Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
BLAKE
The party’s in full swing as I look around.
Oscar’s off playing with his friends, and their screams of delight as they run around with a football warms my heart.
I was worried the weather wouldn’t hold, but we’ve been blessed today—the sun is shining and the wind is low, but there’s still a bite to the air. All in all, it’s been a great day.
Making my way over to the fire pit on the back patio, I take a seat in one of the Adirondack chairs that surround it, warming myself.
Theo’s been wandering around talking to the parents of the other children, laughing, joking, and making sure everyone has something to eat or drink.
For someone who doesn’t like people, he’s doing an amazing job, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.
Theo deserves more than anger filling him. I think he’s had enough of that to last a lifetime. The work he’s been putting in with Mike has also been helping. I mean, he’s still my needy Viking, but he’s a lot calmer and less chaotic.
I just don’t know what to do about the work situation.
We’ve come to a stall on the case, neither of us able to find anything other than what we already know.
Theo says his contact is working on it and that we need to trust them to get what we need.
I’m just worried about Harper and how all this is affecting her.
True to his word, Theo has been acting professionally while we’re at the office.
Maybe it’s my paranoia, but I’m convinced people know about us, especially when we find ourselves locked in a lust-filled gaze.
Someone’s bound to find out about us. I want to say I’ll leave, that Theo is more important, but I’m not that type of girl.
I never have been. But then again, I’m in a forbidden relationship with him so… maybe I am?
“Can we sit?” a voice asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I glance up to see Lauren and Raven pointing at the chairs next to me.
“Oh, of course,” I reply, sitting up. “Sorry, I was in a world of my own.” I chuckle.
We’ve messaged a couple of times in the group chat for the party and exchanged hellos when we first arrived, but with the chaos of setting everything up, I haven’t been able to speak to them properly.
“How’s it been?” Lauren asks, sitting down opposite me.
She’s a beautiful woman with her long blonde hair in a ponytail and her face free of makeup. The hoodie and leggings she wears look comfortable, and I’m a little jealous. I didn’t feel like I could wear my comfy clothes, so I opted for black slacks and a navy blue sweater.
“Amazing,” I reply with a smile. “Thank you so much for all your help.”
“We didn’t do anything,” Raven chuckles. “That was all you. We were just here for moral support and to let you know the best places to get everything.”
Raven seems quieter than Lauren, less outgoing. Her jeans and hoodie cling to her curvy figure while her hair blows gently in the wind.
God, I’d love to have hair like hers.
“You did more than I did, Raven,” Lauren laughs, leaning forward and warming her hands against the flames. She looks over at me as she says, “Well, it looks like we’ll all be spending a lot of time together now.”
“Yes, it does.” I smile. “So, how did you guys meet Caleb and James?”
Lauren and Raven look at each other before laughing. “Erm, Caleb was my college professor,” Lauren replies, grinning.
“James is my dad’s best friend,” Raven says, pushing a lock of curly red hair behind her ear.
It takes a second for their words to sink in. “Professor? Dad's best friend?” My gaze darts between them, my mouth slightly agape.
“Yeah, apparently we love a bit of the forbidden. Who knew?” Lauren quips, smirking.
“And you guys were never caught? You didn’t worry about getting kicked out of college”—my head swings to Raven—“or your dad never speaking to you again?”
Raven shakes her head. “I always knew my dad wouldn’t like it, but I’ve been in love with James for so long there was no way I was ever going to give him up. I love my dad, I do. I just… love James more,” she says with a shrug.
“Caleb was pretty hard to say no to, even though I fought it with everything I had.” Lauren chuckles. “I don’t regret anything though.” Her beaming smile and eyes filled with love reiterate what she says.
“What about you and Theo?” Raven asks. “I don’t mean to pry or anything, but what’s going on with you two?”
“Honestly? I have no clue. We’re dating, I think. Just trying to see where it goes. We—I didn’t want anyone knowing because of our job… they don’t like interworking relationships.”
“Can either one of you find somewhere else to go?” Raven asks softly. Lauren looks on with a quizzical gaze in her eyes.
I sigh. “I could; I just don’t want to. Does that make me a bad person? For not wanting to leave a job I love for someone?”
“Of course not,” Lauren says, sitting forward.
“You have to do what’s right for you. One thing I learned growing up is that you can only rely on yourself.
Theo’s an amazing guy, but don’t give up on something you’ve worked hard on for a man.
Caleb and I managed to keep it a secret until graduation, but I always knew my career came first, and he respected that. ”
Raven places a hand on my arm, her face earnest as she says, “Love is always great, but what do you have when that’s not there anymore? I know Theo, he won’t let you down, but it doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you a smart one.”
“Thank you,” I reply, a little choked up, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly.
“Everything will all work out,” Lauren replies, smiling.
Shouts and screams startle me, and I glance over my shoulder, checking to see what the noise is—Oscar’s chasing after Noah, his friends following suit, while Theo stands back with a smile on his face as he watches it all unfold.
“I think it will,” I agree softly, my own smile appearing.