Chapter 23 Theo
Theo
Iwalked in through the garage door to hear music blasting through the speakers, banging in the kitchen, and some off tune singing thrown in the mix.
I loved coming home to the noise. I used to hate the idea of coming home to mess, to people and expectations, but now I knew what I was missing all those years.
Although, it’s unlikely I would feel that way about anyone else filling up my home with life.
Quinn had been here every night since we got back from London two weeks ago. She’d tried to go home but with my negotiation skills, and my tongue, I was able to convince her to come home with me after she packed a bag.
We hadn’t talked about it exactly, but her makeup littered the counter in my bathroom, her clothes were hanging in my closet and every night I came home to her.
If I had it my way, she would never leave again.
As I walked into the kitchen I leaned against a wall to watch her.
It was clear she hadn’t heard me come in since she was cooking something at the stove and using the spatula as a microphone.
She was singing a song I didn’t recognize, and I smiled as she shook her hips.
I was tempted to take my phone out and get a video but I wanted to enjoy the moment.
The woman was stunning, even though I saw her every day, she never failed to take my breath away.
She was wearing a pair of biker shorts and one of my t-shirts that was way too big on her, her red hair was piled on top of her head.
I assumed she had waited to make food until I’d called to let her know I was on my way home so we could eat together.
It was one of the things she always did, she didn’t want to eat without me unless she had to.
If she was hungry, she fed herself for everyone’s safety. My girl got seriously hangry.
As she sang the verse, she did a one-eighty jump and then screamed and caught the spatula she had thrown in her fright. I laughed as she stomped to her phone to turn the music down.
“What the hell, Theo! You can’t do that to me!” She put the hand holding the utensil to her chest as she walked in front of me.
“I love you.”
I didn’t second-guess it or overthink the words. I knew what the feeling was in my chest, what I felt when I looked at her. And I didn’t want to fight it, or dance around telling her anymore.
“What?” She tossed the spatula on the counter and grabbed the remote to turn off the music this time. “What did you just say?” She stood there blinking at me.
“I love you. And you don’t have to say it back, I just wanted you to know.
I love everything about you. How you love mint chocolate chip ice cream even though it tastes like toothpaste and you keep forcing me to try it because you think I’ll change my mind.
I love that you put up with my friends’ bullshit and don’t question our rituals.
I love that you’re driven to work hard and the passion you put into everything you do.
I love how you ramble. I love the way you take care of everyone in your life with everything you have.
“I love you, every piece of you, and I wanted you to know.”
As my unplanned speech went on and she didn’t say anything I got more nervous, my heart was racing. I meant what I said, that she didn’t have to say it back, but I was a selfish enough bastard to want her to.
We stood there for maybe two breaths before she practically leapt at me. Thankfully I had fast reflexes.
Her legs wrapped around my waist and her lips were on mine as my hands went to cup her ass to hold her up. It was a slow, deep kiss that I felt down to my bones. Our mouths molded, like they were always meant to be together.
She pulled away first, her eyes bouncing between mine with a serious look on her face.
“Are you sure?” Her voice was a little breathless from our kiss.
I laughed, my voice gruff as I placed a kiss on her nose. “Yes, Love, I’m sure.”
Her eyes softened. “I love you too,” she said it quietly, reverently.
“When we first met, you seemed grumpy and closed off but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
You make me feel cherished and cared for and like you’ll always have my back.
Knowing how I feel with you, I can confidently say I’ve never loved anyone like this before.
” She rushed the words out and didn’t give me a chance to reply before her lips were on mine.
I deepened the kiss and moved us so she was sitting on the island, I moved my hands to her neck, pulling her closer.
I wasn’t sure she quite understood that I would do anything for her. This woman had come into my life and in three short months, become my everything.
“Uhh, Quinn.” I pulled away and looked into her hooded eyes. “Do you smell that?” And just like that her eyes widened, the lust clearing from them.
“Oh shit.” She removed her legs from around my waist, pushed me out of the way, jumped off the counter and ran back to the stove. She turned off the burner and lifted the pan onto a hot plate. I walked over to look at the burnt sauce over her shoulder.
“What was it?”
She turned around to look at me, her face was turned down into a frown. “I’m really good at ruining our moments.”
I hated that look on her face, no matter the reason. I thought it was rather funny that dinner burnt while we were professing our love, but she clearly didn’t feel the same way.
“What are you talking about?” I put my hands on her shoulder, but she still didn’t look at me.
“I ruined our first date with my stupid father.”
“I think I told you that was our third date.” She continued on like I hadn’t spoken.
“Now here you are proclaiming your love and I go and burn our dinner. You do so many nice things for me, making dinner and eating together is one of mine.” She took a breath and bit her lip to stop herself from continuing.
I was just ecstatic she’d said it back, I didn’t particularly care about the food or anything else for that matter.
“I don’t give a shit about the food. Why don’t I order us some —”
“I wanted to make you something! It’s better than trying to find a way to pay for our dinners, since you haven’t let me do that yet.”
And I wouldn’t, I saw no reason for her to pay.
I tried to suppress my smile at her rambling, deciding to focus back on her. “I would rather spend my time eating you as an appetizer instead of waiting.” She blushed a little as she finally looked up at me.
“I want to put up more of a fight, but…” She linked her arms behind my neck and I hoisted her up so I could carry her upstairs.