Page 41 of The Rhythm of their Souls

I grab the shot glass and throw it back like it’s 1990 again. The warm liquid travels down my throat, giving a delicious burn as it seeps into my pulsing bloodstream.

I can sense the tension in my shoulders slowly dwindling.

“Nothing an ole shot can’t fix, right, bestie?” Danielle blurts out.

I purse my lips. “I don’t know if anything can fix the headache that woman gives me.”

Danielle looks at me with understanding written on her face. “I know, just don’t let it ruin your dinner with Theo’s family.”

I give her an agreeable nod.

Danielle’s lips curl up. “And maybe a good twiddle of the bean later will ease some tension, too.”

I scoff loudly at her comment. Danielle tries to hurry, pouring her shot into her mouth. Her mistake is immediately looking back at me. I burn a hole between her eyes with my fiery glare.

Danielle’s cheeks blow out with the liquid still in her mouth. She seals her lips tight but gags from the taste of the tequila. Within seconds, tequila shoots out of her mouth onto the kitchen island. I laugh under my breath, “Serves you right.”

Danielle says nothing but doesn’t hesitate to throw up her middle finger.

I admire the property as we pull into Theo’s parents’ driveway. Every tree, bush, and plant has been meticulously cared for. Various flowers bloom around the foundation, while green vines elegantly twist around the beams that support the porch and roof. Woven hand baskets hang from the porch, each overflowing with colorful flowers.

I spot a cherrywood swing on the left side of the porch. It’s clear that they have a strong sense of landscaping; their yard is immaculate. And I can only imagine how beautiful the inside is.

We park the car near the garage entrance. And now my nerves are kicking in again, and I can’t stop myself from rubbing my hands together profusely. My heart is sucker punching against my heavy chest. If Theo listened closely enough, he could probably hear how aggressively my heart is pounding.

He adjusts in his seat and faces me, reaching over to clench my moving hands. Within seconds, I can already feel my nervous system ease off.

I swivel my head in his direction, catching him staring at me with an admirable glare. Gosh, this man is beautiful to look at. Just a glance at him calms my rapid heart. It almost makes me eager to get in this house and meet the two who created this masterpiece they call their son.

He actually changed up his attire today. To be honest, I love his plain T’s, but today, his dirty blond locks sit neatly under a tan ball cap, swooping across his forehead and reaching above his brow. He’s wearing a thin, short-sleeved tan flannel with white pinstripes. He has it completely unbuttoned, showing off a white tank underneath. I can see his tasty muscles flexing beneath it, which causes me to squeeze my legs together multiple times on the ride here.

I’m tempted to reach over and unbutton his pants to show him what he’s doing to my insides. But that would be extremely rude to do in his parent’s driveway, and it definitely would not be the first impression I’m hoping for.

Theo grabs my chin, stealing my attention back from my intrusive thoughts. He smirks at me. “You can’t stay out of that pretty little head of yours, can you?”

I look into his stunning eyes, pondering on my response. “No,” I admit.

He chuckles. “You’re going to be fine, babe; you’re easy to love,” he croons.

Butterflies flap their wings viciously in my stomach. Damn, this man and his effective words.

He guides me through the garage area and up the stairs to the door. Before we enter, Theo turns to me and kisses my flushed cheek. “Just be yourself, babe,” he says calmly.

I give him a forced smile, realizing that just maybe I’m panicking for no reason. What could go wrong?

As we step into his parents’ home, a delightful aroma fills the air, making my stomach growl in response. Something smells absolutely delicious. We walk through a small hallway, and I notice a bathroom on the right. Just a little further ahead, there is a staircase on the left leading up to another level, and at the end of the hall, there looks to be a bedroom. Finally, we make a right leading into the kitchen area.

A petite woman, whom I assume is Theo’s mother, stands in the kitchen, tending to several pots on the stove. The delicious aroma of her cooking fills the air.

She quickly notices us. “Oh, here’s the beautiful girl that Theo can’t stop raving about!” she exclaims as she walks toward us. I glance at Theo, his lips pressed together.

He murmurs with a tight smile, “Hey, Mom.”

She gives him a loving hug, followed by a kiss on the cheek.

Before I can react, she pulls me in for a warm hug and gently rubs my back. To my surprise, I accepted her warmth and returned the gesture.

Eventually, she pulls back, her hands resting on the tops of my arms. “It is so nice to meet you, Olive. I’ve heard wonderful things about you. I’m sure Theo has mentioned my name—I’m Ruby, but you can call me Momma Rivers if you’d like!” she says, her smile genuine.