“Do you believe that?” Theo asked, stopping when we reached the old brick front building that housed the pub.
“That my stepfather was filling a void?”
“No. That you only get one true love in life?”
“I’m—I’m not really sure.” I forced a smile.
He shrugged. “Just wondering.”
“Well, what about you?” I countered just as he placed his hand on the door of the pub, readying to open it. “Do you believe that we only get one true love?”
He stilled, appearing to be seriously pondering my question. “I don’t really know because I don’t know what it’s like to be in love.” His tone was apologetic as if he was admitting that for the very first time.
“But you were married. At some point you must’ve been in love with her.”
He shook his head. “Looking back now, I think it was more that I was in lust with her. That wears off quickly, and when there’s no love to back it up, there’s not much left.”
I raised an eyebrow, and he opened the door, allowing me to enter before him. I stepped inside, feeling immediately welcomed. The quaint interior had the same old-world charm as the exterior. Low ceilings held up by wooden beams, with a stone fireplace along the back wall. An array of different types of beer bottles filled the shelves behind the small mahogany bar, which was lined by a few wooden barstools. Small round tables mixed with booths filled the main sitting area. It was so much cozier and relaxed than the bars at home. Like a true place you come to unwind instead of a local pickup joint. A curly-haired brunette, sitting across from a dark-haired man at one of the booths waved at Theo, signaling for his attention.
“Oh, there’s Jo,” Theo said, leading me over to where they were sitting. The man got out of the booth as soon as we approached, shaking my hand as Theo introduced him as David before sliding in next to the woman, who Theo introduced as Jo. I sat down first, and Theo took a seat next to me.
“So, Jillian, anything you’d like to know about this bloke here, Jo and I could tell you. We’ve known him since primary school.”
“Wow!” My eyes widened. “So all of you go way back!” Theo had told me before we left that Jo and David were married. I couldn’t imagine knowing your significant other for basically your entire life. There was something so special about that. “So, did you guys date back in school?” I asked.
Jo let out a loud laugh. “I hated him! He used to be so mean. He’d pull my hair all the time.”
“Ah, come on, love, you know that’s because I really liked you.” David laughed. There was something about the two of them I instantly liked. Just like this place, I was basked in comfort by their mere presence. Theo went up to the bar to get some drinks. I usually wasn’t a beer drinker, but I did like the beer in Germany and I was in an English pub, so I figured why not? Theo promised he would pick one that wasn’t too heavy and to my liking.
“I just think it’s so cool how you, Thee, and Kate met on vacation and all stayed in touch.” I had learned within the first ten seconds of meeting them that they referred to Theo as Thee.
“Yeah, it is really neat. I always have the best intentions of keeping in touch with people I really click with, and it never seems to work out. I’m so glad it has with them. They’re great friends.”
Jo’s warm brown eyes lit up in a smile. “Thee is really great, and so is Kate. It’s such a shame.” She looked down at the table for a moment before lifting her head, focusing on me once again. “So, you’re from New York?”
“Yeah...” I answered hesitantly. “But not the city. I’m about a forty-five-minute bus ride away.” I always felt the need to clarify that ever since meeting DeAndre.
“Still that’s got to be exciting being so close to all of the excitement,” Jo continued just as Theo came walking over maneuvering an armful of beers like one of the waitresses back at the beer hall in Germany.
“Are you impressed?” He grinned at me as he placed my beer in front of me.
“I truly am.” I smiled back.
He gave David and Jo their beers before sitting down beside me and swallowing a big gulp from his own glass.
We were quite a few beers in and having a great time. Theo and David had done some shots of vodka in between and were getting louder and sillier, reminiscing back to when they were younger. “Oh bugger!” Jo exclaimed in a loud whisper as she looked over Theo’s shoulder.
Theo turned around to see what had her attention and jerked his head quickly back in Jo’s direction. “What’s she doing here?” The frustration in his voice was evident.
“I don’t know!” Jo threw her hands up in the air. “She had called me with something work related right after you texted us to meet you here. I told her it would have to wait until after because David and I were heading out to the pub.”
David rolled his eyes. “And let me guess, you told her which pub?”
Jo meekly nodded.
“And I suppose you told her Thee would be here?” Jo’s silence answered her husband’s question. “Honestly, Jo, sometimes you can be so daft!”
I knew just by their conversation and without even looking that it was Phoebe who just walked in.
“Oh, there’s everyone,” Phoebe called as she approached our table. Her smile quickly faded when she came closer and saw me sitting next to Theo. I had gone from being totally at ease to feeling like the odd man out. She threw a disparaging glance Theo’s way and then forced a fake smile
