Page 60 of Claimed By my Frenemy

MIA

The back porchof my almost-finished house has become my favorite place to unwind. Even though the construction work on Theo’s property can sometimes be loud and annoying, it’s a lot quieter after dinner. My back porch is out of the sun, and it seems like the world slows down back here.

Tonight, it’s the perfect setting for dinner with Theo. The sun is setting, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. The twinkling fairy lights I hung up last week add to the cozy atmosphere. Lightning bugs are starting to come out, flying close to me and adding to the serene atmosphere.

Theo arrives with a bottle of wine and a couple of takeout bags from an Italian place. It turns out I can get tired of seafood. He settles into the other rocking chair, the small drink table between us. “I can’t believe that picture you sent me yesterday. This place is really coming together.”

“Don’t tell me you’re about to sit down with dinner without kissing me,” I tell him, half-teasing but also half-serious.

“Never,” Theo responds, pushing himself back up to his feet. He gives me a sheepish smile. Then, he bends down and presses a kiss to my lips.

It’s been a week since we started officially dating, and I can’t spend enough time with him. Zoey texted me three times in a row to make sure I was okay, but I just kept forgetting to respond to her. When I finally responded to her, she answered immediately, telling her that she and Madison had been worried sick about me.

I haven’t told the Spinsters Society that I might not be a spinster after all, but I don’t want to share the news just yet. I don’t know why, but I feel like some things might be too good to be true.

“And thank you for the food, Theo, and the compliment. I think the place is turning out really well. I really only have a few finishing touches to put together, then I want to complete the listing.” I reply, smiling as I take the bags from him and set them on the table.

We settle into our chairs, and I pour us each a glass of wine. “To new beginnings,” I toast, raising my glass.

“To new beginnings,” he echoes, clinking his glass with mine.

As we dig into the food, we talk about our days.

“The resort is coming along nicely. Building A is completely ready. Even the furniture has been moved into all the rooms.”

“Isawthe moving trucks. They had, like, three lines up here on the street. How many rooms does it have anyway?”

“There are only eighteen in Building A because it also has the amenities. Building B has more.”

“Well, that was a lot of furniture. I just kept watching it come out of the truck, more and more.”

“I thought you were hard at work in here. Turns out, you’re just sitting at the window watching my contractors.”

I laugh and grab another bite of lasagna. “I’m not watchingthem. I’m watchingyou. Clearly.”

Theo and I smile at each other over the rims of our wine glasses. I truly feel like a flirt, but Theo brings it out in me. And I kind of don’t mind letting go and just being who I want to be.

“What about you? Have you actually been able to work or just watch me?”

“I’ve beenworking. The turtle bedroom is finished now, too. I didn’t even have time to send you a picture of that one.”

“You didn’t have time because you were busy watching me.”

“Stop with that already!” I shove his knee with mine, but Theo’s eyes just twinkle back at me.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, but I found something the other day that I thought you might find interesting. I brought it because…I wanted to share it with you.”

“Oh?” I say, curious. “What is it?”

He reaches into his bag and pulls out an old photograph. It’s slightly worn around the edges, but the image is clear: a group of teenagers, including a younger Theo, standing in front of our high school. They’re all holding up a trophy and smiling.

“This was from our senior year. The state championships. Remember?”

I take the photo from him, a rush of nostalgia washing over me. “Of course I remember. That was such a big deal back then. It was like whoever won the math whiz competition was going to be king of the world. Even though we weren’t together at that point, I was cheering you on.”

Theo smiles, a hint of wistfulness in his eyes. “I found this while going through some old boxes. I thought you might like to see it.”

“Was it tucked away with some other things? Things you left here?”

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