Page 45 of Where We Call Home

“Don’t say it like that!” she exclaimed, her voice flustered.

“I’d rather look at you anyway. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

I heard rustling on her end of the line, as if she were pacing or moving things around. “Rhodes, that really isn’t needed. My answer?—”

“How about ice cream? I’m in my pajamas too. Just throw on a sweatshirt and stop protesting.”

Silence. I knew she wouldn’t resist ice cream. It was one of her weaknesses, alongside Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, pasta, and double chocolate cake.

“You evil, evil man,” Theo muttered playfully. “You know I can’t say no to ice cream.”

“Time’s ticking,” I teased, making a tick-tock sound for effect.

“I’m going as fast as I can!” she giggled. “I’m hanging up now. I need to get ready.”

Before I could respond, the line went dead. Shaking my head, I slipped on my sneakers, threw a hat on backward, and grabbed my keys from the entryway table.

As I drove through town, a smile tugged at my lips. I needed to hear her decision directly, to see her face when she told me. If it was a no, I wanted to be ready to counter her reasons with logic—or maybe just more ice cream.

Over the past few days, I’d started making subtle adjustments around the house, just in case she said yes. I lowered the plates to an easier reach and moved boxes out of the spare rooms to the basement. I wasn’t ready to go through them yet—that was a job for future me.

Driving through town, I mentally ran through every argument I could make to defend my offer. Whatever her answer was, I was determined to show her this was the right choice.

“People move in with roommates they don’t know all the time.”

“You and the baby will both have your own space. I don’t even use it.”

“I don’t sleep much these days anyway.”

“You wouldn’t be in the way. I’d actually enjoy coming home to you and the baby every day.”

I sucked in a sharp breath through my teeth. Maybe I should keep that last one to myself. No matter how I phrased it, it sounded either desperate or creepy.

Just as I spiraled into anxiety over my internal confession, I pulled up to Theo’s house. She must’ve been watching for me because I barely had the truck in park before she slipped through the front door and hurried toward the truck.

“Get back in!” she whispered, waving her hands as if shooing me away.

“Theo, you’re never opening a door again as long as I’m here.”

She groaned, tilting her head back dramatically. “Must you always be so noble?”

I chuckled, opening the passenger door for her. Once she slid into the seat, I leaned across to fasten her seatbelt.

My arm brushed against her lower belly, the other grazing her thigh. Theo inhaled sharply, a sound that I tried, and failed, not to notice. The faint scent of fresh linen from her clothes reached me. My head was so close to hers that her soft exhale sent a tickle down my neck.

Clearing my throat, I pulled back quickly, careful not to meet her eyes. If I did, I’d lose my resolve entirely.

As I turned to close my door, movement in the doorway caught my attention. Theo’s mom stood leaning against the frame, arms crossed, watching us with a sly smile.

For a moment, I froze. There was no hiding the fact that she’d just witnessed me buckle her daughter’s seatbelt like a damn knight in shining armor. With no better option, I forced a polite smile and gave her a quick wave before climbing into the driver’s seat.

I buckled my seatbelt, deciding the best course of action was to pretend none of it had happened.

Theo, of course, had other plans.

“See what I mean?” she asked, smirking with an expression that saidI told you so.

“Mom’s love me,” I replied with a grin, pulling away from the curb.

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