Page 70 of Unforeseen Love

Now is not the time to have an anxiety attack.

“Okay, Sienna, it’s now or never.”

Standing straight, I roll my shoulders once and make my way upstairs. At the front door, I wait for a beat and listen. Holding my breath, I turn the key and push it open, and close it quietly behind me before taking off my boots and jacket.

I tip-toe down the hallway towards the sound of Theo’s voice and try to prepare myself for what I might see.

Theo is sitting on the floor with two of the kittens from the ones we rescued playing in front of him. He turns his head when he hears me and scrambles to his feet.

I point to Morticia and Bucky.

“Surprise, they’re ours,” he says, holding up his palms. “I asked my aunt to keep them for us. It was only the other two that were adopted.” A plush grey cat podium is in the corner with a scratching post and two beds.

My attention returns to Theo. He approaches me slowly as if I might bolt, and if I’m honest, it’s a strong possibility.

“You’ve been crying,” he says, moving his hand to my face where he cups my cheek.

“I’m sorry,” we both blurt out at the same time.

“What? Why are you sorry?” he asks, a ‘V’ forming between his brows.

I try not to let his touch distract me. “Because of my reaction when Orla turned up.”

He shakes his head and moves even closer, so he’s now towering over me.

“I should have told you about her, but I promise there was no break, just a breakup with no plan to get back together.”

I let out a relieved sigh. “That’s good because it would be a little awkward, seeing as I’ve kind of fallen in love with you,” I admit.

His eyes widen in disbelief. “You’ve kind of or you are in love with me?” he asks, and I watch his Adam’s apple as he swallows, the only sign he’s affected by my words.

“I am in love with you.” Damn, it feels cathartic finally admitting my feelings.

Smiling, he leans down until our lips are barely a breath apart. “Good, because I’m so fucking in love with you, Sienna, I can’t even think straight.”

A happy laugh escapes me. “You are?”

He nods. “I am.” And then he kisses me.

Epilogue

Sixteen Months Later

Theo

“Morticia, breakfast is nearly ready. Get your cute butt in here.”

I want us to have a special breakfast before my aunt and uncle arrive. Last Christmas, we weren’t allowed to mix households, even after another lockdown, but thankfully, that's not the case this year. It was Sienna’s idea to host, and it blew me away. Orla would never have entertained the idea.

Of course I agreed to cook Christmas dinner, Sienna is still claiming incompetence in the kitchen, but part of me thinks it's mostly an act. But honestly, I don’t mind. I get great satisfaction watching her enjoy my food. Besides, she more than makes up for it with her baking skills. Sienna even made a special batch of cupcakes for today, which she specifically told me not to touch. I might, however, have snuck one when she wasn’t looking. What’s life without a bit of danger, right?

Sienna has barely come up for air since she started reading one of the books from her book haul. I took her to a local bookshop and told her to choose whatever she wanted.

Her reaction was more than I could have hoped for. I just hope like hell I get a similar response not long from now.

“She has risen,” I say when she pads into the kitchen, wearing her Christmas onesie.

“Ha, ha, very funny.”

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