Chapter 15
Theo
Sunlight beams through my window and hits me square in the face. I grumble and roll over in protest. Sam and I stayed out way too late last night, and then he helped me plan my counteract while I patched Wante’s leaky hole.
The term was used several times. Giggles were had.
It’s pushing ten as I sit up, arch my back in a long stretch, and finally roll out of bed.
Although I rarely sleep in, mornings and I have never seen eye to eye.
My brother’s eagerness to hear every little detail about my and Dante’s history kept us talking until the wee hours of the morning.
My beauty sleep suffered, but we had fun.
I slip into my sweats and grab my laptop.
I freelance as a medical transcriptionist to supplement my income because it’s one of the few jobs that offers the flexibility I need.
The money from the band is enough to get by, because despite my semi-diva tendencies, I pride myself on my frugal lifestyle.
Still, I like having a safety net. The thought of depending on anyone to support me doesn’t interest me, so I make sure I claim enough assignments to maintain my status with the company.
I choose a quick job from the queue, finish it, and refresh to find the others have already been claimed. “Just as well,” I mutter to myself as I climb off the couch and grab a sweatshirt. “The coffee shop is calling my name.”
An package waits for me outside my door. “Ooh, what are you?” I say out loud, picking up the lightweight bubble envelope and giving it a little shake. Retreating inside my apartment, I cut the seams open and pull out a pair of black sheer panties with a lace-up front.
I don’t remember ordering these, but the excessive number of undies I own is a testament to the fact that I simply cannot be trusted with two day shipping. It’s obsessive at best, and if we’re being honest, probably downright compulsive.
But, like, a sexy compulsive.
I snip the tags and toss them into the washing machine before sliding out the door. The sun is warm even though the air is chilly, so I crack my window, slide on my sunglasses, and drive to the café. Once I’m inside, I place my order and drop into an armchair.
“Ooh, pretty nails!”
I glance up to find a young girl staring at my royal purple polish with open fascination.
“I’ve never seen a boy with painted fingernails,” she says shyly.
The woman beside her offers me a small, apologetic smile laced with a hint of horror at her daughter’s bluntness, but I give them both a warm, easy grin.
“Thank you, sweetie. You’re right—not many boys paint their nails, but that’s only because they haven’t realized they can.” I toss her a wink. “I think they’re cool.”
“Me too,” she giggles, then tilts her head and studies me for a moment, deep in thought. “You’re very pretty.”
“Well, so are you.” She bats her lashes at me, and I’m so caught up in the conversation that I miss the barista calling my name the first time.
When she calls again, louder, I wave to her across the room to let her know I heard her. I turn back to the girl and say goodbye, but her mother stops me as I start to step away.
“Sorry for the questions,” she whispers, trying to keep her daughter from overhearing. “She’s always been so curious.”
“There’s really nothing to apologize for,” I assure her with a smile.
“Kids tend to be way more accepting than adults, and most people don’t mind answering their questions.
” I hesitate, not wanting to overstep. “Don’t discourage her.
Let her know it’s okay to be a little different… and a little curious.”
She smiles and nods. With one last wave, I weave through the crowd.
Kayla, my favorite barista, beams at me as I reach the counter. “Hey, can you add their order to my bill?” I ask, gesturing toward the mother and daughter.
She nods. “Someone just paid for your drink, so we’ll keep this goodwill train going.”
“Who covered mine?” I ask, scanning the crowded café.
“Sorry, Theo, I don’t see him anymore. Some guy pointed at you while you were talking to the little girl. Probably thought you were cute.”
“He clearly has fantastic taste.” She grins and shakes her head. “Well, either way, I’ll take care of theirs and spread the love.” I grab my cappuccino, savoring the warmth that spreads across my palms. I wave to the girl and her mom one last time before stepping out into the sun.
I run a few more errands before wandering through the grocery store, then realize what time it is and rush home to unload the food before turning right back around and hurrying to practice.
The group is gathered around Dante’s laptop when I burst in, and the excitement in the room is palpable as we wait to see where our numbers landed this week. We made a pact to stop obsessively checking our rankings because it only adds unnecessary stress to our lives.
The goofy grin on Eric’s face tells me he’s probably been bending the rules again. He never did have any restraint.
Our album has broken into the top one hundred on the charts, and seeing the number ninety-nine next to our name has all of us grinning like we’ve won the lottery. My good mood lingers through practice, and still hasn’t faded as I pull back into my apartment parking lot.
I’m in the middle of cooking dinner when a knock sounds at my door.
