Chapter 14 #2
“I just...” He runs a hand through his hair.
“I’m aware that I’m your landlord. And I don’t want you to ever feel like your living situation is connected to this.
To us. Your lease is completely separate.
It’s ironclad. I would never, ever want you to feel like where you live is dependent on our relationship, or like I have some kind of power over you because of it. ”
I stare at him, a little stunned by how earnest he is. He’s clearly been thinking about this, worrying about this, which is sweet despite being a little ridiculous. Nice guy, gentlemanly Theo is fully back.
“Theo.” I set down my fork and reach across the table for his hand. “I don’t think that at all. It honestly wasn’t even on my radar. But thank you for thinking about it. For wanting me to feel safe. It’s sweet.”
“Good.” He exhales. “But still, with things like this it’s important to not just go by word. That lease really is ironclad, so you don’t ever have to worry about it or feel—“
“I got it, I got it.” I bring his hand to my lips and kiss it. “Thank you for looking out for me. Anything else keeping you up at night? Might as well get it all out.”
He laughs. “I mean, I can think of a few things that kept me up last night.”
“Mmm, I’m sure you can.” I can’t remember the last time I felt this light.
Like everything in my life has clicked into place and I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, sitting in my tiny kitchen with this man who just spent the night making me feel things I didn’t know I could feel.
The idea of us actually being together now, not just fantasizing about it—it’s almost too good to be real.
“So do we keep this a secret?” I pop a potato in my mouth. “I mean, like ease into telling people?”
He shakes his head. “No. I mean, with Chloe we’ll take it slow. But I’m not planning to hide it from my brothers or anything like that. Is that what you want?”
I feel a rush of relief. “No, I don’t. I mean, I want to be able to tell people.”
He smiles. “Good. I feel the same.” He reaches across and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“With Chloe, I want to ease her into it slowly, and make sure she feels secure every step of the way. But that’s about being a good parent, not about us.
If it weren’t for that, I’d be shouting this from the rooftops. ”
“The last thing I want is for anything to unsettle her,” I say quietly. “I adore that kid.”
“She’s never met anyone I’ve dated before. Not that I’ve really even dated since the divorce, but still. I don’t want anything to shake up her world.” He pauses. “Though I have a feeling when it is time to tell her, she’ll be pretty thrilled.”
I smile. Chloe already likes me. And I already love her. Maybe this could actually work out the way I’m hoping it will.
I finish the last bite of my omelette and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, suddenly aware that I just inhaled that meal less like a delicate woman eating prettily on a date and more like a feral animal who hasn’t seen food in weeks.
Theo doesn’t seem to mind. He takes my plate from the table and carries it to the sink, turning on the water.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say.
“I hate dirty dishes sitting in the sink. And I was always taught it’s poor manners to make a mess and leave someone else to clean it up.”
“Wow.” I prop my chin on my hand and watch him, appreciating the view of his back muscles shifting under his henley as he scrubs. “Older men really are where it’s at. Cooks, cleans, fucks like a magician pornstar. Where have you been all my life?”
He laughs, shaking his head as he rinses a pan. “Wow, old now, is it? I’m thirty-four, not sixty.”
“It’s kind of sexy. Like a fine wine.”
He turns, eyebrow raised. “Did you just compare me to wine?”
“A really good wine.”
He shakes his head, laughing. “You know, you nearly killed me when I was fixing your cabinet.”
I tuck my feet up under me on the chair. “That was the whole point. I, uh... kind of went out of my way to find something wrong with the cabinet.”
He turns fully, dish towel in hand. “You’re kidding.”
“No.” I bite my lip, trying not to smile too wide. “I felt like you were into me, and I had been into you the entire time. I wanted you so bad. But I thought you were too morally upright to ever make a move, so I had to do something. Then made sure I wasn’t wearing a bra when you came over.”
“Oh, I fucking noticed the lack of bra.”
“Good,” I say. “Then it worked as planned.”
“You’re kind of diabolical, you know that?” He walks over, shaking his head like he can’t quite believe me. “I never stood a chance.”
“You really didn’t.” I tip my head back to look up at him as he stops in front of my chair. “I always get what I want.”
He opens his mouth to respond but my phone buzzes on the table next to me, the screen lighting up and pulling us both back to reality.
The morning light is still streaming through my windows, catching the steam rising from the coffee he made, and for a moment I’d completely forgotten that a world exists outside this apartment.
“Ugh, I don’t want to deal with the outside world,” I groan without looking at the phone. “I just want to stay in a bubble with you forever. Can we do that? Just never leave this apartment?”
He laughs, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, looking unfairly good in his rumpled henley. “I’m with you there. The real world is overrated.”
I glance at my phone and see Sophie’s name on the screen.
Sophie: Hey I’m bored, free for a chaaaat? My ride is late
I laugh and Theo tilts his head, curious.
“Hold on, if I don’t reply within thirty seconds she’ll just keep texting until I do. The woman has zero chill.” I pick up the phone and type back quickly.
Me: Can’t talk right now, I’m busy
The three dots appear immediately.
Sophie: Busy with what? You told me you weren’t doing anything today
Sophie: Wait
Sophie: WAIT
Sophie: Oh my god are you with the landlord finally?!?!
Sophie: Does that mean what I think it means???
I snort and Theo leans over to read the screen, his chest warm against my shoulder. “Tell her if you want. Fine by me.”
I smile up at him and turn back to my phone.
Me: Yes. It means exactly what you think it means
Sophie: EMMA HAYES
Sophie: I NEED DETAILS IMMEDIATELY
I glance up at Theo, biting my lip to keep from laughing. He raises an eyebrow.
“She wants details,” I explain.
“Give her the highlights,” he says, grinning. “I don’t mind.”
Me: Best night of my life. I’ll call you later
Sophie: YOU BETTER
I set my phone down and look back at Theo. He’s watching me with this soft expression, like he can’t quite believe we’re here, like this morning is something precious he wants to hold onto.
And I don’t remember the last time I felt this whole.