The Last Thing She Wants (Chestnut Hills #1)

15

theo

The crisp spring air swirled around us as Ellie and I walked the fifteen minutes to where we had left her car the night before. The Assets played straight through to midnight, giving us ample time to throwback a few drinks. Being only a short walk, we decided to embrace the comfortably chilly night rather than drive back. Needing to retrieve the truffles for mom, I offered to walk back with her and treat her to lunch.

Reaching the outskirts of downtown, a small sandwich shop sat with a handwritten Open sign on the sidewalk in front. Under the chosen slogan of the day, I got 99 problems, but a good sandwich ain’t one, was a list of the day’s specials. Deciding to stop there, we placed our orders at the counter plastered with psychedelic doodles.

Although we agreed lunch would be my treat, Ellie tried to pay. Refusing, I tapped my card to the reader before she could react, causing her to bashfully step back. Moments later, we settled into a table for two with our bowls of soup and plates of half sandwiches and fell into a lazy conversation .

She told me about her evening with Daisy before we met on the sidewalk the night before. I shared memories of movie nights past, building excitement in myself for the coming night with my mom and older sister. It wasn’t lost on me the easy flow of conversation or the comfort in her presence. In leggings, Crocs, and an oversized crew neck sweater, she painted a picture of such coziness that I swore I heard the word “home” echo in the back of my head every time I looked at her.

“She put aluminum foil in the microwave?” laughing, Ellie put her hand over her mouth to hold her food in. I smiled at the thought that I could make her laugh like that.

“Yep, we didn’t even realize until my dad walked in the kitchen and saw sparks flying,” I smiled at the memory. “She had no idea. She thought that was just what happened when you made popcorn. My dad started freaking out, raving about how she could’ve started a fire. The next day, he put a big picture of Thalia’s face with a bright red X over it on the microwave door.”

I caught her looking at me inquisitively. “I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you talk about your dad,” she said softly.

“He passed away when I was twenty-five.” The fact had become just that, a fact. One I’d come accustomed to sharing when the topic came up. Looking at Ellie, though, her sympathy felt like a green light to experience the emotions that came with it. Trying to will the longing away, I offered her a half-smile.

“Oh, Theo. I’m sorry,” reaching her hand across the table, she covered mine and squeezed it gently. “I didn’t know.”

“That’s okay, I didn’t tell you.” I brought my left shoulder to my ear in a shrug. Sometimes it was easier to just not talk about it. Turning my hand over, I caught her hand by the tips of her fingers when she tried to pull away. I wasn’t ready to let her go. “It’s been hard on my family, especially my mom. They were the loves of each other’s lives. To lose him so young has been a tough transition for her. He meant something different to each of us, but that meant he loved each of us uniquely.”

“And what did he mean to you?” her loving inquiry, accompanied by empathy in her eyes, unlocked something in me. I felt compelled to share what I hadn’t voiced yet with anyone else.

“I suppose he meant ‘family’ to me. He taught me the typical dad things: fishing, how to change a tire, how to lay tile.” I paused to laugh at the memory of renovating the main bathroom. When trying to replace the toilet, we’d forgotten to turn off the water main and ended up flooding the first floor.

“But he also taught me what it means to be a part of a family,” I continued. “He loved my mom deeply. He only had eyes for her. He showed me constantly what it meant to care for a partner and support them. He taught me you never let love go.” I looked her directly in the eyes now and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, as if trying to telepathically communicate that I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Wow,” she forced her hand away from mine now. “That’s really sweet.” After a few moments of silence, she murmured into her soup filled spoon.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, I was just talking to myself,” she took a bite before clarifying. “I hope to find that one day.”

Reaching across the small table and placing a finger under her chin, I guided her to look at me in the eye. “I have no doubt you will.”

She looked away and took a breath before responding. “Thank you,” she audibly swallowed, “I actually have been seeing someone…I think.”

“You think?” The touch of her skin seemed to scald me now, and I dropped her chin.

“It’s just that he hasn’t really made a move yet. It’s just been a simple lunch here and there. I can’t tell if he likes me like that or not. Then Daisy sent him this provocative message pretending to me and I don’t know…” she trailed off, blushing and tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

Trying not to dwell on the “provocative message” bit, I tensed my jaw and looked away. Was that why they were at Honey &Co. last night? Did she buy something pretty for him? I clenched my teeth, attempting to hide my jealousy.

“If you’re questioning him like this after a few dates, then he doesn’t deserve you.” I responded more harshly than intended. “You deserve to be made to feel wanted every minute of every day.”

Putting my spoon down, I placed my hands on the table, giving her my full attention. Looking her directly in the eyes, I lowered my voice for only us to hear. “If it were me, you’d be walking around with a permanent print of my hand on your ass. You’d never leave my sight without being branded by my lips, and you’d most definitely never leave questioning my undying desire to consume you.”

Leaning back in my chair, I watched her shift in her seat as her breath slightly quickened. Satisfied with myself, I left it at that.

“Theo…”

Stopping her, I put my hand up and stood, grabbing both our trays. “I’ll take care of these and meet you up front.”