Theo spent most of the afternoon and evening with them. After catch, they played a board game together, then sat with Jack while he ate his dinner, though neither of the adults were very hungry yet. Then Nina went to do bath and bedtime, fully expecting Theo to be working in his office when she finished.
When she came downstairs after putting Jack to bed, though, she found Theo sitting on the couch, waiting for her.
“What’s up?” Nina sat down next to him.
“Want to order takeout and watch a movie?” Theo asked. Nina’s eyes widened.
“Are you feeling all right? That’s about the most un-Theo thing I’ve ever heard. Don’t you always have work to do?”
Theo chuckled. “I promise, I’m feeling fine. I just… well, I thought it would be good to spend a little more time together. I wrote to Charles Ackley, and he suggested that we start off with a family barbecue next weekend. I figured, the more we look like a real family before then, the better. And that means we should know each other better.”
“Makes sense.” Nina nodded, but her heart shriveled. Every time she felt like they were getting closer, she was reminded that this was a business arrangement, nothing more. Theo wasn’t home to spend time with her and Jack. He was here to build their cover.
“So,” Theo said, waving the remote in his hand, “movie and takeout?”
“Fine,” Nina took the remote from him, “but I get to choose the movie. And the takeout.”
“Who’s arrogant and bossynow?” Theo joked.
“I never said you were bossy. I think. And I’m not being arrogant. I just know I have better taste in food and movies than you do.” Nina winked. Joking and teasing like this was a good way to keep her disappointment at bay.
“Let me guess,” Theo said, “a rom-com and Chinese food?”
“Do you evenknowme?” Nina smiled. “I’m nothing close to a hopeless romantic. I don’t believe in any of that rom-com stuff. We’re watching an action movie and eating Indian takeout.”
Theo chuckled. “Fair enough. But I think you reallyarea hopeless romantic, you know.”
“Right.” Nina rolled her eyes. “My ex left me when I was eight months pregnant. Does that sound like the beginning of a beautiful love story to you?”
“No,” Theo smiled, “but here’s what I know. You love your son with every inch of your heart. I think you have enough love for a great love story, too. It just isn’t the one you had with your ex.”
Nina looked at him, her heart beating out a quick rhythm in her chest. It was hard to take her gaze away from his bright brown eyes and slight smile. Was he really talking about her falling in love again? Years ago, Nina had decided that Jack was enough. More than enough. She’d never expected to find love again, but here Theo was, saying he thought she had a great love story in her future.
Was it possible that he was talking about himself? Surely not.
“I wouldn’t have pegged you for the type to believe in love stories at all,” Nina said. “Are you hoping to fall in love one day, too?”
“No.” Theo smiled and turned away, taking the remote back from her and turning to the TV. “You and I are different. You’re the kind of person who has enough room in her heart, and her life, for Jack and for love and for work and for herself. I only have enough room in my heart for work.”
“Sure.” Nina turned her attention to the TV screen as she plucked the remote from Theo’s hand again. “Come on, Cupid. Let’s watch a nice movie with plenty of action.”
Chuckling, Theo sat back and grabbed his phone. “Fine. I’ll order the food.”
Half an hour later, they were sitting side by side on the couch eating chicken tikka masala and naan and watching a spy jumpfrom a helicopter onto the top of an airplane in a death-defying maneuver. Nina kept stealing glances at Theo. This wasn’t a romantic evening. They were just watching a movie and eating takeout, for goodness’ sake. Yet she also felt more comfortable around Theo than she did with anyone but Jack.
She kept most people at arm’s length. Her parents were wonderful, but they lived in Seattle, so Nina only saw them once or twice a year. She had friends, mostly other moms, but none of them were particularly close. There was no one she could sit on a couch with, eating dinner and laughing at the ridiculously dramatic antics of a film’s protagonist.
No one except Theo.
It was pretty sad that the only person Nina could hang out with like this was basically her business partner, but she decided not to dwell on that. Instead, she laughed with Theo and stole bites of samosa when he wasn’t looking.
When the movie ended, Nina expected they’d go to bed, but Theo turned off the TV and just rested his head on the back of the couch. His brown eyes were twinkling.
“Let me get this straight,” he said, “the hero was actually his own grandfather?”
“I think that was just implied,” Nina tilted her head to one side as she thought, “but we do know for sure that he was his own third-grade teacher.”
“Right,” Theo nodded, “and he was also the guy who showed up just in time to save himself from the goons who were trying to take over the metro lines of New York.”
