They both recognize Theo. They’ve seen pictures of him. Theo clearly doesn’t know who they are because he looks at me and asks, “Who are they?”
Marco and Jay come to stand on either side of me like a pair of Dobermanns, ready to pounce if I give them the okay.
“They’re my partners.”
“What? Like… at the firm?”
“No, like my life.” They both slide a hand behind my lower back, displaying their possessiveness, and yes, it makes me stand a little taller. I don’t have to see their faces to know they have the same stern look I have right now.
“They’re…both… your boyfriends?” Theo stumbles out, his eyes wide.
“Yup,” I reply, popping the p.
Theo’s chest visibly rises and falls as the little bit of confidence he had seems to slip away. He takes half a step toward me and leans in to speak softly, as if the guys won’t be able to hear. “Can we talk alone?”
I peer up at Marco and then Jay, who gives me a silent look that saysit’s up to you.I turn out of their hold and face them. “Just give me a few minutes.”
Marco gently squeezes my upper arm and places a kiss on my forehead before Jay does the same. They stalk off to the kitchen and pretend to look busy, but I know they’re listening in.
In a low, hushed voice, Theo says, “I came here tonight to firstly apologize. That’s what was most important.” He looks down at the couple feet between us and nods his head before returning his sight to mine. Sorrow and hope tangle in his eyes. “And I had hoped we could… rebuild.” He reaches his hand out to mine and pulls it up between us, his thumb tracing over my ring finger where my wedding band used to sit. I pull back at the intimate touch and tuck my hands under my arms, closing myself off.
“There is nothing to rebuild, Theo. It’s gone.She’sgone. I buried our daughter and I buried this marriage whenyouburied my heart. There’s no going back.”
“You can’t mean that, baby—”
“I amnotyour baby. Nothing you could do or say would make me take you back. You hurt me too deeply, Theo. Even if I wasn’t in a committed relationship right now, I wouldn’t take you back. You left a crater in my heart that I am trying to fix—and so are they,” I nod over to the kitchen where the guys jump and pretend they weren't listening intently.
“Listen,” I continue, easing up on my anger. “I’m happy you’re in therapy because what we went through was tough, and your apology really does mean a lot. I never thought I would hear it, so thank you for that. But this is the last time I will tell you: we will never be getting back together. I can do my best to heal myself, but I can’t go back. I’m sorry.”
He uses the side of his palm to wipe away his tears and coughs. “Yeah,” he grumbles. “Okay.”
After an awkward goodbye, I watch him leave my stoop through the peephole and then sag my forehead against the door. I spin around, shutting the interior doors and grabbing the throw pillow off the couch and screaming bloody murder into it. My guys are at my side right away, and as I scream, they sit me down on the cushion and let me power through this emotional fucking storm.
This day… what the fuck?
First, having that energizing meeting with Fredrik for the potential new business, then seeing Maureen and the fury rekindling inside me from losing the project. Then seeing my mom… therealher again, was amazing and it made my heart soar. And then this… whateverthiswas with Theo.
My mental load is over capacity. I cannot be responsible for controlling my emotions for the rest of the night. I’m waving my white flag.
The guys rub my back in gentle strokes, as I finish emptying my lungs into the pillow. I pull it away and grunt, staring blankly at the wall of bookshelves across from me. “I’ve had a day.”
“Do you wanna talk about it?” Marco asks. “And then we can breathe through it together.”
I unload it all for them.
Fredrik.
Maureen.
Mom.
Theo.
When I’m done, Marco leads us through some deep breathing exercises that calm me down and center me. And I do feel better.
I ask about their days, laughing with them when Marco recounts his story about his last client who fell asleep and farted the whole time. Jay tells us about his busy day and the great time he had with Isabelle catching up and having a few beers.
“You should be proud of the way you handled Theo tonight, sweetheart,” Marco says through a smile.
