Theo
“ W hat’s this for again?” I asked, my voice a low grumble. Scout shrugged her backpack on as we slid out of the car.
“I have to research a local historical landmark, and I figured I’d do the lighthouse.” She threw her hand at it, and I followed the gesture to the building.
The setting sun reflected off the waves crashing against the shore. A chilly wind whipped around us, and I tugged my jacket closed, bunching my shoulders up to my ears.
“Why did you want to come tonight?” I asked, hating the cold. “We could’ve come earlier after school.”
“I forgot about it,” she said, climbing the sand dune to the lighthouse. “And it’s due tomorrow.” The trash and debris had been cleaned up around the base, and the tall grass was cut. It still needed a ton of work, but it was slowly coming together.
I followed her up the dune, grumbling under my breath as my feet slid against sand. Why did I park there? I should’ve parked on the other side so it was easier to climb, but she’d insisted on this side.
When I crested the hill, the sunlight momentarily blinding me, I understood why.
Red hair glowed in the golden light, her skin unusually pale, a maroon jacket wrapped tightly around her. She spun around as Scout approached, a shocked expression falling across her face.
“What are you—” Her eyes lifted, meeting mine for the first time in over a week, and I swear the air got knocked from my lungs.
Every muscle in my body froze. My heart stopped beating. I stopped breathing. The world stopped spinning.
Everything fell away as I zeroed in on Brynne. She stared back at me, looking like she was staring at a ghost and not the man who loved her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, and I flinched at the words.
Of course she was still pissed at me.
“Scout has a project—” My voice came out raspy and raw, unlike anything I’d heard before.
“Yeah.” Scout threw her thumb over her shoulder. “I’m going inside—maybe there’s something in there…” She trailed off, shrugging desperately. “Come get me after you’ve made up.”
She turned and rushed across the expanse of beach into the lighthouse before either of us could say a word.
I stared after her, at the new door we’d just put on, and watched a light flicker to life inside. It was clean and safe enough for her to be in there, but I didn’t want her in there long.
So I shifted my gaze back to Brynne, finding her already staring at me.
“You look good?—”
“How have you been?”
We spoke at the same time, and she let out a breathy laugh. “I’ve been okay,” she murmured. “You?”
I swallowed thickly. I could lie and tell her I’d been great. But the words wouldn’t come. No matter how hard I tried to force them past my stiff lips, all that came out instead was, “Bad.”
She dropped her eyes to the ground, and dug the toe of her boot into the sand. “I’m sorry, Theo,” she whispered, and I shook my head.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” I curled my hands into fists at my sides to keep from reaching for her.
“I should’ve apologized last week, and I didn’t.
” Air filled my lungs, and I slowly let it out.
“I’m so sorry, Brynne. So fucking sorry.
That doesn’t make it alright, and nothing I say or do can ever change what I said, but?—”
“It’s okay,” she murmured.
But I shook my head. “I hurt you,” I rasped. I pressed my hand to my chest, digging my fingers into the solid muscle there. “And I’m so fucking sorry.”
She quickly licked her lips as she nodded. “I need to apologize too,” she whispered. “I should’ve talked to you instead of shutting you out. I should’ve trusted that you were telling the truth, but?—”
“But you were hurt,” I finished, shaking my head. “You did nothing wrong.”
“I should’ve talked to you,” she repeated. “I ran away, and I regret that. I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t stop myself—I took a few steps toward her until only a few feet separated us.
“ Brynne ,” I said desperately.
I wanted to pinch myself. This had to be a dream.
Because she was staring at me like she didn’t hate me. In the sunlight, her eyes looked more gold than brown, and her smile was soft, her cheeks slightly flushed from the wind.
She’d never looked more beautiful.
“If I could change it, I would. In a heartbeat. I never wanted to hurt you—it was just a stupid thing I should’ve never said.”
She shook her head. “I talked to Trinity,” she whispered, and my brows tightened in confusion.
“About what?”
“Us.” She huffed out a laugh. “She called me out on all my shit, and I realized she was right. I think—I think I was scared of how quickly things were moving. I was scared that everything felt so right with you. And—” She shrugged.
“I think I might’ve latched onto this so I could get away before you decided you didn’t want me. ”
“That might be true,” I said, nodding. “But I still hurt you. And I want you to know that will never happen again. Ever. I’d rather cut off my fingers than ever see you cry again.”
She giggled softly at that, wiping at her cheek. “Don’t cut anything off,” she said quietly. Her teary gaze met mine. “I won’t run away again.”
