Page 99

So much for doing things for the greater good.

Phoebe wanted Theo.

And last night she’d taken what she wanted. For better or worse.

“No.” She only regretted the way it happened. The fact that they still weren’t being honest with each other. “I don’t regret it. Do you?”

He pulled her even closer, kissing between her brows and working his way down the slope of her nose.

“No. It was the best night of my life.”

Fee grinned. “Now, I’m going to get cocky.”

He laughed, his breath warm against her cheek. It was cold in the trailer, and she had no desire to get out from under the blankets. She snuggled closer, tucking her face in the crook of his neck. They hadn’t bothered with clothes last night and his skin was warm against hers. He ran a hand down her back.

“It’s going to be really hard to get out of this bed,” he said.

“Mmm-hmm.” Fee rested her cheek on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, praying that whatever happened in the next few days didn’t destroy what they were building. That building something was even possible.

“If we had done this sooner, I don’t think I would have gotten out of bed for the last decade.”

Fee laughed even as her heart ached a little thinking about all the time they’d wasted. She’d spent a long time denying her real feelings for Theo. It was a hard habit to break.

She knew they still had so much to say to each other, but being wrapped in Theo’s arms this morning gave her hope. They would figure it out. They would find a way to make this work. They’d come so far. And maybe it didn’t matter that they were two fundamentally different creatures. Maybe all that mattered was that they wanted to be together.

A pesky thought wormed its way to the forefront. She’d been lying to Theo all week and not just about her feelings. Would he forgive her for withholding information about Lena’s disappearance?

The thought was like a splinter, annoying and painful, and something she wished she could pluck out. But it wouldn’t go away, threatening to burst the little bubble of hope this morning had created.

He had to forgive her, right?

He’d see that she’d only told a little white lie. Or a few little white lies.

But he knew her heart. He’d understand.

He had to.

They fell back asleep, snug in their cocoon of blankets.

When Fee woke again the bed beside her was empty, but the smell of burnt toast and coffee was wafting in from the kitchen. She grabbed her leggings and Theo’s sweatshirt and tugged them on. She wandered out and found Theo pulling bread, still smoking, from the toaster.

He winced when he saw her.

“I was trying to make you breakfast.”

“And how’s that going?” she teased.

“Not great, to be honest.”

She laughed, coming into the kitchen and planting a kiss on Theo’s cheek before helping herself to coffee. And the morning was like so many others they’d had this past year, visiting each other’s homes, eating together, talking and laughing and teasing. They’d been able to come and go much easier since he left his pack. They hadn’t had to hide from anyone anymore.

But even with that freedom they’d held back from each other; the tension from the morning he left was always lingering in the background. Maybe now, they could finally let that tension go. Maybe Fee could let that heartbreak go, and they could move forward together.

Theo grinned at her as he slathered butter on the toast.

“I didn’t have a ton to work with,” he said, sliding her a plate. “But there was bread in the freezer.”

“It looks delicious,” Fee said with a laugh. “But maybe I’ll just stick with the coffee for now.”