“Hold on a second!” I scrunch my nose, wondering who it could be this time.
Except for package and food deliveries, there hasn’t been this much activity at my door in as long as I can remember.
I steal a glance at the clock, trying to guess who might be dropping by unannounced at seven.
Sam, most likely.
A small smile tugs at my lips as I consider the second possibility.
Once I’ve gotten the food to a manageable place, I dart over and open the door, only to find no one there. Bright colors catch my eye, and my gaze drops to a bouquet of orange lilies sitting on the floor in front of my apartment.
A frown pulls at my lips as I glance up and down the empty hallway. The only person in sight is old Mrs. Henry a few doors down. “Secret admirer, sweet Theo?” she calls as I bend to lift the vase.
I spin the flowers slowly, searching for a card. “Wouldn’t know. You didn’t leave them for me, did you?”
She wheezes out a dusty laugh. “You’re a few decades shy of being old enough for me, young man.”
“And gay,” I remind her. She waves me off, apparently convinced her sexual prowess would be enough to bypass that minor detail if I were closer to an octogenarian. “You didn’t see who left these, did you?”
“No, dear, I just stepped out.”
“Alright,” I nod, distracted, as I carry the flowers inside. The door closes behind me, and I realize my chicken is smoking. I set the vase down harder than I intend, and a small card hidden among the blooms slips free, fluttering onto the table.
I dash to the stove and shut off the burner, sliding the pan off the heat before returning to the table for the tiny envelope.
Hope you love the gifts. I wish you’d kept the watch, but the panties are more your style. Can’t wait until you wear them. I’ll be watching.
I drop the note as if it burned me, my hands shaking as I scan the apartment. Forgetting dinner entirely, I snatch my phone and keys and bolt out the door.
“Brenda!” I shout as I reach the front desk.
She comes running out with wide eyes. “Theo, what’s—”
“Has anyone come in recently that doesn’t live here?”
She blinks at my interruption, then shakes her head. “Well, sure… there are a lot of people who walk through the lobby. Residents and visitors… I don’t know all of them.”
“Flowers!” I say, my voice rising dangerously close to a shout as I wring my hands in front of me. “Did you see someone carrying flowers in the past half hour? Orange lilies.”
“Oh, yes! The same young man who claimed that watch you turned in last week.”
My chest clenches tight, and a sudden wave of lightheadedness washes over me as my pulse hammers. “What did he look like?”
“He was a handsome thing—tall and kind of thin, with a sweet smile.”
My voice comes out in a squeak. “Blond hair?”
She nods, brows pinched behind her glasses. “Yes… Theo, is everything okay?”
“Peachy,” I whisper, already pulling my phone from my pocket. My fingers fumble across the screen as I scroll through my contacts and tap Dante’s name. He answers on the third ring, and before he can even speak, the words tumble out of me.
“I need you. Can you come over? Please?”
“What’s wrong?” he demands as things clatter in the background.
“Jesse has been here. He’s been here, at my apartment.”
“When?” Keys jingle, followed by the slam of a door that tells me he’s already moving.
“There was a watch last week, and I thought someone had left it by accident. Then I got the package, but I assumed it was something I’d forgotten I ordered and didn’t think twice about it. God, I’m such an idiot!” I’m not making any sense, but I can’t seem to stop rambling.
“You aren’t an idiot, sunshine. Try to stay calm. I’m already on my way. Where are you right now?”
“In the lobby. He left flowers at my door with a note that said he was watching me and… fuck…” A shaky breath rattles out of me. “I never told him where I live, Dante. Never. But he still found me. How did he find me?” My voice cracks on the last words.
Movement behind me makes me whip around, but it’s only Brenda. She clocks the panic on my face and wraps a protective arm around my shoulders. “Do I need to call the police?”
I shake my head, pressing the phone tighter to my ear like a lifeline. “No. Someone’s coming for me.”
“Tell her yes, Theo,” Dante says through the phone.
“I don’t want the police,” I whisper. “I just want you.”
Dante makes a quiet whine before he releases a long exhale. “Stay out there with her until I get there. Don’t go back into your apartment until I’m with you, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper, nodding even though he can’t see me. “Don’t hang up.”
“Of course not. I’m right here… only ten minutes away. Keep talking to me. Tell me what you did today.”
For the next ten minutes I ramble about nothing and everything, answering every random question he asks while jumping at every sound and shadow in the lobby. Despite Dante’s best efforts to keep my mind occupied, my nerves coil tighter and tighter until the door finally opens and he walks in.
The second I see him, I collapse into the safety of his arms.