Page 39 of (Un)Planned

DEVYN

Just checking in. Are you coming home tonight? Send a sign of life, or I’m calling the cops.

I paused, staring at her message. Lying to my sister wasdifficult, especially after everything she’d done for me over the years. Glancing up, I found Theo in the kitchen, pouring me a glass of wine. I could go home and explain everything to Devyn, but Theo had blocked out the entire weekend to spend with me, and there was no way I’d end it early.

ME

All good, but I’m not coming back tonight. Girls night turned into girls weekend. I’ll be home tomorrow night.

DEVYN

Have fun. Don’t do anything that would require legal assistance.

After casting my phone aside, Theo settled back onto the couch, passing me a glass of red wine. He flinched as one of the main cast members on the show tossed her drink in another woman’s face. He just shook his head. “She deserved it.”

“Right?” I chuckled. “Never bring up children. That’s a low blow.”

Theo rubbed my arms, noting the goosebumps that had broken out along my skin. “Cold?” Theo asked, grabbing a controller to turn down the air conditioning.

“A little.” I shrugged. “Can I borrow a pair of sweatpants? Maybe a hoodie.”

“Nope,” Theo chuckled, grabbing a blanket from the other side of the couch. “As much as I love the idea of you stealing my clothes, covering up these legs is a crime.” He lifted his arm. “Get closer, baby. I’ve got you.”

I smiled as I settled into his warm embrace, a rush of happiness washing over me as he draped a blanket across our laps. An immediate sense of warmth and safetyengulfed me, settling deep into my tired bones. “Has anyone ever told you you’re like a furnace?” I joked, letting my cheek rest against his chest.

“My ex-wife used to say that all the time,” Theo laughed. “She’d complain that she couldn’t sleep next to me because I always run so warm.”

My mouth dried out at the mention of the woman he married. After speaking to Natalie a couple of times on the phone, their relationship made no sense. Theo might have flaws, but he was inherently kind and cared about the people closest to him. Natalie, on the other hand, was rude and demanding. I tried to empathize with her and tried to figure out what made her so cold, but with so many pieces of the puzzle missing, it was a mystery I could never solve. I cleared my throat, forcing myself to bring up the subject, no matter how uncomfortable it might make me. “Natalie, right? If you don’t mind me asking…”

“What happened between us?” I nodded. Theo sighed, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. Maybe it was wrong to pry, but I wanted to know everything about him, what had happened in his life before we crossed paths. After weeks of watching the aftermath of their conversations, my imagination had made up all types of scenarios. The first couple of times, I was convinced that Theo was still in love with her. But now, it was clear there was no love lost between them.

Theo lifted his arm, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Natalie and I were together for two years,” he said slowly, as if pulled into a memory. “It was a whirlwind from the start. We met at an industry party, one my company was throwing for some of the new, up-and-coming actors. At the time, Natalie had just signed with us. She’dacted on a few television shows and claimed she was looking to break into movies.”

“She didn’t?”

“Maybe for a time, but it was clear after we got together that she wasn’t really interested in acting, more the connections that it afforded her.” Theo’s hand found mine, and I laced our fingers together. The urge to comfort him was overwhelming, but I stayed quiet at his side, letting him decide how much he wanted to share. “We never talked about marriage before we eloped. We were in Vegas, celebrating my first major deal, and there was a little chapel…” He sighed. “After, I think Natalie thought I would change, that I would make her the priority. But if anything, it made me work harder. I had a wife and wanted to have a family someday. I needed to prove I could provide for them.” He scoffed. “She gave it 18 months. Eighteen months and then decided that if I wasn’t going to put in an effort, then she would find someone else who would.”

“Shit,” I sighed. “That’s so messed up.”

“I don’t blame her,” Theo quietly admitted. “She was right. I barely spent any time with her. I was a ghost in our own home, only there when we were entertaining and networking with the other agents.” He sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. “She might not be my favorite person, but I’m not blameless either.”

“You made a mistake.”

“I made achoice,” Theo answered, shaking his head. “It’s why I don’t want to repeat the same actions with you, Calla. For a long time, my work was my whole life. It was my wife, mistress, and everything in between.” He gripped my hand a little tighter. “I don’t want to make that mistake twice.”

“You won’t.” Theo might doubt himself, but if he’dproven anything to me, it was that he was capable of amazing things when he put his mind to it. “I’m sorry you went through that. It sounds lonely.”

“It was,” Theo admitted quietly. He held me a little tighter. “But lately, it hasn’t felt like that at all. You’ve given me so much more to look forward to. It feels like, before you showed up, I was just coasting, letting my life pass me by.” He looked up, his dark eyes boring into mine. “Now, I want to experience the world, and I want to experience it with you.” He dropped his gaze, vulnerability seeping out of all his pores. “If you’ll let me.”

“I want that too,” I admitted. “But I also don’t want you to feel like you have to change for me, Theo. I care about you because of the man you are, not this picture-perfect version of you. I don’t want you to feel like you have to choose between me and your career. Even though–” I chewed my lower lip, not wanting to finish my thought.

“I might have to,” Theo answered quietly. He ran his hand over his face. “Calla, if our relationship isn’t worth the risk to you, I understand. I’d never fault you for that. But I made my choice when I first kissed you, and I’m not going back on it now.” He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m all in, beautiful.”

I swallowed slowly, hating that my eyes were filling up with tears. “Before you decide you want this, you should know—my life is amess. I’m still trying to figure myself out, and it’s probably unfair to drag you into it. My mother and stepfather…” I sighed, hating that I was bringing them up again. Every time something good happened in my life, memories of them were there to sully it. “I’ve already told you that they’re manipulative, but I didn’t fully explain how controlling they can be. For years, they’ve tried to dictate who I should be. What I wore, who I hung out with, what I said, what I studied. It was suffocating.” My body shivered, remembering how many times they broke my heart when all I wanted was to be enough for them. I shook my head. “Now that I’ve finally gotten some distance from them, I’m realizing I’ve never had the opportunity to choose anything for myself.” I leaned back, brushing my fingers over Theo’s cheek. “But if you’re willing to stick with me while I figure my life out–”

Theo cut me off with his lips on mine. It was bruising, possessive, and everything I needed in that moment. He pulled back but kept his face close to mine, his hand cupping the back of my neck. “I meant what I said, Calla. My choice isn’t contingent on you changing. I want you just as you are. If this is you as a mess, I’ll happily stand with you as long as you’ll let me. But you have tolet me, beautiful.”

I smiled up at him. “Okay.”

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