Page 88 of Where We Call Home

Would bottling it up make me a hypocrite?

Logan bit the inside of his cheek, pondering what I’d said. “Look, I don’t know much about this kind of thing, but if it were me, it’s better to say something now than regret it in the future. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? At least you’d have your answer.”

That’s what scared me. I was living in my own world where Theo was mine and there was no uncomfortability. If I were to ask her the question, I feared it would drive her away, that she would leave. I don’t know what I’d do if she left me, too.

When I got home, I called out for Theo as I walked through the door. My boots were kicked off by the entryway, my keys tossed onto the table, and my hat thrown over the back of the couch. A chocolate milkshake was in my hand as I made my way to the kitchen.

“One milkshake, ready to be devoured,” I announced.

Theo appeared from the hallway, and damn, she looked adorable. She was dressed in a matching pajama set—hot pink with pinup cowgirls—and her hair was piled messily on top of her head, little strands framing her face. My fingers itched to brush them back.

She held out her arms, squeezing her hands in a playful “gimme” motion, which I happily obliged.

“Thank you,” she cooed, placing her head against my chest. My arms wrapped around her instinctively, and without thinking, I kissed the top of her head.

“Dinner’s in the fridge,” she said, pulling away to sit at the island. “I made soup earlier, so you’ll have to heat it up.”

I’d made my way to the fridge and dished out my serving of food, popping in the microwave. When I turned around, I stared pointedly at Theo until I was able to pull her attention away from her dessert with a smirk on my face.

“What?” she asked, chocolate dribbling from the corner of her mouth. I ripped a paper towel and handed it to her across the island.

“You nearly gave Logan a heart attack today.”

She tilted her head, with a pinched and puzzled expression, like she was digging deep into her mental filing cabinet to figure out what I was talking about.

“I’ll give you one hint: photo.”

There was a beat before the color drained from her face, quickly replaced by a flush of pink.

“I said your eyes only!” she protested.

“Coming from you.” I shook my head with a laugh. “You’re telling me it’s just a coincidence that you pulled a bold move like that after you spent the day withPenny?”

Theo’s silence spoke volumes as she returned her attention to the milkshake, like I was no longer in the room.

“Hmm?” I prompted again, leaning back against the counter, arms crossed.

“Okay, fine!” she relented, throwing up her hands. “It was Penny’s idea, but I wasn’t expecting Logan to see!”

“And what did Penny say exactly?”

Theo mumbled something too low for me to hear.

“A little louder, Honey.”

“She said she’d swallow you whole,” Theo said in a rush, her voice barely above a whisper. “And that she doesn’t have a gag reflex.”

“Jesus,” I muttered, running a hand over my face.

Theo giggled, avoiding my eyes. “She also said she bets you’re good in bed.”

Now it was my turn to flush. I wanted to ask what her answer to that question was but my voice got caught in my throat.

“Did you at least… like it?” she asked timidly, her hazel eyes flicking up to meet mine for a brief second before going back to her shake.

“Yes,” I admitted, letting out a sigh as I approached the counter. I placed my hands on the cool marble, leaning in. “Theo, look at me.”

She stubbornly kept her eyes on the milkshake, stirring it as if I wasn’t standing right there.

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