Page 50 of Until I Have You

Theo clears his throat.“Could I ask you something, Abigail?”

“Must you?”I whine, trying to be clear it’s a joke.

He picks up on it, thanks to his dry British humor.“I don’t have to, but I’d like to.”

“Fine, I suppose I’ll allow it.”

Bonnie swoops in with another book, causing Theo to wait until she’s out of earshot.“That man the other night.Your professor.”

“God, what about him?”

“Well, he hasn’t given you a hard time since, has he?”

He’s given me enough of a hard time for a lifetime.“No, I haven’t heard from him.”

“Good.That’s good.”Theo hesitates before going on, “If he bothers you, you need to tell someone.It doesn’t need to be me.But it could be, if that makes sense to you.”

Theo’s so polite.So delicate with the way he works through his words.Trying to get it right.After so many times getting it wrong, I’d imagine.

“What about you?”I ask as to not linger on Professor Ridley.“Your date.”

“My date?Helene?”

“Yes.Are you going to see her again?”Not sure why I feel invested all of a sudden.

“Oh, um, no, no, I don’t think so.”

Not sure why I’m fucking relieved to hear that.“She was pretty.”

“She was a lot of things.Good things, yes, but–”

Bonnie interrupts with a stack of books in her arms.“I need all the books in this series.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do,” he says without batting an eye.

She flits away.

“She’s got you wrapped around her finger.”I chuckle.

“Don’t act like you weren’t exactly the same with your father,” Theo replies.“And I’m sure whatever man you come across.”

My heart pounds.

“You’ll have them…upside down.”He tries to fill the gap of my silence.“Yes, all wrapped up.”

What would he know about the way men feel about me?Other than the factheis a man…and maybe he–

What the hell am I thinking?

“So, Helene didn’t have you wrapped around her finger?Is that what you’re looking for in a woman?”

“Oh, god, no, being wrapped is dangerous business.”He puts his hands on the stack of books and sighs.“I’m trying to come at this whole love and marriage business objectively this time around.”

“Objectivity and love?Sounds like an oxymoron.”

Theo nods.“Trust me.It is.Objectively, Helene is a wonderful choice.She’s intelligent and beautiful and at least was open to the fact I have a child.Our humor didn’t quite match, but I suppose that’s not everything.”

“If you can’t laugh together, what’s the point?”

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