Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 463

And just like that, the reunion fell apart.

After Theodore dragged Layton out, Carlisle left as well, mumbling an excuse with his face flushed in embarrassment.

It was all pretty ironic, Emma thought. Layton had a point: if Carlisle was truly interested, he had his chance now. But he wasn't. He was just using her as a weapon in his private war against Theodore.

*Men,* she thought with a cynical sigh.

The remaining classmates, all deep in their cups, soon dispersed, fumbling with their phones to call for rides. Emma, left to support a barely conscious Renee, had to hail a cab from the street.

Outside the restaurant, she found Theodore and Layton still waiting for their car, Layton slumped against Theodore's side. It was peak time for ride-shares, and after three cancellations, Emma saw she had another eight-minute wait. She resigned herself to it.

The summer air in Cresthaven was warm and humid. Emma stood by the curb with Renee leaning on her, a careful two-meter distance between her and Theodore. She stared at the passing traffic, pretending he wasn't there.

"Need a hand?" he asked suddenly.

She looked over. He was trying to prop Layton up against the wall, as if telling him to stand on his own for a minute. He gestured toward Renee. He thought she couldn't support her friend's weight.

"Oh, no, I'm fine," she said. She wasn't the same fragile Emma anymore. She could handle it.

Renee, who had been quiet, stirred at the sound of his voice. She mumbled into Emma's shoulder, "I'm so sorry, Emma. I didn't know he'd be here, I swear, or I wouldn't have asked you to come..."

Emma cringed. It sounded like she was afraid of him, which wasn't the case at all.

"You've had too much to drink," Theodore said through gritted teeth.

"You used to be so ambitious," Layton lamented. "You were going to build a tech empire. Now you spend your days in England baking cookies, cooking dinner, dressing like an old man. Are you trying to retire at thirty? I was counting on you to make it big so I could ride your coattails. Men... so unreliable."

*Unreliable?* Emma thought. *Aren't you a man, Layton?* She couldn't help another glance, and this time her eyes met Theodore's.

He gestured at Layton. "He's been watching too much trashy reality TV lately. That's why he sounds like a scorned lover."

Emma raised an eyebrow. *What kind of shows?* she thought.

"You know the type," Theodore explained. "The ones about cheating husbands."