Page 135 of Until I Have You

I roll my eyes.“You’re meddling again.”

Theo lets out a breath that’s something like a laugh, but more like a frustrated sigh.“That wasn’t meddling, that was–” His jaw hardens.“I came all the way out here to see you, Abigail.And I’m sorry my timing was bad.All right, I’m sorry.”

I can’t help how my insides are melting over his presence.He came all the way out here to see me.Me.I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that I’m impressed, though.Not yet.

“Look, we can talk later.If you want to go about your day.I shouldn’t have interfered, that’s the last thing I meant to do.”

“What were you going to say before Olivia walked up?”I need to hear it.

Theo opens his mouth, then smiles.“I’ve missed you, Abigail.”

The tension in my muscles melt.It’s so nice to know he’s been thinking about me after everything.

Just like I’ve been thinking about him.

“Well, you came all this way, so why don’t you let me show you around, hm?”

“I’d like that.”

Theo follows in my wake as I lead him across the research area.

I point out the different spots where we study the puffins, hand him my binoculars to watch the couples and nests, point out the birds on over the waves as they hunt for fish.

It might be strange to be giving him this tour, that our first conversation is all about puffins rather thanus.It works, though, to loosen me up.

Talking about the birds, what I’m passionate about, makes the rest of the world drift away.All the world but Theo.

Eventually, we make it to a rocky outcropping that overlooks some of the puffin habitat.I gesture toward the makeshift bench.“You want to sit?”

“Yes, please.”

As we sit, I see a solo puffin out of the corner of my eye.Miss Lonely Hearts.She’s waddling along, seemingly watching some of the unmated males.

“You’re doing well here, then?”Theo asks.

“I am.”As well as I can be.

He nods, folding his hands between his knees.“That’s good.”

Waves crash loud between pauses in our conversation, the smell of salt permeating my senses.

“Are you doing well?”I stare down at my hands.They are dry and cracked from all my time outside these days.

Theo sighs.A moment.Another.“No, Abigail, I haven’t been doing well.”

I don’t know what to say to that.“Bonnie?Is Bonnie okay?”

“She’s all right.She’s staying with a friend of mine while I’m here.An elongated slumber party with his kids.”

I can’t help but smile.

I’ve been so focused on missing Theo, But that hasn’t stopped me from missing Bonnie.Worrying about her.If she misses me.If she remembers me.If she thinks I left her.It’s too easy to ache.She did nothing wrong.All of her suffering is the result of adults being childish.A story far too familiar.

“But…she misses you too.”Theo shifts, turning toward me.“Abigail, I’m so sorry.”

I suck in a breath.

“I’m so, so sorry that I tried to interfere with your life,” he goes on, voice earnest and thick.“My intentions came from a good place, but I know that’s little consolation.”

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