11. Theo
Theo never got jealous. Ever.
Why was it that he turned all caveman as soon as he saw Sarah with a guy just now? It was a side of himself he didn’t like and never wanted to see again.
But as he sat in the salon chair, looking at Sarah in the mirror’s reflection, a sense of protectiveness for her and their fledgling relationship overcame him. They’d already had six months apart. He hoped they would never have to face a situation like that again.
Sarah sprayed some water on his hair and sectioned it with a clip. She then expertly trimmed a little from the back. He had zero concerns about letting her near his hair. He trusted her with his life.
Was that a weird thing to think? He couldn’t recall ever thinking that about anyone he’d dated in the past––but then he’d never really dated anyone seriously. And he hadn’t ever been with someone who had seen him in a vulnerable position. He was usually a control freak who had to manage a situation.
What had Sarah done to him?
Her phone beeped, but she ignored it.
‘You can get that if you like,’ he said.
‘It’s fine. I’ll check it when I’m done.’
‘I really don’t mind. Yes, I’m a paying customer, but I’m also your boyfriend. You’re allowed to check your messages in my presence.’
‘What if it’s Bodie?’ she asked, eyes twinkling.
He frowned. ‘Not funny. I assume Bodie is the guy who brought you to work, and if that’s the case, you need to erase your number from his phone.’
‘I only just gave it to him today for emergencies, and I highly doubt anything has happened in that short time, so it’s almost certainly not him.’
‘Who’s it from, then?’
She sighed dramatically and leaned over to where her phone was resting on a nearby small table. She activated the screen and looked at the message.
‘It’s from Alexis. She wants the four of us to go away together. To O’Reillys, sometime soon.’
‘Is O’Reillys that place up in the Gold Coast hinterland?’
‘Yep. Alexis suggested we go camping when I talked to her recently, but I told her I’m not a big camper, so she said we can either book a glamping tent or a room at the lodge.’
‘You don’t like camping?’
‘Do you?’
‘I’ve never tried it.’
‘Seriously? Never?’
‘Can you imagine Evelyn taking me camping?’
‘I haven’t met your mother. How would I know that?’
‘Oops.’ Theo had forgotten that only Alexis knew Evelyn. He wondered if their secret relationship status extended to parents.
‘Sorry, I…’
‘You thought I was Alexis for a moment, didn’t you? It seems I’m the one who has more right to be jealous than you.’
Theo panicked. ‘No, I?—’
She chuckled. ‘Wow, you’re easy to rile up.’
He huffed. ‘I’m not good at this stuff. Go easy on me.’
She looked at him curiously. ‘What does that mean? When was the last time you were in a relationship?’
He stalled for time. ‘What’s your definition of a relationship?’
‘Um, whatever a normal person would think?’
‘I’ve dated.’
‘More than one date with the same person?’
‘Of course.’
‘More than three dates with the same person?’
‘Maybe?’
‘Oh my God. You’ve never had more than three, and potentially only two dates with one person?’
‘My lifestyle doesn’t exactly allow for a lot of stability.’
Sarah stared at him, and he suddenly realised what he’d said.
‘I don’t plan on leaving Brisbane again anytime soon. At least, not for an extended period. And I really do want to make it work between us.’
‘How many people have you said I love you to?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Is that because there are too many to count? Or none?’
‘I’ve told my mother I love her.’
‘That’s very sweet, but you know that’s not what I mean.’ She stopped cutting his hair and spun his chair around so that they were facing each other.
‘Are you really up for this? With me?’
A surge of something arose in Theo’s gut. Fear of losing this woman just after being reunited. Worry that he’d mess things up. And a feeling he couldn’t define. A deep caring for this woman in front of him. She normally looked so confident and together, but he could see the uncertainty in her eyes right now.
He reached up and pulled her face to his, kissing her gently on the mouth.
‘Yes. I really want this. I want you.’
She relaxed and straightened back to a standing position, sectioning off another bit of his hair.
‘Good.’
‘So, would you consider glamping?’ He figured that topic was safer ground.
‘Maybe. If I don’t have to do too much work, and it’s warm. I want my holidays to be comfortable and lazy.’
‘Me too. But if we go away, do we still have to hide our relationship? Alexis is your best friend.’
‘I already told you, I don’t want that pressure yet.’
‘Well, as long as we can share a tent or a room, I’ll go along with it. Although, I don’t know how you’re going to explain that.’
‘I’ll figure something out.’
‘All right, I’ll leave it up to you. Just don’t make our story so complicated we forget the details.’
‘I thought you liked a little roleplay.’
‘Oh, believe me, I do. But usually, it’s the sexy kind, and it doesn’t matter if you lose track of the narrative.’
She shook her head and smiled. ‘You’re such a weirdo.’
‘I know. Anyway, send Alexis a message now to confirm the trip before you forget.’
‘Okay.’
Sarah quickly typed something and then resumed cutting. Theo quite enjoyed having her fingers threaded through his hair as she worked.
He was just about to make a joke about recreating this scene later as a roleplay when her phone beeped again.
She glanced at the screen and froze.
‘What? Has she already figured us out?’
Sarah shook her head but didn’t elaborate.
‘What happened?’ He was worried now.
She picked up the phone and handed it to him.
He looked at the message, not understanding its meaning.
Found you.
He looked at Sarah, confused. ‘Who is that?’
It took a moment for her to get the words out.
‘I have a stalker, and it appears he’s now figured out where I am.’