At this point, Spike is straight up grinning, eyes bouncing between me and Theo. Hound’s trying not to laugh. Healer and Ryder have fully turned, fists pressing their mouths.
And I’ve given up entirely.
Theo stares at me like I’ve personally ruined his ability to function.
Then finally, he throws his hands up. “Fuck it.”
The room goes quiet.
“Spike,” he says flatly, grabbing the box and shoving it straight into his stomach. “Congratulations. You’re our new Road Captain.”
A beat.
“Club run tomorrow, everyone.”
And that’s it.
No speech. No ceremony.
Nothing.
Spike bursts out laughing as Theo turns on his heel and strides straight toward me like a man on a mission.
“Oh, this is good,” Lana mutters somewhere behind me.
I barely register it before Theo is right in front of me, hands coming up to cup my face, holding me in place. “Say it again,” he demands.
I blink up at him, feigning innocence. “Say what?”
He groans, dropping his forehead to mine for a second. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Baby,” he breathes, eyes intense, voice rough. “Say it.Please.”
I can’t help it. I laugh softly. “I love you.”
His grip tightens on my neck.
“I’m in love with you, Theo.”
There’s a split second where he just stares at me. And then—
“YES!” He actually pumps his fist in the air like he just won the fucking lottery.
The entire room erupts behind us. Mama and Torch are grinning wide, nodding at us. But he doesn’t even look. Doesn’t care.
His attention snaps right back to me, all of it, overwhelming and consuming as he pulls me in, kissing me like he’s been waiting his whole life to do it.
“I love you too,” he breathes against my lips between impatient, breathless kisses. “Fuck—Charlotte—I love you so damn much.”
The rest of the room dissolves into noise. Whistles. Hooting. Someone—probably Bulldog—yelling something wildly inappropriate.
I barely hear any of it. Because Theo is still kissing me. Slow at first, like he’s savoring it. Like he’s memorizing the way my mouth moves against his now that he knowswhat I feel. Then deeper. Hungrier.
His hand slides to the back of my neck, holding me there like I might disappear if he lets go. “I love you,” he murmurs again, like he can’t help himself.
“I know,” I whisper back, smiling against his lips.
