Page 140 of Alpha Theo

When Theo pulls into the parking lot of the ski lodge, my belly starts doing flips again, a smile stretching my face. Okay, he definitely wouldn’t bring me here to break up with me. This place is part of our story! My grin widens as I think back to the last time we were here together- how I thought he was gonna kiss me and was surprised by how disappointed I was that he didn’t.If I knew then what I know now…

Theo climbs off his motorcycle and turns around to pluck me off of the seat, lifting me to the ground. He doesn’t have to lift me on and off like he does, but I kinda love it.

“The lodge?” I ask, looking around as Theo helps unsnap the strap of my helmet.

“Mhmm,” he hums, lifting the helmet off of my head and turning to strap it onto the back of his bike. “Even though we weren’ttechnicallyon a date the last time we came here…” he spins back around and takes my hand, gazing down at me as his lips tip up into a smirk. “It wastotallya date.”

I laugh, giving his hand a little squeeze. “It was, wasn’t it?”

Theo tugs my hand, leading me over to the sidewalk and around the lodge. When we round the corner, I see what I’d hoped for- the ski-lift is on, aluminum benches descending on one side of the slope and ascending up the other against a dusky sky.

“You gonna fight me this time about going for a ride?” Theo asks, waggling his eyebrows.

I let out another laugh. “You think I’d get on that death trap willingly?” I tease.

Theo grins as he starts for the loading area, pulling me with him by the hand. My heart starts beating faster- even though I’ve done this before, I’m still a little nervous about getting on. One look from my guy, though, and my nerves melt away. Theo would never let anything bad happen to me- I trust him completely.

A bench passes and we move onto the line to wait for the next one, and I wriggle my hand out of Theo’s grasp so I can firmly plant myself on the bench when it comes up. I involuntarily let out a little yelp when it touches the backs of my knees and quickly sink down onto it, and the next thing I know Theo’s big arm is across my waist, sweeping me backwards.

He brings down the lap bar as our feet leave the ground and we both scooch closer to one another on the bench until our bodies are touching. I swish my feet underneath me as Theo throws an arm over my shoulders, leaning in to press a kiss to my temple.

The setting is the same but being here with Theo now feels so different than it did before. I was all jittery and nervous the first time, telling myself that I had to somehow switch off the feelings I was catching. Now I’m on cloud nine, nestled beside my mate.Is this a dream?If so, I don’t ever want to wake up.

“Ah, almost forgot,” Theo murmurs, reaching into his pocket. He pulls out his phone, bringing up my playlist and hitting shuffle. ‘Born to Run’ by Bruce Springsteen starts playing as he slides it back into his pocket, glancing sideways at me and waggling his eyebrows. “Gotta have our soundtrack.”

I smile, snuggling into his chest as I take in the view on our ride to the top.Oursoundtrack.

“So how’d you pull this off for a second time?” I ask, amusement in my voice.

Theo lets out a throaty chuckle. “Let’s just say I owe Quinn a couple of favors.”

“Quinn?” I ask, straightening and looking over at him, arching a brow.

“Yeah. One of her friends works here.”

I nod slowly. “Does she know…?”

He gives a little shake of his head. “Not about me and you. She knows there’s a girl, though. Knows I must be crazy about her to keep calling in favors.” He winks.

Warmth blooms in my chest.

“Do you…wantto tell people?” I ask cautiously. “Our families, I mean.”

“Of course I do,” Theo scoffs. “I want everyone to know you’re mine. I was just trying to be respectful to you, since you wanted to keep things under wraps. I’m ready to shout it to the world whenever you are, kid.”

He flashes that charming smile and I’m putty in his hands.

I open my mouth to speak- I’m about to say ‘I’m ready’, but I catch sight of something that gives me pause. Twinkling lights up ahead, wrapped around a big fir tree. I narrow my eyes, gaze fixed on them as we continue our climb, nearly at the top.

Theo reads my expression, giving my shoulder a little squeeze. “Guess you see my surprise.” He moves his hand off of my shoulder, sliding the lap bar up and securing it overhead. “You ready to jump?”

I’m speechless. Here I was thinking that Theo was pulling away, while instead he was clearly working on some big romantic gesture. I’m totally swooning as he takes my hand and starts counting us down.

“One… two…”

I let out a little shriek as I leap off before he even says three, feet meeting the dirt. I stumble a little bit, but Theo’s quick to steady me, pulling me away from the lift by the hand.

And that’s when I see how much work he has put into this whole thing. Not only are there twinkle lights wrapped around the tree, but beneath it there’s a big, cozy blanket and a little cooler.

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