Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
RENLEY
I’m on the bathroom floor, staring at the vanity I want to replace, but not ever making a move to do so because the only thing running through my mind right now is Theo and the rules.
Did I do the right thing?
Say the right thing?
I know I said I want to be friends and that’s probably not what he wants, but then again, I can’t do what he wants. Yet I don’t want him to leave either. I don’t want to admit it, but I like having him around. He might annoy me, and pester me, but I also enjoy his company at times.
Ugh, this is so messed up. This entire situation.
That doesn’t matter.
Focus on the vanity.
Okay, how do I want to do this?
I turned off the water, right?
Yeah, that was the first thing I did when I arrived. But did I turn it off? Or did I just stare at the valve like I’m staring at this freaking vanity?
The back door opens, and I hear Theo call out, “Gossy, where are you?”
A smile tips up the corners of my lips. I love that stupid nickname. Not that I’ll ever tell him that.
“Bathroom,” I say.
“Okay.”
He walks down the hall and then he’s rounding the corner holding a brown bag in one hand and a giant bottle of water in the other.
“Brought lunch,” he says and then nods toward the main shop space. “Want to eat lunch with me and talk?”
God, he looks so cute and hopeful, those eyes, that smile. They pull me right in.
“Sure,” I say as I lift up from the bathroom floor.
He peeks in and says, “Didn’t really do much, huh? Is it because you’re waiting for me?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“Glad you can admit it. Awfully big of you,” he says as he follows me into the space. I lead him to the bar and take a seat on one of the permanent stools. “I don’t mind sharing the giant water with you, but if you don’t want to do the lip-on-lip thing, you might want a cup.”
“It’s fine.” I shrug.
“Really?” he asks in a teasing tone. “Wow, I thought you might prefer to drink from a dirty construction boot rather than share the same bottle with me.”
“You had your tongue down my throat last night, so I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter if we share a drink or not.”
“You know, I’m having a hard time remembering the whole tongue-in-throat thing. Can you walk me through how that happened without sparing any details?”
I push at his shoulder. “Get out of here.”
Chuckling, he pulls out two wrapped sandwiches. “I got us hoagies. Didn’t know that was a thing until I walked into the deli. Did you know they were called hoagies?”
“Yup. I live here, remember?”
“Right. Well, there are pickles on this thing and I knew I had to have it.” He hands me a napkin and then turns toward me. “Before we start though, I want to talk about the rules. You good with that?”
I gulp, knowing this was coming. “Yeah.”
“Okay, good.” He pulls my letter out of his pocket, and he clears his throat. “I’m just going to read these out loud, even though I wrote my notes down for you, you know, for legal purposes.”
“Yes, because this is so very formal.”
“The most formal.” He winks and my heart skips a beat before he starts.
“‘Rule Number One: Renley and Theo will not date anyone during the summer months while Theo is still in Cape Meril.’” He looks up at me.
“This is clearly of the utmost importance and I agree. There will be no outside dating for either of us.”
I nod.
“‘Rule Number Two: Theo is allotted unlimited visitation rights to Renley, including the walk in the morning.’” He smirks. “This was a surprise to me and a huge win, so I agree wholeheartedly. Where do I sign?”
“Just finish the rest first.” I chuckle.
“‘Rule Number Three: Renley is allowed to cancel morning walks with Theo if she needs to work out her thoughts, because before Theo arrived, her morning walks were always her thinking time, and he needs to understand that and give her space if she needs it.’ Now, I was at first apprehensive, because I like a good morning walk, especially with you by my side, but I also get it. I don’t want people moving in on my sacred time either. ”
“What’s your sacred time?”
“Looking over an album I have of Rupert dressed in different animal costumes. No one to bother me. Give me my peace.”
“You are so absurd.” I laugh.
“I know. Okay, ‘Rule Number Four: Theo is allowed to flirt with Renley. Renley is allowed to ignore such flirtation. If Renley is not amused, that’s a him problem, not a her problem. Winking is allowed.’ I disagree with this slightly.
I can be quite amusing, and if you don’t laugh, that’s on you, not me.
