Page 140 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

“I mean, you guys should’ve told me first,” Kira went on. “But when I said what you did was selfish–I don’t think that anymore. I don’t think you’re like that. And the picture thing… the way it happened wasn’t your fault.”

Theo put his hands on his daughter’s shoulders. He was dressed in a gray sweater with a leather jacket thrown on top and a pair of jeans. There wasn’t a trace of stubble on his face, and his eyes looked clearer than they had in weeks.

What did that mean? Had he moved on? Was he over me? But then, what about that touch earlier?

Oh dear lord, I had to figure out a way to turn off my brain.

I tried to give Kira a smile, but it must have looked pained because Kira only frowned at me. “What Ashley did doesn’t change the fact that I hurt you.”

“No, but then I hurt you,” Kira said. She reached up and put her hand over her father’s. “And I hurt my dad. I don’t want to do that anymore.”

My spine snapped straight. I looked at Theo, and his gaze was already on me, searching my face.

He held my eye as he asked his daughter, “What do you mean?”

She broke into a smile and rolled her eyes as if to say, Isn’t it obvious?

Then, she said, “It means I’m okay with it.”

I… what? Was Kira saying what I…?

I didn’t want to finish that thought. I didn’t want to get my hopes up. So I watched, numb, as Theo turned Kira to face him.

“Kira. What are you okay with?” His voice was low, measured, but I could still hear that slight edge of doubt.

She looked up at her father like he was daft. “You and Miss Walker.”

I sucked in a breath, stunned. But nothing happened. Theo didn’t let go of Kira and pull me into his arms. Instead, he hesitated, like he wasn’t sure he believed her.

“Kira, think about this. Are you sure? Really?”

Her answer was instant. “Yes, Dad. I’m sure. I’m tired of seeing you like this. I’m going to Columbia next year, and Aunt Rochelle isn’t here anymore. I don’t want you to be alone. I want you to have someone. Mom would want that for you. She’d want you to be happy, just like she’d want me to be.”

Kira mirrored her father, setting her hands on his shoulders. She looked up at him as she spoke, her voice softer this time. “It’s okay that we’re okay now. It’s what Mom would’ve wanted for us.”

And then it sank in. That this was real. Theo and I were in love. And Kira was okay with it.

Theo’s mouth opened, then he huffed out a laugh and pulled his daughter into his arms.

“Dad,” Kira groaned into his chest. “I have to go. Curtains are going up in, like, ten minutes.”

“Okay, okay.” Theo laughed again, then let her go.

Kira looked at me once, taking in my expression with a wide smile. “Calling you Mia instead of Miss Walker is going to be so weird.”

Then she ran toward Gem and Miles.

“Tell me you still want me.”

Theo walked me backward until I was cornered offstage. His blue eyes were so dark, they looked almost black. His fingers curled into fists, the muscle in his jaw flexed, but he didn’t touch me. Not yet.

He was waiting for permission.

My heart was thudding. The way my stomach flipped made me feel unsteady, like I needed to hold onto something.

“Do… you?”

He knew what I meant and scowled at me.