AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I imagine us with an even number,” I told her.
“Yeah, me too,” she said.
“Do you think we’d have kids by now if I hadn’t left?” she asks.
I startle, whether by her question or from how lost I was in the memory, I’m not sure.
“It’s impossible to know, isn’t it?” I say. “Because you did leave, and I’m not so sure you won’t do it again.”
CHAPTERNINETEEN
TAKE ME AWAY
SOFIE
I set my glass down and turn to look at him. He’s staring out at the water, the moonlight and lights on the deck casting enough light to see his profile clearly, but I wish I could read his expression. I wish I could crawl into his lap and kiss away the heaviness that has crept into his voice.
“Theo,” I whisper.
He doesn’t say anything.
“Theo,” I say louder, so there’s no mistaking that he heard me. “I promise you I’m not going anywhere.”
He takes a long pull on his beer and finally turns to look at me. “Please don’t make promises you can’t keep, Sof.”
It hurt when he said that to me at Grinny’s about making Owen a pie, but it really hurts now. Maybe because this time, there’s no anger behind it, just a quiet, haunted plea.
I start to reiterate that I’m staying. That there’s no threat involved now, and I’m right where I want to be.
But he stands up and is at the back door before my brain has caught up that he’s going inside.
“You’re free to stay out here a while, or I can show you the guest bedroom,” he says.
His tone is distant, and a chill sweeps over me.
I pick up my glass and follow him inside.
I only saw part of the first floor when I was here the other night, and he doesn’t show me what’s down the hall now. We go upstairs and pass a closed door before he stops at the next one. There’s one more door at the end of the hall and I look down there to see a massive king-size bed. That must be his room.
This place is bigger than it looks from the outside.
He opens the door we’re in front of and I follow him into the room. It’s nice, simple. There’s a queen bed and a nightstand, nothing on the walls, but the bed looks comfortable with a fluffy white down comforter.
“I haven’t done much decorating, as you can see,” he says gruffly.
“It looks way more comfortable than my cot. Thanks, Theo.”
He nods, still not looking at me. “There’s a Jack and Jill bathroom between here and the other guest bedroom.”
He points to the door and goes to open it. I peek inside and can see the bedroom through the other open door.
“Like the one you shared with Wyatt growing up.”
“Yep. Everything you need should be in the closet in there, towels, soap, a new toothbrush…just let me know if something’s missing.”
After we did the nighttime chores with the horses, I put a few things in my backpack, so I should be set, but I just nod, suddenly anxious for him to leave the room before I start crying. Or something dumb like latching onto his leg and not letting him walk away.
I thank him again and he walks toward the door and stops.
