Theo’s face went approximately the color of a fire truck, but he was grinning.
“I think we have an audience,” he said quietly.
“I don’t care,” I said, and was surprised to find I meant it.
Mrs. Chen could invite the entire neighborhood to watch for all I cared. Nothing was going to ruin this night.
“Willie Wee!” Debbie’s voice carried from inside the house. “Are you taking Daddy on a date?”
“I am indeed, princess,” I called back.
“Good! He brushed his teeth three times and used the fancy soap!”
“Fancy soap?” I raised an eyebrow.
Theo buried his face in my shoulder with a groan. “It has moisturizer,” he said defensively. “Don’t judge me.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. This was exactly what I’d been hoping for—not perfection, but something real and warm and absolutely, uniquely us.
“Ready for our adventure?” I asked, offering him my arm.
“God, yes. Get me out of this neighborhood right now.”
“As m’lord commands,” I said, stepping carefully off the stair and offering a mock bow.
“You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope, but I promise you’ll like it.”
Theo looked back toward the house, where I could see Julia waving from the living room window with Debbie bouncing beside her.
“They’ll be fine,” I said gently. “Julia’s got this. And I’d wager good money that Mrs. Chen checks in on them before the night’s over.”
He nodded, took a deep breath, and closed the door behind him.
“Okay,” he said, surprising me again by slipping his hand into mine, threading our fingers as though we’d been holding hands our entire lives. “I’m ready.”
As we walked toward my car, Mrs. Chen barked one more time: “Have fun, boys! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“That leaves us a lot of options,” Theo muttered, but he was still smiling.
As I was helping him into the passenger seat, I noticed Mrs. Chen had disappeared into her house, only to reappear moments later holding up what looked like a piece of paper with a large “9” written on it.
“It was a good kiss, but I want more tongue next time . . . for the ten!” she shouted cheerfully, waving the makeshift scorecard in the air.
Theo practically dove into the car, his face blazing red as he fumbled with his seat belt. “Drive. Please. Before she gets a megaphone or texts all the neighbors. They have a group chat.”
I couldn’t stop laughing as I jogged around to the driver’s side, Mrs. Chen still cheering from her porch while Cuddles barked enthusiastically beside her.
“Your neighbor is . . .” I started as I got behind the wheel.
“Insane?” Theo suggested, still trying to hide behind his hands.
“I was going to say entertaining.”
“Same thing.”
I reached across the seat and squeezed his thigh as I started the engine, my heart racing with anticipation.
