Page 134 of Until I Have You

I climb the cliffside adeptly, a skill I’ve picked up pretty quickly in my time here.When I reach the final ledge, Theo steps forward, holding out his hand for me.

I ignore his hand, knowing one touch would smash me into smithereens.

I lift my eyes to his but can’t remain there.It’s too much, makes my insides ache and my face grow hot.

“What are you doing here?”I ask as I dust the dirt off my hands.

“Can we start with hello?”Theo asks, a half-smile on his lips.

I eye him with wariness.“Hi.”

“Hi.”

I gesture with my hand for him to go on now that the hellos are out of the way.

“Well, I came to see you, obviously.”

I don’t know what to say.“Why?”

He swallows.“Because I’ve missed–”

Olivia sidles up to me, interrupting whatever his declaration might have been, to my dismay.“Hi there.”She sticks out her hand.“I’m Olivia.”

Theo takes her hand with hesitance.“Theo.”

They shake.

“You know Abigail?”

“Yes, we’re…” Theo trails off.

I can’t blame him.What are we?Old friends?Family friends?Ex-lovers?

“He’s come to visit me,” I follow-up.No need to define what we are to each other if we can help it.“Although, I’m in the middle of my workday, so your timing is a little off.”

Theo purses his lips, eyes dipping with embarrassment.“Timing has never been my strong suit.”

My stomach twists.

What a lie that is.His timing has always been extraordinary.When it’s just us, touching and feeling, like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.

What would we be if the rest of the world didn’t exist?

“Listen, Olivia,” Theo says, leaning toward her with an imploring look.“I’ve come all the way here from New York and, I know this is a burden to you, but if you could spare Abigail for a half hour or so…more if that’s amenable, well, I’d be so grateful.”

I bite down on my lower lip, keeping myself from shaking my head.

“Um, sure,” Olivia says, blinking.“I can spare her for a bit.”

I start to rebut, “Really, Olivia, that’s not–”

“Thank you,” Theo answers definitively.

Olivia mutters a goodbye, giving me a look of, “You’ll have some explaining to do later,” and heads off down the next rocky path to check on our puffin subjects.

When I’m sure she’s out of earshot, I fold my arms over my chest.“Seriously?”

Theo’s brows jump.“What?”

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