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Snatching my phone off the desk, I see a few texts from Theo from about thirty minutes ago.
Theo:
I’m out of this meeting in 15. You home?
It’s six and I’m over this day. I’m stopping by.
I read the last text just as my doorbell rings again. Oh shit.
I startle and shove my phone in my back pocket. Opening the door, Theo stands on the stoop with a devilish grin on his face.
“Theo,” I breathe.
“Cass.”
“I just got your text. My phone was down here. I was upstairs”—I peer over my shoulder, then whisper—“with my parents.”
His eyes widen. “They’re here?”
I nod. “So is Cash.”
“So unless you want to stay and meet them…”
“Cassie, who is it, sweetie?” my mother yells as I hear her walking closer to the stairs. I close my eyes. Theo and I just figured out where we stand. And I’m pretty sure meeting my parents this soon wasn’t on his to-do list.
When I open my eyes, I see Theo looking over my shoulder with a kind smile on his face. I look and yup, there’s my mom.
“Oh, well, hello, tall, dark and handsome.”
“Mom,” I hiss.
“What? I peeked over the railing to see who was at the door and to my surprise, this lovely man was on the stoop. Please, let him in, honey.”
I give him a pleading look. “You do not need to stay,” I whisper, trying to let him know he doesn’t need to experience this first time in years family dinner.
“Do you want me to stay?” he asks as he leans in and kisses my cheek.
“Maybe.” I pull my lip between my teeth. His eyes catch the movement.
“Then I’ll stay,” he says as his hand grips my own.
“So who is this tall drink of water?” Mom asks. My goodness, who is this woman? Didn’t know she was such a flirt.
“I’m Theo Abbot, ma’am. Cassie’s boyfriend.” He shakes her hand and my heart is a puddle on the floor at his words.
“Oh, well, I had no idea my daughter had a boyfriend, let alone such a handsome one. Come in. We are just getting ready to eat a feast that Cassie made us. She waves him up the stairs behind her and the shit-eating grin on his face has me punching his shoulder.
“You will probably regret this,” I mutter.
“Nope. I don’t think I will.”
Yeah, those will be famous last words, for sure.
* * *
“I’m just so happy you got a second chance at love. Theo seems wonderful.” Mom shakes her head as she puts the last clean plate into the cabinet. She insisted on hand-washing all the dishes from dinner. Looks like my dishwasher gets the night off.
I look over my shoulder at where Theo still sits at my dining room table with Cash and my dad. I brought a mixed box of sweets from Sweet Wave since I don’t fancy myself a baker. The box sits open in the middle of the table with small paper plates in front of each of them. Crumbs the only thing left. Theo is intently listening to whatever my dad is saying about the dental industry and didn’t hear what my mom just said.
