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ChapterTwenty-One
THALIA
“Piccola.”
With that one word, my heart crashes against my ribcage threatening to jump out. Panic courses through me. I pinch myself to see if this is all a dream.
It’s not.
Theo Rhodes—the love of my life—is standing in front of me. My chest heaves and I don’t know whether I want to be sick, cry, laugh, or run away. I don’t do any of those, though. I stand there like an idiot, staring at him, because I’m scared that if I don’t, he’ll disappear.
Someone takes my hand, squeezing with encouragement. I startle, my gaze moving to Francois, who I forgot was beside me.
He smiles softly. “Baby girl,” Francois says.
A growl sounds and my eyes snap to Theo, his gaze fixated on my hand joined with Franny’s. I want to pull my hand away, but I don’t. I stand, transfixed by the man in front of me. I drink him in as he scowls at Franny. He looks the same, if a bit bigger. More muscular. My chest tightens, and I think I might be having a heart attack with the way it’s beating. I rub at it with my free hand, trying to alleviate the pain. Not that it helps.
Theo looks back to me, his face softens, and he smiles. My breath catches in my throat. He really is breathtaking. He steps towards me. I step back. He frowns. “Piccola?” he says again, but this time as a question. I swallow, trying to wet my suddenly dry throat. “Thalia?” Theo tries again.
I blink up at him, aware I need to say something,anything.“What are you doing here?” I finally speak.
He smiles, taking a cautious step towards me. He glances at Franny—who is still gripping my hand in support—then back to me. “I’m here to compete.” He swallows as worry flashes in his eyes. “And see you. I wanted to speak to you actually. If you have some time right now?” he finishes.
I pull my sweaty hand out of Francois’ and look up at him before moving my eyes to Theo. My heart is going so fast I don’t know how I’m still standing at this point. “What about?”
He closes the distance between us, grabbing my hand—not caring one bit about my supposed boyfriend beside me or the fact we are out in public—before I have a chance to step back. “Us. Me and you,” he says softly.
“There is no me and you,” I murmur.
Hurt crosses his face, before he straightens, and a look of determination takes over. “There will always be a me and you, piccola. You may think you have moved on.” He glares at Francois only to look back at me. “But you haven’t. As long as we both exist in the same universe it willalwaysbe us. I don’t want to do this here, with an audience, but I will if you don’t give me a chance to explain everything.”
I pull out of his grip. I’m curious as to what he wants to talk about, of course I am. But I’m also scared. Theo is the only man walking this earth that can hurt me,hashurt me, and as much as I love him, I don’t want to go back to the shell of a person I was when I first walked away from him. I was a hot mess. A ghost of myself. Although I will never get over him, I have made progress and that’s something. Do I want to go back down that road with him again?
Of course, I do. But self-preservation has me questioning everything.
“Okay,” I say before I can stop myself. I roll my eyes at how quick I am to agree to him. “Not right now though. I have plans.”
“Francois.” My best friend’s hand darts out to shake Theo’s in greeting.
Theo looks at it like it personally offends him. I bite back a laugh as he takes it, his facial expression can only be described as disgusted. I know what he thinks. There is no doubt in my mind he has seen us in the tabloids. “Theo,” he replies coolly before releasing him quickly. Theo eyes me. “Do you still have the same cell number.”
“I do but I’m not really using my American number in Europe. I can give you my European number?” I ask it as a question.
Theo’s lips curve into a smirk so sensuous, it should be illegal. For the first time in a year, I feel something other than pain. I feel lust. My stomach drops and my pussy clenches with need. He is gorgeous. I can see he still has the cockiness and swagger that only he could possess. But as I look closer, I can see the hint of vulnerability behind his grin. It’s not easy to see and if you didn’t know him you would miss it. But I do know him, and it’s there for me to see, as clear as day.
He pulls his cell out of his pocket and I reel off my number for him. He spins, bending down and picking something up. Turning to face me, he hands me my cell, which I must have dropped in the shock of seeing him again. I take it, my cheeks heating when he presses a kiss to my forehead. I squirm at the contact; he senses it, breaks the kiss, shoots me a wink, then saunters away. I turn to watch him leave. The man is sex personified. He commands attention and as I look around, I see several women lick their lips as they watch Theo like he's a piece of meat on display. My fists ball as jealousy surges through me. He is mine. Not theirs. I don’t want their beady, lustful eyes on him.
A chuckle sounds. My head snaps to my best friend and I glare up at him. He chuckles like this is all some joke. Like I didn’t just come face to face with the man that consumes me.
“What?” I snap.
He grins. “Oh, baby girl. Thing just got very interesting around here.”
* * *
“What the hell?” I curse as I pace the apartment Francois and I are renting. It’s a small space but it’s on the showground and that’s why we decided on it. “What is he doing here? Where is Melody? The baby?” In all the shock of seeing Theo, I didn’t ask him any of this. Not that I would have in front of an audience, but these are all things I want to know.Needto know. Franny stands in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. He places his hands on my shoulders.
“Take a deep breath and calm down.” He breathes in, taking a deep breath and letting it out. He rolls his head, silently asking me to follow suit. I do. I take a deep breath, then release it. It doesn’t calm me. I don’t think anything will at this point. “Better?” He smiles.
