Page 55 of Botched

“I don’t even have a contract, Theo. Remember? You didn’t finagle one of those for me when you got me this job.” Yeah, I can’t help myself. I throw that back in his face again. “It’s just a pay-per-appearance situation. Those are easily discarded.”

Theo sighs. He shifts on the bed next to me, inching closer and trying not to disturb Rumour in the process. When she doesn’t seem bothered, he finally moves up so he’s leaning back on the pillows next to me.

I can’t saywhyI do it, but I reach up for his hand and Theo gives it to me. I trace my index finger over the callouses on his palm while he’s uncharacteristically quiet, just letting me touch him and try to ground myself.

“I’m not letting you lose your job over something that wasn’t your fault, Aurora,” he finally mumbles.

“I want to believe you,” I whisper back.

I want to believe in everything Theo promises me. That he won’t hurt me, that I can trust him, that I won’t lose my job. And maybe I still can’t convince myself that the first two are possible, but I need something to believe in right now.

A little string of hope to keep me from plummeting down in the depths of a depression that I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull myself out of.

Hope is what has kept me going for so long. When my mom died, when my stepmom died, when Dad had his stroke. I had hopethat I was going to achieve my dreams. Something to hold onto in the darkness.

“Believe in me then, baby doll.” His hand captures mine, giving it a small tug so he can lace our fingers together.

And now, my little string of hope, is the person who I used to think I hated with everything in me.

Chapter Thirty-Six

THEODORE

Aurora goes quiet after that, her hand grasping mine. I’ll be damned if I let her go until she’s ready. I don’t know if she actually believes me or not, but I know that I’ll do anything in my power to make things better for her. That’s all I’ve been doing, even if she doesn’t see it that way.

Eventually, I hear her breathing turn softer. When I glance over at her, I realize that she’s fallen asleep and Rumour is asleep in her hair. She needs to eat something and get out of bed at some point today. We’ll work on that when she wakes up.

I lean down and brush my lips over her temple. She stirs, pressing her face into my lips before she goes back to a still sleep. A smile spreads over my lips. My baby doll is the sweetest creature.

Careful not to wake her, I shift out of bed. Rumour lifts her head, looks at me, and then goes back to sleep. I think the cat already likes Aurora more than she likes me.

Staying quiet, I leave the bedroom, only to find the TV on in the living room. Kai is on the couch, looking up at me when I step out. “Is she okay?”

“Why are you still here?”

He awkwardly rubs the back of his neck. “Because I didn’t know what else to do. Jules asked me to come over and I just…I was worried about Aurora. She told me to leave but I didn’t want to leave her alone and—”

Jesus fuck. With the way he’s stressed out, you’d think that it was his private photos that got leaked. “Amazing how many men turn into puppies when Juliette Stanton is involved,” I muse out loud, and Kai blushes.Darkly.

Curious.

I plop down on the couch next to him, throwing my arms over the back of it, making myself comfortable as if I own the place. “She went to sleep,” I add. “I think I got her to stop spiraling.”

Kai nods, looking down at his hands. “She’s worked so hard. I just don’t want her to lose anything.”

“She won’t. I won’t let that happen.”

He goes quiet before he asks, “Do you love Rory?”

No one’s asked me that before. Love is…complicated. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced love before. Maybe my parents love me in their own way.

Veronica was a possession. It was mutually beneficial. She was a gorgeous woman to have on my arm. I could finance a lifestyle that made her happy. But it wasn’t love. I never loved her.

Staring ahead at the TV, I pop my lips and nod slowly. “I think I do.”

“She deserves to be loved.”

“Do you…?”

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