Chapter 32
STASSI
The house is still quiet when I wake up, the kind of peaceful silence that only happens in the early morning hours. My body is sore in the best way, and for a moment I just lie there, curled into Theo's chest, breathing him in.
I lift my head and glance at the monitor on the nightstand. Xander is still asleep, curled into a little ball with his T-rex stuffed under one arm. My heart swells just looking at him.
I roll off of Theo and stretch. My fingers brush the sheets, still faintly scented with rose petals and sex.
I lift my hand slightly, and there it is, my engagement ring. It sparkles in the faintest light coming from the hallway.
I stare at the beautiful diamond. It's crazy how complete things feel, and we're still not out of the woods with everything.
As I slip out of bed, Theo grabs my arm.
"Where do you think you're going?" he says, smiling, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
I lean over and kiss him. "Thought I'd peek in on Xander and then make some coffee."
Theo gets up. "You check on him. I'll make us coffee."
We walk out of the room together, and he turns into the kitchen while I walk down the hall. Even though I saw him on the monitor, I just want to see him.
There are two guards at the door, and they straighten when I approach.
"Just want to take a look."
"Of course, ma'am," one of them says and slowly opens the door for me. I stick my head in and see what the monitor showed.
After I'm satisfied, I thank them and walk back into the kitchen, the monitor firmly in my hand.
When I turn the corner, I see Theo standing by the espresso machine. His back muscles flexing as he works the machine.
He hands me a cup of coffee before I can even ask. "Already know how you take it. Extra shot since it's your first."
I smile, taking it from him. "Trying to distract me with caffeine so you can have your wicked way with me again?"
He steps closer, eyes flicking to my lips. "I won't ever deny that."
We sit in silence at the kitchen counter, watching the sun rise. I look down at my ring again, and for a second, I forget every bad thing that's ever happened. Every ounce of trauma and fear and our crazy life and what it took for us to be sitting here engaged.
"You keep looking at it," he says, nodding to my hand.
"Because I still can't believe it's real."
He reaches over and squeezes my knee. "It's real. And it's only the beginning."
Before I can answer, tiny footsteps echo down the hall. Xander appears, rubbing his eyes, hair sticking up in every direction.
Theo rises. "Hey, little man."
"I'm hungry," he says, and we both laugh.
"Let me see what I have," Theo says.
"I got it. I have just the thing," Elena says, coming into the kitchen and rubbing Xander's head. "Chocolate chip pancakes coming right up."
Xander cheers and climbs onto one of the kitchen chairs.
"They're almost done with the thing," Elena says with a wink, looking at Theo.
"Almost done?" I ask Theo, sipping my coffee.
He shrugs, very pleased with himself. "You'll see."
Before I can press him, Dimitri walks into the kitchen.
He has a devilish grin, looking too smug for this early in the morning.
Xander's whole face lights up. "Uncle!"
"Hey, kid," Dimitri says, ruffling his hair.
He turns to Theo. "Had to make sure it was perfect, and it is."
I glance between the two of them. "What are you two talking about?"
Dimitri smiles, raises his hands, and turns to Elena. "You are making pancakes. I'll take some too please," he says, walking away.
Theo rubs my leg. "Ready for a surprise?"
I raise a brow. "Should I be nervous?"
"Maybe a little." He looks down at Xander. "Xander, buddy. I want to show you something before we eat."
Xander's eyes go wide. "Really?"
Theo holds out his hand. "Yes, come on," he says and turns back to me. "You too, Mommy."
Xander nods eagerly, sliding off the stool.
We walk down a hallway, and Theo turns to me. "We can't have Xander in the guest room. He's my boy. And every member of this family gets their own room."
Theo stops in front of a closed door. He looks down at our son.
"Ready?" he asks, putting his hand on the doorknob.
Xander bounces on his heels. "Yes!"
Theo opens the door.
The moment it swings open, my heart stops.
It's a dream.
No, it's magic.
The entire room is dinosaur-themed from top to bottom. Dinosaur wallpaper featuring velociraptors, triceratops, and a giant T-rex covers the walls. They're realistic but playful, like something out of a museum crossed with a fantasy land.
There are dinosaur footprints on the rug. A whole mountain of dino plushies sits in a corner near a beanbag chair shaped like a dinosaur egg.
There are shelves lined with dino books and puzzles, a desk with coloring supplies, and a mountain of other things I can't make out.
But the best part?
The bed.
A massive long-necked dinosaur stretches from one corner of the room to the other, its tail curling into a reading nook and its neck doubling as a slide that leads down to a bed nestled in its belly.
Xander loses his mind. He lets out the happiest squeal I've ever heard and bolts into the room, screaming, "ROAR!" as he climbs the bed, dives onto it, then immediately launches himself down the slide.
"Mommy, look! T-Rex! And jammies with dino!"
I cover my mouth with both hands.
Tears come instantly. The happy, overjoyed kind.
Theo's arm slides around my waist and pulls me into him.
"I started planning it the day I met him," he says. "I knew we'd all end up together. I couldn't let either of you go. And I wanted him to know he'll always have a place here."
I bury my face into his chest and cry.
He holds me tighter.
"Theo. This is incredible."
"Last night was for you. This, this is for him. And wait until you see his room in Chicago. This is just a taste."
Dimitri leans against the doorway. "I helped build the slide," he says proudly. "Almost broke my neck testing it, but worth it."
"You tested it?" Theo asks.
"Bro, you think I'm going to spend three hours helping build this thing and not slide down it?
Xander rushes over and grabs my hand. "Come see! Dino shoes!"
After Xander shows me all his toys, he runs over to Uncle Dimitri to show him a sticker book, and Theo comes up and holds my hand.
"Start thinking about your dress," he says. "Because we're getting married."
I smile. "Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah. You're going to be Mrs. Kastaris. Officially. But first…" He trails off and gives me a look. That look.
"There's one more thing my brother and I have to do."
My heart tightens.
"Theo."
"Then it's done, Stassi. You'll be safe. He'll be safe," he says, nodding to Xander. "And my family will finally have what we need."
I turn to look at Xander, who's laughing at something Dimitri told him.
I hold onto the moment, burn it into memory.
Because I know whatever Theo's about to do next, there's always a chance, however slight, that this is it.
I shake my head.
No. I won't allow myself to think that way.
He's doing it for us.
So we can be a family.
I kiss Theo's knuckles where his hand grips mine. "Then finish it," I whisper. "And come back to us."
I'll be here when he returns. I'll wait, no matter what. Because now we're not just surviving, we're building something worth fighting for.
And what he's doing, it's for the future he refuses to let anyone take away again.