Page 38 of Claimed By my Frenemy

“That sounds like a lot of work. Maybe I could help you out with that. I’ve got some experience with renovations, you know.”

I look at him skeptically. “Help me out? What’s the catch?”

He holds up his hands like a policeman is pointing an arm at him. “No catch. Just trying to be neighborly.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Neighborly, huh? That’s a new one. I wasn’t sure you knew the definition of the word.”

Theo grins, and for a moment, I see a glimpse of the boy I used to know. “Seriously, Mia. I’d be happy to help. We could get it done a lot faster if we work together. Plus, it’s fun to work withyou.”

I consider his offer. “I’ll think about it,” I finally say. But I can’t ignore the flirtatious tone in his voice. I caught the way he was saying it, the way he was biting his lip and looking at me. Maybe he’s remembering what happened last time we triedworking together. I get a flash of Theo pushing himself inside me, and my face flushes.

“Great! You let me know when you want to start, and I’ll be there.”

“Don’t you have your own project to work on?”

“I do, but I don’t have to be as hands-on with it as I am.”

I shrug non-committedly, but I know I want to take him up on his offer. Not only would it make the work go faster, but it would also make it more fun.

As the evening progresses, we start to relax and enjoy each other’s company. I feel like I could talk to Theo about almost anything, even though I don’t admit that to him. Our talk turns to things that happened between us before.

“Do you remember that time we tried to build a treehouse in your backyard?” Theo asks, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I laugh, nodding. “How could I forget? We were so convinced we could do it, but we ended up with a pile of wood and nails and no idea what we were doing. You broke that one piece of wood almost as soon as you tested it out.”

Theo chuckles. “Yeah, but it was fun. We spent the whole summer trying to figure it out. And when we finally gave up, I admitted why I wanted a treehouse anyway.”

My cheeks burn becausethatmoment is pressed indelibly in my mind. Theo leaned forward and told me he just wanted us to have a private space where we could dowhateverwe wanted.

The implication had been clear, and I blushed and flirtatiously pushed away his advances. But secretly, I had wanted him, too.

“Things seemed so much simpler back then,” I comment, even though I realize that the strange way we related and got along was really not that different from how it is today.

“They did,” Theo says, leaning back in his chair. “It’s funny how things change, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I say, glancing at him. “It is.”

There’s a moment of silence, and I find myself studying Theo’s face. He looks different now—more mature, more serious—but there’s still a hint of the boy I used to know. I wonder what it would be like if we could go back to those simpler times, before everything got so complicated. Before houses and profits were thrown into the mix.

Theo clears his throat, breaking the silence. “You know, Mia, I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. About your grandmother’s inheritance and how this house is like her legacy.”

“Oh?” I say, raising an eyebrow.

Theo shifts in his chair and looks decidedly uncomfortable. “I get it. I really do. I know how much that place means to you.”

I nod, my anger from earlier starting to fade. “Thank you, Theo. That means a lot to me.”

“I just want us to find a way to make this work. I don’t want to be the bad guy here.”

“I know, and I don’t want to be the one standing in the way of your dreams, either. But I just need you to respect that I’m not selling, no matter what. I’m not willing to give up my dream for you and your partner to have yours.”

Theo reaches across the table to take my hand. “I promise I’ll drop it.”

“And never bring it up again?”

“Never again.”

Theo’s brown eyes meet mine, and I see the sincerity in them. I look down at our joined hands to avoid his gaze, feeling a spark of something I haven’t felt in a long time. Maybe there’s hope for us after all.

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