I replay his comment in my head on repeat as I drift off to sleep.
We clearly have a habit of breaking rules.
Theo may be correct that we have a habit of breaking rules, but this is one rule we absolutely cannot break.
23
SIENNA
The past couple of days have been relaxing beyond relief. Filled with board games, dips in the lake during the hottest part of the day, and food made by Leo that should go down in history books as the most delicious food ever made. It also helps that without the pillow wall in the way, Theo and I have woken up tangled in each other’s arms each morning. I hate to admit that it’s the best sleep I’ve gotten in a while.
What’s been most surprising is how much fun I’ve had hanging out with him and his brothers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still keeping my eye out for anything that points to there being bodies buried in this expansive land that they own. But I’ve been able to relax these past few days in a way that I haven’t been able to for years.
Beth says it’s because I finally got “laid,” and no matter how much I insist that we didn’t have sex, she’s still skeptical.
“I swear, we only fooled around and did hand stuff when we were out on the porch. You know I don’t jumpinto bed with men that quickly,” I said to her when she didn’t believe me.
“I still think you’re hiding something. No man is thatgood with their hands,” she said in response.
I was careful not to remind her that it’s been a while since she was with a man, since she had taken an oath (self-imposed) to only date women, and she rarely brings a man home with her.
Beth and I are on the back porch, enjoying the lake view. It’s warmer than usual today as a heat wave rolls through the area. Going into full effect tomorrow, we decided to spend some additional time outside. The remainder of our days will be spent inside, enjoying the air-conditioning or dunking ourselves in the lake if the heat lasts as long as our weather app says it will. It may rain here in the Pacific Northwest 90 percent of the year, but the other 10 percent can get so hot that sometimes it feels like your skin is going to melt off.
“I’m telling you, man, best buns I’ve seen in my life.” Alex and Theo walk out onto the deck, mid-conversation.
“Ew! Alex, what the fuck?” Beth says, crinkling her nose. Beth grabs a pillow from the cushion next to her and chucks it at Alex.
“Hamburgerbuns, Beth. I’m talking abouthamburgerbuns.” Alex waves his arms at Beth in an effort to correct her. The look on her face tells me she’s not convinced.
Theo follows Alex, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, showing off every toned muscle of his legs. A piece of his hair falls forward onto his forehead, and the combination of the two is enough to make a girl rethink her life choices.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still focused on deciding about this job offer. Just one more peek at those thighs, though…
No, Sienna. Obsessing over him is a slippery slope to breaking another rule.
“God, you’re such amansometimes.” Beth gets up from the couch, walking past Alex to head back inside.
“Why, thank you,” Alex responds, beating Beth to the door and sliding it open for her. He bows slightly as she walks past, and I fight to hold in my laugh. When she gives him the middle finger as she crosses the threshold, the laugh bursts out of me.
“You too?” Alex gasps. Looking at me, he places a hand on his chest as though he’s been injured by my laugh at his expense. I ignore him, but the smile on my face doesn’t fade as he follows Beth inside.
“This is a good look on you,” Theo says from beside me, pulling my attention to him. Instinctively, I step closer to him, knowing we are alone on the patio. As I do, Theo pulls me toward him by my waist and plants a kiss on my lips. The action is similar to two magnets clicking together when they’ve been placed too close to one another.
“What’s a good look on me?” I pull back slightly, looking down at my old band camp T-shirt, which I’ve had since the ninth grade. “This old thing?”
“No.” Theo tugs at my waist as he huffs out a chuckle. Planting another kiss on one corner of my lips, he says, “This.” Then he does the same to the other corner. “Smile.”
I swat him away, and he continues, “I just like seeingyou happy. Although now I’m very curious about this band camp. What instrument did you play? Were you good? Do you still play?”
I laugh as it’s my turn to pull him in for a kiss now, successfully shutting him down from asking more questions. “I played the flute. I was decent but not good enough to continue after high school. No, I do not still play. Now, no more questions.”
Using his finger, he tilts my chin toward him. “I bet you were adorable. I’d love to see pictures of you from your childhood. Oh! I bet you had a stuffed bear that you tugged around with you everywhere, huh?”
Laughing, I move away to head inside. “It was a bunny, and I only had it until I was seven. Now leave me alone. Don’t we have somewhere to be?” I swat his hand away as he attempts to grab at my waist playfully. He tries to ask me more embarrassing questions about my childhood, but I promptly ignore him.
My smile only falters when I realize his interest in my childhood is nothing more than a means of flirting. This is just a fun fling, no strings, no commitment. Hell, we haven’t even had sex, so I highly doubt Theo has any actual interest in my past.
The idea of that makes my stomach twist into a knot.
