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When somebody put The Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” on the jukebox, my heart sang. It was a brief moment to have a slower dance with Theo, and I felt like I was floating somewhere above myself, witnessing just how lucky I was.
“You know who loved the Stones?” Theo said as we swayed to the music together, with me holding him close against me. “My grandpa.”
“Did he?” I said. My face was near Theo’s hair, the soft scent filling my world.
“They were his favorite.”
“You know he’d be proud of you, right?” I said softly. “I’m sure he’d be so happy to see you so happy here in Kansas.”
“His jaw would be on the floor to see me enjoying Kansas,” Theo said with a laugh. “And, yes, I think he’d be proud. Proud to see me with… with someone who actually cares about me, for once, too.”
I felt an ache behind my sternum. It killed me to even imagine partners in Theo’s past who had seen him just as a pretty face, or only wanted to be with him to further their careers. “I can’t even put into words how much I do care about you, Theo.”
He looked up at me, his beautiful eyes wide. “You don’t have to put it into words. I feel it.”
The song played on in the background as we slow danced, lost in the center of the dance floor.
Wild, wild horses couldn’t drag me away.
It was a little bit disorienting, still, knowing how loyal I felt to this man, already. A small part of me still couldn’t believe it, still worried that one day Theo would wake up and realized he’d made a silly mistake, choosing a normal nobody like me.
But as he tucked his head against my chest and we danced, I knew I had to trust. Trust that even though I couldn’t control everything in my life, Theo felt as at home with me as I did with him.
I brushed my fingers through his hair, feeling like my heart would explode with emotion.
“How did I ever live without you?” I said quietly. It was something I’d said before, something I thought all the time, now.
“It’s weird to think about, isn’t it?” he replied, looking up at me again. “I… God, Roman, I want to say things to you. Things that I really should not say.”
“You can tell me anything, baby,” I said. “Please know that.”
“Even if it’s way too soon? Even if it’s something that, really, I should wait way longer to say? Even though I feel it, and I know it’s real, and I don’t give a fuck if it’s too soon, really—”
“You know I love you too, right, Theo?” I said softly, swallowing hard.
The words had just flown out of my mouth. I was taking a risk—a huge risk—but after everything that had happened, I was ready to throw caution to the wind.
“Oh my God,” he whispered, his eyes huge. “You do know me.”
“I was hoping to hell that I was right about what you were thinking of saying,” I said, my heart slamming in my chest.
“It was,” Theo said. “It totally was. Because goddamn, do I love you. I love you. I love you in a way I’ve never quite loved another person before, and if feels so fucking right to say it even though it’s definitely too soon.”
I puffed out an exhilarated laugh. “Well, you did tell me you do everything fast, right? Driving, flirting, falling in love…”
His teeth came out over his lower lip. “And you know what? I don’t regret it.”
I pulled in a long breath. “I used to think you were wild, but honestly? I think we are wild.”
“When I first met you, I never would have agreed,” Theo said. “But now I can see it. You’re just as wild as I am, in your heart.”
“I just needed somebody to set it free.”
I dipped to press my lips to his and he opened to me immediately, kissing me deeply and slowly. I was utterly lost in him, and I loved every moment of it.
Theo Castille had started my life on a crazy journey, and now nothing could drag me away. Nothing. I knew I wanted to protect him for as long as he’d let me, but I also knew that he was here for me, in a deep and profound way. I loved this man, and I wanted to know every part of him. I was still so excited to continue learning everything that made him tick, everything that made him laugh, and how someone this special could exist.
He’d taken my life from boring black-and-white and jolted it straight into a world of riotous colors.
I felt alive, with Theo. And goddamn was I ready for the ride.
Epilogue
Theo, One Year Later
“The deal is closed. Closed!” I said as I ran up to Roman, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. “God, thank fuck, it is over.”
