased. “You look woozy.”

“Is the picture really gone?”

She blinked in what seemed to be surprise. “What? You mean…? Yes! My cousin scoured that bastard’s phone and his outgoing messages in every app. To the best of my knowledge, he only sent it to Anton. We erased it from the cloud and factory reset his phone. Anton’s too. It’s been a few years now. I think you’re safe.”

Safe. I felt dangerously raw. I was an exposed nerve.

“If there’s something between you and Theo—”

“Please leave me alone.” My jaw clenched. My throat was too thick, and my eyes burned.

Face sorrowful, she backed away. “I’m sorry, Henry. We’re rooting for you tomorrow. So many people are.”

After the door closed, I stood frozen on the red and white throw rug. I couldn’t move. I could barely breathe. I was going to shatter into a million pieces, and I couldn’t allow it.

I would not allow it.

Tomorrow, I would skate the most important program of my life. I had to keep everything else locked away. I couldn’t allow myself to think about Theo. I couldn’t—

“Hey.”

I blinked. Theo somehow stood in the now open doorway. Had he even knocked? I had to order him to get out, out, out. I should never have said yes to him training in Toronto.

Should never have offered him rides. Never have let him into my home. Cooked for him and cared for him. Let him smile and laugh. Let him make me feel everything I’d blocked out for so long. I should never have been fooled into thinking I could turn off my emotions again.

Loathing him had been so much easier. This hurt, and I couldn’t stand it.

“Get. Out.” Jaw aching, my teeth ground together.

“No!” He closed the door. “Please. We have to talk.”

Fury boiled up, and I latched onto it desperately. “I believed you. You said you wouldn’t ask. Are you happy now? You know how pathetic I am.”

“What?” He shook his head, stepping toward me before stopping and fisting his hands at his sides. “I know that Anton and that Mike motherfucker were cruel assholes. That’s what I know.”

I scoffed. “I should have known better. It was all a joke. A bet. I should have realized no one would actually want to be with me.”