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“How do you feel? Do you need some painkillers?”
“Oh, no, I have some. I brought some with me,” I said hurriedly. “But thank you. Can you give me another ten, maybe fifteen minutes?”
“Of course. Don’t rush; you had a long day yesterday, after all. I’ve got my phone, so call me if you need anything.”
“All right. Thanks, Uncle Jay.” I smiled and closed the door as he waved me goodbye. I sagged back against the door with a sigh and buried my face in my hands. I sank down to crouch in front of the door, still hiding my face, and groaned.
“Can I come out yet?”
I peeked up through my fingers. Theo was peering around the corner of the wall, and his lips were curved up into a tiny smile as he surveyed me on the floor.
“What are you doing down there?” he asked.
“Contemplating all my life choices until now,” I replied, my voice slightly muffled by my hands. “Every. Single. One.”
“You know, you could have just told him I was here because I’d brought you meds. It wouldn’t be that weird,” Theo reasoned, walking over to me and holding out his hands.
I sighed, putting my hands in his so he could pull me up to my feet. “It was easier just to hide you.”
“You’re probably right.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders again. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“No. I’m overwhelmed and confused,” I answered honestly. “Even more so than I was before.”
“I’m sorry, Chlo. I made it worse, didn’t I?”
“No.” I pressed my face against his chest. “I’m glad you told me the truth. I thought it was just me and I was wondering if I was crazy, so you actually helped a bit.”
“Really? I thought I just gave you more questions.”
“You did. You gave me as many as you answered.”
“How on Earth was I helpful, then?”
“Because I’m no longer being an angsty baby over my feelings. I just have to figure out what to do from here.”
Theo momentarily tensed, then slid his hand across to my neck. His fingers slipped into my hair as he cupped the back of it, and he pressed his lips against the top of my head. “Don’t fret so much,” he said softly. “Tomorrow, we’ll go back to Buckley Heath, and we can carry on the way we have been for the next two weeks.”
“What do you mean?” I tilted my head back and met his eyes. “You mean act like this didn’t happen?”
“No. I don’t think I could ever forget you telling me how you feel about me.” He lightly touched his lips to mine. “But the real world exists here in London, doesn’t it? Everything you’re worrying about doesn’t exist in Buckley Heath.”
He was right.
It was almost as if we lived in another world while we were at the cottage.
That was how we’d ended up in this situation to begin with.
“Whatever is on your mind can be dealt with when our trip is over.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And we’ll deal with it together, okay?”
I gripped his shirt tightly.
Could I believe him?
Was it really okay if I did?
“Okay,” I said softly. “But I… Are you not upset with me?”
“How could I be upset with you?”
