“Fuck,” I whisper when Theo drags a fingertip up my forearm, tracing the lines of my tattoo.
This is ridiculous.
“I shouldn’t have gotten baby chickens.”
I bark out a laugh. “Regretting them already, sweetheart?”
He groans. “No. Not really. But ugh.”
I’m not sure I can disagree with him. Of all the days to need to set up a brooder. It’ll be okay. The anticipation will make things all the sweeter. I hope.
When we pull into the driveway at home, I just about shout for joy. Theo shifts in his seat as I pull us up right beside the barn, and when I park, he picks up his chicks, opening the container to stare at them. “I didn’t mean it, babies. I don’t regret you.”
We’ll see how he feels in about three months when they’re in their ugly teenager stage.
Considering I told him that he’d be okay to wait until we got home, I sure am in a rush to get this thing set up. I’m out of the truck and pulling the solid black container out of the bed before Theo even has a chance to climb down.
He meets me at the back of the truck, cradling his chicks to his chest.
I nod toward the barn, and he follows me. The brooder is easy enough to set up. Ideally, you’d have all this done before you even get the chicks, but we don’t have that luxury.
I’m pouring the bedding into the bottom when Theo sits down beside me. “Am I allowed to hold them?”
I nod, spreading it out with my hands. “Course. But maybe not right now. You’ll need to wash your hands if you do.”
“Really? Well, yeah, that makes sense. Since they’re farm animals.”
“That,” I say, taking the sticker off the feed trough and filling it, “and chickens can carry salmonella.”
Theo laughs, and the sound nearly bowls me over. It takes me by surprise enough that I drop what I’m holding and turn to him.
“God, I’ve missed that laugh so much, gorgeous.”
He leans forward, pressing his lips to mine in a quick kiss. “Shouldn’t you be telling me how to do this?”
Maybe I should be, but really, I just want to get it done. “Later. I can teach you later.”
“Sure,” Theo says, nodding solemnly.
I really like him. In all his phases and all his moods, but God, there’s nothing like the sassy streak that comes out in him when he’s feeling good. “I promise I’ll show you everything you need to do.”
His eyes flash with heat, and I’m not sure why until I play my own words back. Interesting. Reaching out, I brush my fingers through his hair. “You like that, sweetheart?”
His throat bobs. “I didn’t think I would, actually, but it does have a certain appeal with the way you say it.”
Maybe that’s something we can play around with. And maybe not. Either way, Ineedto get this thing set up. I can’t resist stealing a quick kiss first, though.
Theo tries to deepen it, chasing me when I pull away. “Soon. Let me finish this up,” I say, grinning at him.
He huffs but sits back. I can feel his eyes on me, and after I’ve filled up the food and water and everything is set up for the brooder, including the heat lamp, I hold my hands out to him.
He pushes the container with the chicks into my waiting hands, and I open the top and then carefully place it in the bottom of the brooder before tipping it gently to the side so the chicks can come out.
Theo leans forward to look. “Oh my God. They are so fucking cute.”
“Aren’t they?”
Theo nods, then turns to face me. I’ve never seen so much lightness in his eyes before, and I really hope it’s a sign of things to come. I hope it means that his medicine is working and that he can live the life he deserves. That he can feel the happiness he deserves.
