Where We Call Home (Faircloud #2)

Chapter 16

Sixteen

**Rhodes2324 has won **

**TheoTheGreat09 Wants To Start A New Game With You**

**TheoTheGreat09 played CAZIQUES for 28 points**

**TheoTheGreat09: BOOM **

**Rhodes2324 played CHEATER for 12 points**

**Rhodes2324: Theo Matthews, did you finally resort to using Google?

**TheoTheGreat09: The world may never know. Just accept the loss.

**Rhodes2324 played NEVER as a triple word for 24 points

A fter striking out at both apartments yesterday, Theo was noticeably deflated. She barely spoke during dinner and stayed completely silent during the drive home. The weight of her disappointment was tangible.

I knew how badly she wanted to find a place. Time was running out, and getting settled was her top priority. It made sense—she needed stability before the baby arrived. With her upcoming appointment weighing on her mind, housing should’ve been the least of her worries.

That’s why, when she asked if I could help her look again today, I didn’t hesitate. If it gave her even a sliver of hope or happiness, I’d do whatever it took. That’s how I ended up spending my day off standing in a complete dump on the far side of town.

The neighborhood was isolated, with no stores nearby and her mom and friends a decent drive away. She was already hesitant to ask for help when her mom lived under the same roof. How could she possibly manage living this far out?

I practically begged her to let me turn around when we pulled up, but she’s worked her Theo magic and convinced me to give it a chance.

The pictures online had been misleading to say the least. If I had to guess, they were taken a decade ago back when the place might’ve been somewhat livable.

This time, we weren’t meeting Cassie. She’d officially parted ways with Theo after yesterday’s fiasco. Instead, we were greeted by Phil—a five-foot-five bald man in a grease-stained button-down that probably fit him about as long ago as the photos were taken.

“I love this guy,” Theo whispered to me, leaning closer.

“Of course you do,” I teased. “He’s not wearing a white pantsuit or driving a luxury car.”

“Exactly.”

It didn’t take long for my instincts to be proven right. The first red flag came as Phil struggled to get the front door open. He had to throw his whole weight into it, and when he finally jiggled the handle loose, I half-expected the lock to crumble into pieces. Safety was clearly not a concern here.

Inside, it only got worse. The cabinets were broken, the floors were peeling, and the entire space felt like a hazard zone. I imagined Theo juggling groceries or, worse, the baby, only to trip on the warped flooring. The thought alone made my chest tighten.

Then came the final straw: a cockroach crawled across my boot and I jumped so high I might’ve cleared Phil’s shiny bald head.

There was no way I was letting Theo move into this place.

“You see,” Phil began, clearly trying to salvage the sale, “with a little paint and some area rugs, this place would look brand new.”

Theo nodded enthusiastically, like he was onto something. “Ugh, you’re so right!”

I stared at her, stunned. It was going to take a hell of a lot more than paint and rugs to fix this disaster.

“Would the landlord be willing to paint before I move in?” she asked.

Phil chuckled, scratching his head. “Oh, um, any non-essential upgrades like that would be up to you. You could just move in as is.”

I didn’t like this guy.

Watching Theo’s hopeful expression flicker, I couldn’t take it anymore. Disappointment after disappointment—it was too much. She didn’t deserve this.

“Phil, buddy,” I said, forcing politeness into my tone, “could you give us a minute?”

Theo’s jaw dropped. She looked between us, clearly surprised and ready to protest, but no words came out. Phil shrugged and stepped out onto the metal platform outside—another problem. With winter coming, the slick surface was an accident waiting to happen.

Once Phil was gone, I turned to Theo, determined to address the disaster unfolding in front of us.

“What the hell was that about?” she snapped the moment we were alone.

“You can’t live here,” I said, cutting straight to the point.

“Excuse me?” Her eyes flared as she crossed her arms and cocked a hip. “Who are you to tell me where I can and can’t live? It’s within my budget, and it has everything I need.”

She was fiery, but I wasn’t backing down. “I’m telling you—you can’t live here. The locks are a joke, the cabinets are one sneeze away from falling apart, and your unwanted roommate? He scurried across my boot a few minutes ago.”

“Oh, yeah?” she shot back, sarcasm dripping from her tone. “Well, this is my last shot. I don’t have a choice. I can’t afford that second apartment we saw yesterday. I thought about it all night and don’t even start on the first place. This one has a washer and dryer, a bathtub, and it’s within my budget.”

“There’s a cockroach living here, Theo,” I countered. “Where there’s one, there are more. And you’re miles from anyone who can help you if something goes wrong.”

“Who gives a shit?” Her voice cracked as her frustration boiled over. “It’s not like anyone would care anyway.”

“I care,” I said, softening my tone. “But bottom line? I can’t let you and the baby live here.”

“Oh, great,” she scoffed, throwing her hands up. “What’s your brilliant solution then? I’ve spent hours combing through listings, and this is it. This is all I’ve got.”

She wasn’t going to like my answer, but I said it anyway. “Move in with me.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Move in with you?” she repeated, disbelief coloring her voice. “Rhodes, how could you possibly think that’s a good idea?”

“You’d have your own room. The baby would have her own space. My locks work, my cabinets aren’t a death trap, and I can promise you, there’s not a single cockroach in sight.”

Theo stood rooted in place, her arms crossed tight, radiating tension. I stepped closer, gently placing my hands on her upper arms. I needed her to understand just how serious I was.

“You can’t live here, Theo. I don’t care if it’s within your budget. Come live with me. Save your money. Find a place you and the baby truly deserve.”

Her expression softened, the rigidity in her posture melting as my words sank in. I could see the war waging in her mind, her pride clashing with practicality.

She deserved better than this. She deserved safety, comfort, and stability. Her mother’s house wasn’t an option—there wasn’t enough room, and with her mom’s hectic work schedule, it would be too much for everyone.

I could help. I wanted to help.

“Let me think about it,” she finally mumbled, her voice quiet and uncertain. “That’s a bold move, pun intended.”

I let out a small laugh, relieved she hadn’t immediately shut me down, and released her arms.

“Fair enough,” I said, smiling. “Now, how about we get out of here? I feel like I need a shower just from standing in this place.”

Slipping my arm around her shoulders, I guided her out of the sad excuse for an apartment.

“I kinda liked Stan, though,” Theo replied, not pulling away from my embrace.

“Stan?” I asked, confused.

She smirked. “The cockroach. I named him Stan. Which means, yes, I saw him and still decided to look around.”

“Desperate times, huh?” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief as we stepped onto the metal platform.

Theo shrugged and nodded.

“I can’t believe you named the cockroach.”

This woman was something else.