Page 188 of True Blue

I tilt my head. “Your place?”

He nods.

“Yes, please,” I say, my voice still hoarse. “I’ve been dying to solve this mystery.”

Teddy gives me a small smile and helps me up from the counter. Even though the offer of Teddy’s arms carrying me around is incredibly alluring—it always makes butterflies float around my tummy with how strong he is—I want to walk. I need to.

So he wraps one strong arm around my waist and holds my hand with the other as he guides me out of the bathroom.

The bedroom is bare, just an enormous bed on a dark wood frame, cream-colored walls with gorgeous crown molding that I get distracted by for a moment, and a couple of laundry baskets of clothes.

“Taking your time furnishing, I see,” I tease.

Teddy smiles, but there’s something nervous in it now.

Once we get to the hallway, I stop in my tracks.

Because I know this place.

The carpet is plush and brand new under my feet; there are no chips in the walls, no holes where time and rodents had eaten away at this beautiful structure. No water damage. The doors are the same beautiful wood, but with vintage-looking brass door knobs.

“Teddy…” I whisper, awed.

Teddy doesn’t say anything, just guides me to the stairs where he scoops me off my feet and carries me down. I don’t even protest, because my eyes keep catching on the stained-glass windows, cleaned and shimmering with color as the sun catches them.

When he sets me back onto my feet, he brings me to the living room, with its shiny, freshly stained floors. The beautiful blue kitchen, with its brand-new appliances and vintage tiles. The sunroom I had secretly wanted to make a studio for him.

It’s the house.

It’s my house.

“Teddy…” is all I can say.

Teddy just shrugs, his arm tightening around my waist. “I bought it.”

“I bought it,” I chuckle, tears stinging my eyes again. “I was going to surprise you.”

“I know,” his face pinches at that, looking like he’s in pain. “And you gave it up. So I bought it back for you.”

“Teddy…”

“You don’t have to say anything now. You don’t even have to accept it, Indie. But… you loved this house. You wanted this house. It wasn’t fair that you had to give it up. So, it’s yours… if you want it.”

“This is where you’ve been,” I murmur, glancing around this beautiful home. “Fixing up this house.”

“For you.”

“…for us,” I counter softly. Teddy’s eyes brighten up at that, looking at me intently. I turn my head toward him and smile. “For us.”

“Indie?”

“I want us again,” I admit, before fear claws up my throat slowly. “If you… I mean, if you want⁠—”

My face is in Teddy’s hands now, our foreheads pressed together. My hands trail up his arms and rest over his wrists, holding him there, holding him to me. “I want, Indie. I want you, I want us…”

Relief is euphoric, and I feel the last bit of tension I’ve been carrying bleed from my body.

Teddy’s eyes meet mine, and he moves his head closer. I fall into it, the familiarity, the love rushing through my veins for him, until I realize that I’m still sick and contagious, even if my fever has broken.