The courtyard buzzed with chatter, the crisp afternoon air carrying the warmth of the sun. You sat on the low stone wall, pretending to be engrossed in your book, but your eyes had a different target: Theodore.

He stood a short distance away, casually leaning against a pillar with that effortlessly cool demeanor he always had. A girl stood next to him, smiling and twirling a strand of her hair. She seemed overly invested in whatever he was saying, and it sent a spark of irritation through you.

Without thinking, you pulled out your phone and shot him a quick text.

You: So, someone has a girlfriend and didn’t think to tell me?

It didn’t take long before your phone buzzed in response.

Theodore: Who?

You: You.

A pause. Then another buzz.

Theodore: What?… AHHH you mean this girl next to me?

You typed back quickly, unable to resist the roll of your eyes as you pressed send.

You: I don’t know… you tell me.

His reply came almost immediately, and you could practically hear his smirk through the words.

Theodore: She is not my girlfriend. Not my type either.

You: Then why are you talking to her?

This time, the response took a little longer. You glanced up, catching the subtle tilt of his head as he noticed you watching. A sly grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Theodore: She asked me where the library was… as if I could know that… Why? Jealous hmmmmm?

You quickly locked your phone, biting back a grin and trying to ignore the way your heart skipped at his teasing. He’d caught you, but there was no way you were admitting it.