John lifts his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll shut up.”
We finish dessert—Trisha made huckleberry cobbler because apparently she “sensed” I’d like it (she sensed correctly)—and by the time we’re standing on the porch again, the sky is pinpricked with stars.
Trisha pulls me into another crushing hug. “Come back soon,” she orders.
“I will,” I promise.
Theo and John finish talking, John giving me a wink before heading inside. And then it’s just me and Theo on the wide, wooden steps.
Theo turns to me, holding out a hand which I gratefully take. “You okay?” His eyes search mine, his brows drawn together. “Was it too much? Too fast?”
I’m shaking my head. “No, nothing like that. I … Sometimes parents are hard for me,” I say simply, and I hope to God he gets it, because if I have to explain it out loud, I might just cry again.
Understanding washes over him, and he nods.
“But I loved tonight, I loved them,” I say honestly. “Your parents are … amazing.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “Yeah. They’re pretty great.”
“I can see where you get it from.”
He looks like he’s going to say something snarky or self-deprecating but holds it back. Instead, he answers with a soft, “Yeah?”
I nod. “You’re … you’re a really good man, Theo.”
His throat bobs. For a moment, he looks like he wants to say something.
But instead he reaches out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Let’s get you home,” he murmurs, voice low, rough.
My pulse jumps, heat curling low in my belly.
So I let him guide me to the truck and take me home.
Chapter eighteen
Theo
Myphonebuzzesinmy pocket right as I’m finishing up with a vital screw in the shower wall. It startles me, and I almost drop my tools, but I grit my teeth and steady myself. I twist the screw a few more times, taking a step back to admire my handiwork. I reach out to test the showerhead.
Yeah, that should do it.
A satisfied smile spreads across my face as I reach into my back pocket for my phone. On the screen is a text from Mom.
Mom: We loved having you and Cora over last night. Tell her we love her, alright? We’re so happy you’re finally together, honey.
It sends a mixture of something warm yet tight rushing through my chest. Of course Mom and Dad love Cora. Who wouldn’t? I love Cora. I just hope to God that this …thingwe’re doing right now actually turns into something. It sure feels like something, but I don’t know. It feels fragile, like any wrong move could break it.
But it’s also been so perfect. We still joke around with each other, talk about anything and everything under the sun—only now, we flirt too. And have sex.
Like, really fucking good sex.
But it’s not even the sex that I care about—it’s just her. The way she falls asleep in my arms, the way she smiles when I hand her coffee in the morning.
All I have to do is just not fuck this thing up.
“Theo?” Cora’s voice has me scrambling out of the shower. She’d gone out with some friends from the ranch this morning for brunch.
