“Don’t be,” he replies, a boyish grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You both looked so cute, but I know you’d be more comfortable in bed. Sorry if that was weird of me to just pick you up like that. I shouldn’t ha?—”
“No, you’re fine,” I interject, about three octaves higher than normal. It wakes the dog, but only for a moment before he sees that it’s just us standing here.He’s obviously too tired to be bothered with giving his dad a warm welcome, closing his eyes, and falling right back to sleep.
Theo’s expression goes soft as he stares at Boner, turning his attention back to me after a few seconds. “It’s almost four. Why don’t we go up to bed, and I’ll make breakfast before you head home? It’s the least I can do after you took such great care of him.”
Home.Fuck.
Reality hits me like a brick, and I drag both hands down my face with a groan. I’m tired, but I’ve barely packed, and I still have to call around to see which hotels in the city have extended stay availability. I’m admittedly unprepared, but in my defense, it’s hard to come up with a solid plan in less than a week. “I should probably go. I have a lot to do today.”
He raises a brow, confused. “Before dawn? Finley, you’re growing a human being. You need rest…and food. What’s so important that it can’t wait? Also, why are you fidgeting?”
I look down, my mouth falling open when I realize that both of my pointer fingers are completely tangled in the hem of my shirt. I unwind them, clasping my hands behind my back, out of his view.
“It’s nothing,” I lie, not wanting to bother him with my problems. This relationship has already begun to toe the line betweenprofessionalandfriends, which is dangerous when I’m relying on the income at the moment. This gig is a hell of a lot better than being on my feet serving drinks for hours at a time, and I really don’t want to fuck it up.
Avoiding eye contact, I pray that he’ll let it go, but of course, he doesn’t. In fact, the concern that’s written across his face when I finally do meet his stare is so intense that I can’t help but shrink a bit. Theo is insanely rich, living in the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. I’m sure he has no idea what it’s like to feel as lost as I do right now.
His hand lifts to my cheek, tucking my messy hair behind my ear. It’s almost impossible not to lean into the tender touch, but I refrain, swallowing thickly as he studies my features. “Talk to me, Fin,” he says quietly. “It can’t benothingwhen you look so stressed out. I know you don’t know me very well, but I’d love to change that. You can tell me anything, and I promise not to let it leave this room.”
I know he’s telling the truth. I can’t explain it, but ever since last week, I’ve felt this inexplicable trust in him. He was the first person I willingly opened up to about my pregnancy, and all he did was sit there and listen—before offering a solution that made me feel a little less hopeless. I never felt an ounce of judgment from him, even though my life is a literal mess. So, why not tell him what’s changed since then? If anything, at least I won’t be so burdened by the weight of holding it in. Taking a deep breath, I exhale slowly, my shoulders dropping in defeat. I absentmindedly begin toying with my T-shirt again, channeling some of the nervous energy that’s flowing through me before I finally speak.
“I found out last week that I have to move out of the condo I share with a couple of the other servers from the club. They made it very clear that my pregnancydidn’t fit their busy lifestyle and rented my room out to the girl Blaine hired to replace me. Since my name isn’t on the lease, and I was never technically approved as a permanent tenant, I have no choice but to pack my bags and be out by Tuesday.”
His jaw hardens, brows pulling tight before he catches himself and relaxes. I can’t be sure, but I have an inkling that Theo is very protective of the people around him. He’s such a laid-back and collected guy—maybe even a little awkward at times—but seems to go into caretaker mode when someone is in need. It’s not something I’m used to, but I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t a comfort. He stays quiet, his expression giving me absolutely no indication of what he’s thinking, so I fill the empty air with more words.
“I’ve barely done anything, so the earlier I get back there, the more time I’ll have before the new girl arrives. I’d rather not be there when that happens, anyway. Them kicking me out is embarrassing enough as it is, you know?” I huff a quiet laugh, trying to act like I’m not crushed by the whole situation. With my mom off doing her own thing and Eric refusing to be here, even just for moral support, it would’ve been nice to know that Cecilia and Phoebe had my back. I’m not particularly attached to either of them, but being so effortlessly tossed aside because I’m having a baby still sucks.
