“Um.” I think about it and then look back at him. “Okay, give me five minutes.” He nods, going to the side of the truck and grabbing a takeout bag. “Wow, you were so sure I would say yes.”
“No.” He chuckles. “If you didn’t eat it now, I figured you’d eat it when you got off.”
I give a sigh of relief when I find the guys have moved inside, so we won’t have an audience. I run up the steps and spot Roman sitting at the table, eating chicken parm. “I’m going to eat outside with Theo. I called him about fixing a couple of things in my house.” He nods. “I’ll have my radio on me.”
I rush back outside, where Theo waits at the picnic table. His eyes are on me, and a sly smile is on his face. “What is with that look?” I ask him.
“You’re fucking hot.” I feel the blush come to my cheeks. “Like, you’re gorgeous for sure, but just that much more.”
“Have you been smelling paint fumes?” I put one foot around the bench and then turn to sit. “I think they’ve gotten to your head.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Nope, fully sober, not a paint fume in sight.”
“Okay, what are we eating?”
“Mediterranean chicken,” he takes the cover off, “with couscous.”
I look into the container, impressed. “You made this?”
“Fuck no. I know someone who does prepared meals. Called her up, and boom, picked it up, and it was as if I cooked it.” He hands me a fork and an ice-cold bottle of water from the bag. “Not sure how long it’s going to stay cold in this heat.” The bottle has already started to develop little drops of moisture on it.
“This smells incredible,” I remark, grabbing a slice of chicken and tasting it. “Okay, I was wrong.”
“About?” He takes his own bite.
“This morning, I thanked the baby for not making me throw up. I said the burger was the best thing I’d ever tasted in my life.” I take a forkful of the couscous that has tomatoes and feta crumbles in it. “I was wrong.” I look at him. “What are you smiling so big for?” The smile shifts to a smirk.
“So far, you’ve had two of the best meals of your life with me.” He points his fork at me as I roll my eyes. “That’s got to count for something.”
“Or not. I might have just been starving my whole life,” I retort, making him laugh.
“I don’t care how we got here. The fact is, we got here. Me, you, and . . .” He looks down at the table that covers my stomach. His voice goes low so no one can hear him say, “Our baby.” I know if it was up to him, he probably wouldn’t give a shit. But he knows I’m not okay with it, and he’s respecting me enough not to let people overhear.
“I can sort of tell you how we got here,” I say, trying to lighten up the conversation.
“Oh, I know exactly how we got here. I was thinking about that the other day. I think it might have been round two.” I burst out laughing, turning my head to the side.
That’s when I see him, between the trees, lurking. My body goes stiff. I glance at Theo, hoping he didn’t notice the change in me. He’s focused on his plate. When I look back at the trees, he’s gone.
I don’t have a chance to process it because a call comes through. “I have to go.” I toss my fork down. “Thank you.” I grab my water bottle and head inside, knowing that now he’s seen me with Theo, he’ll be showing up again before long.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THEO
I roll out of bed wanting nothing more than to continue sleeping, but I know it’s the only time I can see her. She has to see I’m going to be all in for this.
I don’t even turn on the lights as I use the bathroom and then wash my hands and face. I brush my teeth with my eyes closed. I turn on the light in my walk-in closet for a second, then shut it off when one eye barely opens. I grab the first pair of jeans my hands land on from the shelf they’re folded on, and a T-shirt. Once dressed, I rush out of the house. I want to make sure I’m there by the time she gets home so I can make her something to eat while she showers.
When I arrive at her place, I shut the door to my truck softly to not wake the whole neighborhood, and sit on the top of the porch steps to wait. I’m about to pick up my phone and call her when headlights come down the street. I get up when the car slows down in front of her house and open her door when she turns the engine off. “Hi,” I say softly as she looks up at me. I can tell from her face that she’s tired. I hold out my hand to help her out of the car, even though she doesn’t need the help.
“Hey,” she says, putting her hand in mine. “What are you doing here?” I get a whiff of her, making my mouth water. I put one hand on the top of her car door. I have the most intense need to bend my head and kiss her. The way it rips through me makes my whole body feel like it’s on alert. I’ve never felt this before. “You okay?” she asks me when I say nothing and just stare at her.
“Yeah.” She lets go of my hand, and it falls to my side. “I thought I would come here early so I can make you something to eat while you take a shower.”
Her breath hitches. “Theo.”
“Yeah?” My hand moves from the top of the car door to her face. My thumb sweeps the softness of her cheek. “You tired?”
