Without a word, he hands me the bag.
I smell what’s inside before I open it. “You’re cheating,” I whisper.
“Expect any different?”
“No.”
My mouth waters.
Iwantthe cookies.
I want themso badly.
But I make myself set the bag aside.
He eyes me like he’s waiting for the yelling to start.
I don’t want to yell.
I just want him to tell mewhy. Why he’s here. What he wants. What he’s willing to do to get what he wants.
Not tricks. Not kittens and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
Me.
I want to know what he wants withme.
He looks down at the hair dryer. “They’ll tell you not to scratch down your cast. This one has a super low setting. Blow it down the cast if you itch. It’ll help.”
“Thank you.”
“Yeah. Least I can—anyway. If I break one of my bones again, I might ask for it back.”
“Again?”
He flexes his left arm. “Climbing accident. You were all in college.”
We both fall silent.
It’s the most comfortableawkwardI’ve ever experienced.
Or maybe the most awkward comfortable.
I miss him.
I had three days of realizing I knew nothing about who Theo truly is but enjoying every minute with him more and more and more.
I want to go on adventures. I want to see new places. Try new things.
Laugh.
Press boundaries.
Realize life goes on even when it’s not perfect.
And I want to do itwith him.
He lifts his gaze to mine again. Takes a deep breath.