“Where are you going to go?” he asks, his tone calm, yet serious. “You have another place set up to move into, right? Family that can help you out for a bit?” His head is tilted, concern evident in his ocean eyes. I know he’s just trying to make sure I’m okay, but there’s noway to downplay the fact that Idon’thave a long-term game plan.
I cringe. “No, no family. My mom isn’t around much, and I don’t have a dad. But I’ll be okay. I’m going to put everything that I can’t fit into my suitcases in a small storage unit, and I’ll check into a hotel for a few days. I signed up for an app where people post looking for roommates, so I’m sure something will open up soon.” His gaze widens at my words, nostrils flaring.
“Not fucking happening,” he rushes out. At first, I think he’s kidding, but upon further inspection of his very unfunny demeanor, I realize that he isn’t. His posture is rigid; arms crossed over his thick chest that’s suddenly heaving with heavy breaths. He almost looks angry, but in a way that’s more desperate than scary.
“Excuse me?” I say, brows pulling taut. I’ve been making my own decisions since I was a kid, never facing pushback from anyone. So, the way he’s boldly opposing my idea is throwing me off—especially since I’m nothing more than the girl who watches his dog on the weekends.
“You heard me,” he says firmly. “Over my dead body will you be moving in with a stranger, let alone while you’re pregnant. It’s not safe, Finley. What happens when the person you’re living with turns out to be the exact opposite of what they said, and they hurt you or the baby?”
My jaw clenches, the tips of my ears heating as I become more frustrated. I know he’s right, but what choice do I have? Even with the money he’s paying me to care for Boner, renting an apartment in the city isn’tcheap. I’d need to come up with a deposit, plus first and last month’s rent, all while paying for medical bills and buying everything for the nursery on my own. Add in utilities, groceries, and transportation—I can’t do it without splitting the bills.
“Not everyone has a multimillion-dollar contract, Theo,” I toss back. “Some of us are just scraping by. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember, and I always find a way to make it work. Soon, I’ll be able to get a place of my own, but not right now. When something opens up, I’ll do my research and make sure I’m not in danger. I need to live with someone, though. It’s just the way it is.”
“Fine,” he replies, extending his arms to his sides. “You want a roommate? He’s right here.”
I can’t hold back the boisterous laugh that bursts from my chest, causing Boner’s ears to perk up. He watches—eyes full of intrigue as they bounce back and forth between me and his dad. “You’re joking, right?” I say, looking around the gigantic room. It’s allstate-of-the-art technologyandluxury furniture, and I’m completely out of place. “If I can barely afford to split rent on a two-bedroom apartment in the city, what makes you think I could even put a dent in the cost of living here?”
He scoffs. “I’m not going to make you pay to live here. I don’t give a fuck about anything other than your safety.” The tension in his body softens, and he looks at me with nothing but sincerity written across his beautiful features. “Please, Fin. I couldn’t live with myself ifsomething happened to either of you and I didn’t try to stop it.”
My eyes swim with unshed tears, and I bite down on my lower lip to hide the way it’s trembling. This whole week has been a mind-fuck, starting with the day I got fired. It’s been one thing after another, making me question whether or not I could take much more. The only place I’ve felt content is right here in this house. Theo and Boner, while still newcomers to my life, have shown more compassion and acceptance than I’ve gotten from anyone in a long fucking time. So, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to stay while I’m figuring things out.
“Okay.” Relief washes over him as the assent leaves my lips, but I point an admonishing finger in his direction. “But I’m buying all the groceries. If you can’t agree to that, I’ll go find some serial killer with an extra bedroom. He’ll probably wear my skin like a bodysuit, so choose wisely.”
He barks a laugh, throwing his head back. I join in, giggling and feeling lighter than I have all week. “Whatever you say, Mama. Now get your butt in bed, and we’ll go get your stuff this afternoon.”
All right. I guess we’re really doing this.
EIGHT
THEO