Then again, not all of us can have a great sense of humor like me. ”
“Are you trying to get your visitations revoked?”
“No, sorry.” His eyes widen, making me chuckle. “‘Rule Number Five: Theo is not allowed to propose to Renley. They are on two different paths, and marriage is not an option for them.’” He pauses and lowers the paper. “It will never be off the table for me. Never. So…just know that.”
I feel a tingle with that special awareness that pulses through me when he grows serious about us. I know he was on the fiancé website because of a dare, but why is he determined to marry? And not marry for love? Because of his father’s infidelities? Why does it matter so much to him?
“‘Rule Number Six: Renley hopes that Theo helps her with her candy shop, because she understands what it means to feel proud of something.’ This one means a lot to me, Renley. Know that I’m here for you, every step of the way.
You let me know what you want done, and I’m your guy, even if you have to hold my hand while doing it. I want to be a part of this. For you.”
“I can use the extra help, so I appreciate it.”
He curtly nods. “‘Rule Number Seven: Theo and Renley need to practice healthy communication. Meaning she will answer his texts, but he needs to also be upfront and honest.’ You got it, love. Healthy communication is the key to success.”
“Okay, this isn’t an after-school special.”
He chuckles. “‘Rule Number Eight: The candy shop is the most important thing in Renley’s life right now and she can’t be distracted from pursuing her goal of making it a success.
’ As much as it pains me to say this, I know that it goes candy shop, then me as a close second.
I wouldn’t step aside for anything else—just know that. ”
“Okay,” I say with an eye roll, even though I appreciate the sentiment.
“‘Rule Number Nine: Renley has a tough time forming bonds with men given her relationship with past men in her life. She has a hard time trusting them and giving them a chance to have any part in her life. Theo needs to know her reluctance is not against him, but from having to mend the scars left on her heart—not really a rule, just an understanding.’” He reaches out and takes my hand in his.
“I know how a family member can leave battle wounds on your heart. So I get this.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, knowing that’s the truth.
“‘Rule Number Ten: Renley doesn’t want to be hurt by Theo.’” His thumb strokes my knuckles.
“The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Renley. That’s not my intention.
My intention in coming here was to get married, but now that I’m here and understand the woman I matched with, I’m here to get to know you.
” He clears his throat and then presses on.
“‘Rule Number Eleven: Renley and Theo should just be friends.’”
He sets the list on the counter and then brings his hand to my cheek, the intimate touch making me feel emotional for some reason. I put my heart on that paper, and he didn’t diminish my feelings. He affirmed them. Me.
“I want to be your friend too, Renley. But I also want to get to know you more. I want other things, but if it’s friendship you can give me now, then friendship it is.
” He rubs his thumb over my cheek. “It will be hard…like my dick was last night”—I snort so hard, I feel a droplet of snot fly out of my nose—“but I can be friends.”
“Why are you the way that you are?”
His hand drops from my cheek and I immediately regret asking to be friends because I like the way his warm palm feels on my skin. I like the way he looks at me when he’s touching me.
“Sarcasm and humor have helped me become numb to the world around me. I don’t recommend it as a survival tactic, but sometimes we do what we have to do.”
His comment makes me curious, because he’s spoken of his past with negativity, but it almost seems like he’s needed humor to make it through his day-to-day life.
“Do you mean that?” I ask. “That it’s a survival tactic?”
He opens up my hoagie for me. “Yeah. Never living up to my father’s standards is less than ideal in my world, and he’s let me know it.”
“Would he hurt you?” I ask, stomach tying in knots from the thought of it.
Theo just shrugs. “When I was younger, he took advantage of his larger size on occasion. As I grew up and he realized that he couldn’t have the upper hand, he verbally insulted me instead.
There is nothing loving about that man, but if you were an outsider looking in, you’d believe him to be the picture-perfect father, because that’s the image we were forced to portray. ”
“Oh my God, Theo.” I place my hand on his leg. “I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize or even think twice about it, because I don’t. I moved on—”
“But have you?” I ask. “Because it seems like you’re still letting him affect you daily.”
He glances to the side, the truth sitting right there on the tip of his tongue. Question is, will he feel comfortable enough to talk to me about it?