“Theo,” someone called. It wasn’t his brother.
He glanced over his shoulder and turned back to stare at the lights. “Ethan.”
“I wanna talk to you.” Ethan came onto the balcony toward him.
“You could’ve called.” He picked up his glass and swirled it around.
“I fucking chartered a helicopter to get here to talk to you in person.” Ethan put his hand on Theo’s shoulder and spun him around.
Alcohol sloshed over his hand from his still unconsumed drink. “I’m not in the talking mood. Sorry you wasted your time and money.” He shook the liquid from his fingers.
“Too bad. I’m going to talk; you’re going to listen.”
“Say what you need to say, then get out.” He loosened his tie, lifted it over his head, and tossed it on the floor.
“What the hell happened to you? Where did my best friend go? Because this guy?” Ethan motioned to Theo. “I don’t know him.”
Ethan wasn’t saying anything that Theo didn’t agree with. He couldn’t blame Ethan for not wanting to be his friend anymore; after what he’d done to Chloe, he didn’t like himself much either.
“Chloe’s going back to live in Sydney,” Ethan said suddenly.
That startled Theo out of his pity party. “What?”
“She’s moving back to Sydney. She’s heartbroken and can’t bear to be in the same city—no, country, no, hemisphere as you. That’s the kind of arsehole you were. That’s how much you hurt her.” Each word was pointed like a dagger. But Ethan wasn’t finished. “Surely, you could see she was falling for you. Yeah, I was pushing you together, but you should’ve stopped it before it went too far. Instead, you treated her like a tissue to wipe your arse. Did she mean nothing to you?”
Chloe mustn’t have told Ethan how their relationship had started, and Theo wasn’t going to tell him about his sister’s sexual history—or lack thereof—before she’d met Theo. “Yes, she meant something to me. I fucking lo—” He cut himself off, pushed away from the balcony, and marched into the apartment.
Ethan followed him inside. “What were you going to say?”
“Nothing.” He knocked back the remnants of his drink.
“Were you going to say you love her?” Ethan stared at him.
Theo gave a curt nod. No point denying it; it was probably written all over his face.
Ethan lifted his palms up. “Why the hell haven’t you told her?”
“Because I’m no good for her.”
Ethan shook his head with a frown. “What does that mean? You used to be one of the most decent guys I know. I wouldn’t have tried to hook you up with my sister otherwise.”
He might as well tell Ethan about his problem. Hell, he should just put up a billboard in Times Square.
Ethan frowned when Theo finished bringing him up to speed. “If Chloe knows and understands, what’s the problem?”
“I can’t give her everything she wants.” Was everyone around him dense? Why couldn’t they see that this was a major problem?
“My sister knows her own mind. For some reason, you’re who she wants.” Ethan shook his head. “If she says she wants you with or without kids—believe her. You love her. She loves you. Don’t be a fucking idiot and let your pride get in the way.”
Theo froze and stared at Ethan.Don’t be a fucking idiot and let your pride get in the way.The words smacked him over the head with the force of a sledgehammer. He’d let Chloe walk out of his life because of hispride.
His pride had had him keeping the secret from his family. His pride had him believe that no one would want him for who he was. His pride had made him believe he wasn’t good enough for Chloe. God, he really was afucking idiot. He’d ruined everything. Chloe was the greatest thing to happen in his life, and he’d let her slip through his fingers. Now he needed to fix his mess. He prayed Chloe would forgive him. He wasn’t too proud to beg if he had to. “I have to go.” Theo set his glass on the coffee table and raced out the door.
“Where are you going?” Ethan called after him.
“To see Chloe,” he said over his shoulder.
Chapter Thirty-Five