“The conversation afterwards made it up to me,” he said, setting the glass beside him.
I stared at him a moment longer, then looked away and took in his surroundings for the first time.
A collection of black and white photos were displayed in a grid on the wall beside a gigantic TV, and the book he’d shown me yesterday sat on the entertainment unit beneath it. Alongside the book, a child’s drawing had been framed and positioned front and centre—a man with a big head and tiny sticks for arms and legs, no doubt a gift from his niece.
Every detail pointed toward warmth and human connection, a people person forever searching for his tribe.
With a rush of regret, my posture deflated. I met his eyes and huffed out a sigh. “You’re right,” I said. “I'm sorry. It wasn’t my decision to make.”
My cheeks were burning up, and I desperately wanted to lose myself in peace and darkness at home.
His gaze softened as he looked me over. “For the record, no one’s ever done anything like that for me before," he said. "I appreciate the gesture, but it would have been nice to be included in the decision making part of it.”
“I just wanted to wipe the smirk off Dustin’s face,” I said, remembering the haughty way he’d looked at Theo. “He acts as if he’s better than you, but he keeps making himself look worse.”
He nodded thoughtfully, the quiet stretching on, then his eyes took on a playful glimmer. “Is that the only reason?”
I frowned and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I already said I felt bad about being rude to you.”
“That’s it?”
The pieces clicked into place, and I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile. “Fine. I did it because I like you, okay?”
Why did saying it out loud make my heart hammer?
Theo sat back in victory. “There it is. Finally.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile anymore. “Happy now?”
“I knew we’d get there in the end.” His eyes crinkled at the edges. “I like you, too.”
God, why did hearing it make my heart hammer even harder?
As my headache thudded and rain slid down the windows, another thought occurred to me, and I patted the side pocket in my leggings. “Where’s my phone?”I asked, scrambling around under the blanket. I leaned over the side of the couch and scanned the floor.
“On the kitchen bench.”
My head snapped up, and I immediately regretted it, blinking away a kaleidoscope of colours. “It still works?”
Theo nodded, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “The screen wasn’t smashed if that's what you mean.”
I couldn’t remember the details of her message, but Ava had texted and told me something had changed. Something important. “Can you get it for me? Please? I need to talk to my sister.”
“About what happened?”
“No.” I eased out a slow breath. “She texted just before the crash, and I never got the chance to read it.”
Unable to sit still, I rose from the couch and remained in a hunched position to fight off a wave of nausea.
Theo stood and clasped my shoulders, steadying me. “Why don’t you sit down? I’ll grab it for you, and you can do whatever you need to do from the couch.”
“I’m awake now. I can go home. You don’t need to baby me.”
“I might as well,” he said with a smile in his voice. “You’re acting like one.”
I scoffed, unsure if I was annoyed or amused.
He captured my chin and used his other hand to lift one of my eyelids, then the other, his gentle touch making me forget about my condition. I kept quiet and took in the dark lashes framing his eyes, the thoughtful way he scrutinised me. My heart beat faster, and I almost held my breath.