My heart battered against my sternum as I took a hesitant step toward her. “Does this mean…”
“If you still want me,” she whispered, nodding.
The words barely came out of her mouth before I scooped her into my arms, squeezing her to my chest like I was terrified of losing her. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and I felt her slick tears against my skin. But I didn’t think these were sad tears—I thought they were as happy as mine were.
“I love you,” I said against her hair. “You don’t have to say it back until you’re ready.
But I fucking love you, Brynne Hughes.” I set her on the ground, my hands still clutching her hips.
“I can’t promise that I’ll be perfect, but I’ll try my hardest to be— I’ll try my hardest to be the best man in the world for you.
” I pulled her closer, her body pressing against mine.
“I can buy you everything you’ve ever wanted, but I can give you something I’ve never given anyone—something money can’t buy.
My heart. My soul. I’ll give you everything—just say the word, baby, and my world is yours.
” I flicked my eyes between hers. “Anything you want—it's yours. I am yours.”
Her hand trembled as she reached up, pressing her palm to my cheek.
My eyelids fluttered shut at her gentle touch, and I leaned into her.
“I love you,” she whispered. The words tightened around my heart, seeping into my blood, warming me from the inside out.
“More than I knew was possible. You take up all the thoughts in my mind, all the room in my heart. I never thought I could feel like this—safe, and secure, and loved—and I only feel like that because of you. I love you, Theo. With everything that I am, I love you .”
I bent, pressing my mouth to hers. Our tears mixed on our lips, salty and full of everything we felt, but were unable to say. I wanted to pause time, live in this second with her until we faded to dust.
I loved her.
But more than that— she loved me.
My arms tightened around her body until I wasn’t sure if she was breathing. But she didn’t seem to care—she pressed herself harder against my chest, like she was trying to absorb into me. Even then, we wouldn’t be close enough.
The kiss was a thrashing of tongues and teeth, and when we finally pulled away, her lips were swollen, the tears dried up, and in their place was a heat I wanted to devour. But not here. Not now.
“Come home with me,” I whispered, pressing my forehead against hers. “Move in with me.”
Her head fell back as she laughed. “I can’t—Scout?—”
“We’ll ask her, but I’m sure she won’t care.” She rolled her lips between her teeth, her eyes shifting to the lighthouse.
They widened, her face falling, and skin turning pale. She lifted her hand. “Theo?—”
My head whipped around, my heart soaring into my throat as smoke seeped from under the door, an orange fire flickering inside.
“Fuck. Oh, fuck .”
I didn’t think—I just ran.
The yards between us felt like a million miles as my feet dug into the sand, each step a struggle as it gave way beneath me. Finally, I got there and didn’t hesitate—I rammed my shoulder into the solid door. Once, twice, a third time. The wood splintered, pieces of it flying through the smokey air.
“Scout!” I shouted, pressing my face into the crook of my elbow as I hesitated forward. How the fuck had a fire started? “Scout, baby! Where are you?”
“Dad!” Her voice cut through the crackling fire, through the fear pumping through my veins. Her calling me Dad didn’t fully register in that moment. “Dad! Help!”
My heart soared into my throat, and I rushed blindly forward. “Scout!” I screamed her name again, dodging the stacks of boxes full of supplies. I shoved them away, shuffling down the narrow hallway toward the stone steps leading to the lantern room.
“Dad!” A broken sob sounded, and I whipped my head around.
“Where are you?”
I couldn’t see anything—the smoke was too thick. The fire was too big.
“Stairs!” She coughed, and it sounded awful . “Under the stairs!”
I sprinted toward them, hissing as I gripped the banister and heat seared my palm. I slid to a stop, finding Scout crouched in the corner under the stairs, blue eyes wide, hair a mess around her face.
“Come here, baby. I’m here.” I held my hand out to her, and she didn’t hesitate to take it. I scooped her into my arms and frantically turned—only to come to a complete stop.
The fire had grown too big. We were backed into a corner, the flames licking at us every time I tried to step forward. I couldn’t risk her getting burned, but I couldn’t stay here, either.
Distantly, I heard sirens, and I knew Brynne had called for help. But Scout coughed again, and I knew we couldn’t wait until they got here.
“I’m going to set you down,” I shouted over the noise. She nodded, hands gripping my forearms as I righted her on her feet. I pulled my jacket off and wrapped it around her head, shielding her from the smoke. “Hold on tight, honey. I’ll get you out of here.”
I lifted her again, took a deep breath, and ran.