Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Want to shower with me?” he asks. I nod my head, and he leads me through the house to the bathroom. He starts the shower as he peels his shirt over his head. “So, I was thinking today . . .”
“Yeah?” I watch him lean down and untie his boots.
“I was wondering if you would be willing to . . .” I wait for him to say the rest. “. . . move in with me?”
“Um, what?”
“We’re dating already.”
“Hasn’t it been just four days since we’ve been official?” I hold up my hand with four fingers. “Not months, not years . . . days.”
“Right, but we sort of have been living with each other for the past two weeks.”
“Um, where?” I laugh. “When was I there?” I point to myself.
He laughs. “We stayed with each other at my other house, near my parents.”
“Right, for three days. Today is four.”
“But before we went there, we were together for two weeks. Anyway, it’s just a number.”
“It’s not a big number. And I have my own house.”
“So rent it out,” he tells me like it’s nothing. “Or if you want, I can move in there. But with the baby coming . . . all I’m saying is think about it. I don’t want to go to bed without you knowing you aren’t going to be coming home to me.” He shakes his head. “Actually, it’s nonnegotiable. We aren’t sleeping without the other person. So if you won’t move in here, I’ll move in with you. My bed is bigger, though, and you do like to sleep like a starfish.”
“I do not sleep like a starfish,” I defend myself. “How could I sleep like a starfish when you cocoon over me all the time?”
He smiles as if I didn’t just insult him. “I want you close,” he retorts softly.
“Theo, can you imagine what people are going to say?”
“I don’t give a fuck what they say. I know the truth and you know the truth, and that’s all that matters.”
“It’s not as easy as that.” I shake my head.
He comes to me, standing in front of me. “It is if you make it that easy.” He kisses me and pulls my shirt over my head. “All I want is for you to think about it.” He bends to kiss the side of my neck. “Now let’s take a shower because we need to fuck, nap, and then go for dinner.” I can’t help but burst out laughing. Something I have to admit I’ve been doing a lot more of since he’s come into my life. Things might be crashing around me, but he makes me feel like he’s got a protective shield surrounding me. Still, I know more than anyone, a shield can only be up for so long before someone knocks it down.
The next day, I’m in the middle of my shift, sitting on the couch as we wait for the next call out, when my phone rings.
“Hey,” I say to Finley, getting up and walking down the steps to talk to her privately, “it’s about time you called me back.”
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been—” She trails off. “I’m here. What’s up? What’s going on?”
“Do you think it’s too fast to move in with Theo?” I ask her, fast-forwarding through all of the rest. “Like, it’s not a good idea, right?”
“Why not?”
“I don’t even know him. He doesn’t know me, and—”
She cuts me off. “Aren’t you guys having a child together?” She laughs. “I’m pretty sure you at least like each other a little.”
“But . . .” It comes out almost as a whine.
“Collins,” she says softly, “what difference does it make that you didn’t know him before or that you get to know him while you live with him?”
“I can’t have a conversation with you when you make sense,” I joke. “By the way, how are you?”
“I found out Davis is fucking his secretary and her best friend, as well as a couple of his clients.” I close my eyes. “And he still refuses to divorce me.”
“Why don’t you come visit me and get away? My house isn’t anything big, and I don’t have air-conditioning, but at least you’ll be away.”
“You really know how to sell a holiday.” She laughs.
The bell rings, letting me know a call came in. “I have to go.”
“Call me later. Love you.”
I spring into action, and for the rest of my shift, I don’t have time to think about Theo.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THEO
“Theo,” Collins calls. I look over my shoulder at her, sliding one leg into my jeans. “I have to go home.”
My body goes tight. “Why?”
“We’re going out with your cousin, and I need clothes for it.” She cocks her hips against the doorjamb.
“What’s wrong with the clothes you have?” I look at the shorts and tank top she wore to work.