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EIGHTEEN
THEO
Women are too fucking complicated. I let Hadley fester all day, hoping she’d work through whatever was bothering her, but once we arrived back at my condo in Portland, she was still in a mood.
I didn’t want to force her to confide in me, but after being with Serena, I was in unfamiliar territory. I didn’t know how to navigate her bad mood.
But calling her my girlfriend seems to solve the problem. As soon as I say it, a huge smile spreads across her face.
This is what I want. I want easy. I want to put smiles on her face rather than tears in her eyes. I don’t want games or complicated emotions or drama, though those are also a part of almost every relationship. This is the first of many hiccups and thankfully, it’s minor. Something we easily fixed. I don’t fault her for her reaction to my offer because we’re still getting to know each other.
“I have to spend a few hours in the office,” I say, grabbing her hand and kissing the back of it. “But when you look at me like that, I don’t want to leave.”
“I’ll be fine without you,” she tells me with a sweet flutter of her lashes.
“Yes, but will I be fine without you?”
The answer isof course. I’m capable of lasting a couple hours away from her, especially when I know she’s waiting for me. That knowledge invigorates me as I work through client email after client email, responding to every tedious request. My secretary will probably try to murder me when she arrives and finds her inbox overrun with dozens of tasks for her to complete, and she’s certainly not going to like the stack of files I place on her desk before I leave for the day.
When I arrive home, a heavenly aroma fills the space, and Hadley is standing in the kitchen, watching a simmering pot. She looks beautiful dressed in a simple black sundress, the thin straps curving over her shoulders. Her chestnut-colored hair has streaks of blonde, no doubt from the sun, and hangs in loose waves.
“Did you make that,” I ask, peering over her shoulder.
“Yes,” she answers with a smile. “Cioppino.”
I watch her for a moment, trying to remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal. There’s been a lot of microwave meals and take-out recently. I know how to make one thing, breakfast, and I’d like to think I’m good at it. Colton and Piper seem to like my chocolate chip pancakes.
I roll up my sleeves and ask, “How can I help?”
She points toward a brown bag. “Slice the bread.” I watch her move easily around the kitchen, as if this is her home, her domain. She pulls bowls out of the cabinet and sets them on the counter before dishing the stew into them and sprinkling a garnish over the top. As she finishes, she looks up at me with a smile. “It’s done. I hope you like it.”
I finish my task, placing the bread on a plate, and then follow her into the dining room. She sits adjacent to me and watches as I take my first taste. “Well?” Her eyes blink as she waits for my opinion.
“It’s delicious.” The tomato broth, the garlic, and the fresh seafood all combine to create an explosion of flavors in my mouth.
She finally digs into her own bowl, her cheeks flushed pink. She hums happily as she eats, dipping the sourdough bread into the broth and nibbling it. Watching her eat and enjoy the meal she made is tantalizing, and I hate to ruin the moment, but we haven’t discussed Saturday’s event. I’m worried it’ll cause another argument because she’s going to need to purchase a dress more suited for a gala rather than a day at the beach.
“I don’t want to start another argument with you, but we need to talk about Saturday.”
She sets her spoon down on the table next to the bowl. “The big company dinner?”
“It’s more like big company gala,” I admit.
“And I’m going to need to wear something appropriate?”
I clear my throat because her tone tells me she doesn’t like where this conversation is going. “Well, if you brought along a ball gown . . .” I try to make light of the situation, but from the scowl on her lips, Hadley isn’t amused.
“I’ll take care of it,” she says quickly. “You don’t have to pay for anything.”
Money is something Serena and I fought about often. She hated talking about it, and unfortunately, we had to discuss our finances. She stopped working after Colton was born and she never returned. I made enough money to support our family, but her spending sometimes needed to be curtailed. I don’t want to have similar uncomfortable conversations with Hadley, or anyone else.
“I don’t mind—”
“I do.” Her voice is firm, and her eyes are wide. “Theo, if you want me to stay in Portland with you and the kids, then how am I going to earn my own money? I’m a year away from turning twenty-five, which technically means I can access my trust fund, but what am I going to do until that happens? And what if Curtis has done something with the money in my trust fund? I’m sorry but taking your money doesn’t sit well with me.”
“You’re not taking anything I’m not willingly giving to you.”
“Because you’re my boyfriend?”
