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That seems to snap him out of it.
“We’ll be in my room,” he says to no one in particular.
“If you need anything…” Elliot lets the words hang.
“Thanks.” Theo moves ahead of me and tugs me toward the staircase.
We make our way to his room in silence. But he doesn’t let go of my hand, gripping it like I’m his life raft and without it, he might slip under and lose his fight.
When we reach his bedroom door, he pauses, inhaling a sharp breath. “What if she hates me for it?” he asks.
“Not possible. Millie loves you, and she knows why you did it.” His eyes search mine and I force a smile. “You’re not a bad person, Theo.”
He looks like he wants to argue but he gives me another curt nod, before pushing his door open and going inside.
Millie is exactly where I left her, curled up in a ball on her brother’s bed.
Theo falters, taking in the sight of his sister. “Fuck, she looks so small,” he breathes, running a hand down his face.
“She’s tougher than you think.” I nudge him into the room so I can close the door behind me.
“I keep thinking, did I do the right thing? Now she has nobody except me.”
Moving around him, I cup his face in my hands, staring up at him with every ounce of emotion I feel. “As someone who grew up with nobody to count on, I can tell you that you’re wrong. You are enough, Theo. More than enough.”
He leans down, touching his head to mine. “I’m so fucking glad you’re here.” His lips brush my skin, sending my heart into a tailspin.
It hits me like a bolt of lightning right in my chest.
I love him.
I’m falling in love with Theo Ashworth and I’m going to break his heart.
Not as much as I’ll break my own though.
Emotion wells inside me, rising to the surface like a tidal wave.
“Th-Theo?” Millie’s voice startles us both, cutting through the moment like ice.
He releases me and turns to his sister. “Hey, Mills.”
“Theo,” she whimpers, sobbing in her hand. He rushes to her side and gets up on the bed, pulling her into his arms.
“I’ll leave you two—”
“No, stay.” His expression softens as he pats the space beside him. When I hesitate, he mouths, “Please.”
“Okay.” I go to him, unable to resist.
I must be a glutton for punishment, but I can’t resist him. Especially knowing that this will all be over soon, and I’ll be nothing more than his biggest regret.
A choked sob claws its way up my throat but I swallow it down, burying my face into his side and the three of us lie there.
Millie’s breathing evens out again signifying she’s asleep, but I know Theo is wide awake, his fingers brushing circles down my spine.
“So long as I’ve got the two of you, I have all I need,” he says quietly.
“Theo, I—” I trap the words. Too cowardly to confess.
