Page 81 of Where We Call Home

“What wasthatone for?” I teased, a grin tugging at my mouth.

“I don’t know,” she replied, her smile widening as she took a small step back.

I could get used to this, get used to Theo kissing me simply because she wanted to.

After leaving the first store, we stopped at another, this one filled with decorative items. Trinkets and random nonsense covered the shelves, but Theo seemed completely in her element. She picked up objects, studied them briefly, then set them back down. I followed quietly as she searched for the pieces to bring her vision to life.

“Okay, which one?” Theo asked, spinning around with a teddy bear in each hand.

In her right hand was a dark brown bear with a cute red bowtie. In her left was a lighter brown bear, less fuzzy, with bright blue eyes and a soft pink bowtie.

I studied both, genuinely trying to picture them in the nursery.

“That one,” I said, pointing to the light brown bear.

“That was my favorite!” Theo said, tossing it toward the cart. She must’ve put a little too much enthusiasm behind the throw because the bear came flying straight for my face.

Quickly, I reached out and caught it just before it hit me, laughing as I dropped it into the cart. “Careful, you’ve got quite an arm.”

Theo lifted her arm and flexed dramatically. “I know you want a ticket.” She kissed her bicep with a playful smirk.

Laughing, I shook my head. “Only if it’s front row.”

“Front row and VIP, baby,” she shot back, winking before turning to continue down the aisle.

“What else is on your list?” I asked, leaning on the cart’s handle as I pushed it.

“I want some floating shelves for her books, but I don’t know where they are.”

We wandered through the aisles, Theo adding far more to the cart than just shelves. Clothes, blankets, pillows—even a rug somehow found their way in. By the time we grabbed the shelves, the cart was so full it was becoming a chore to push.

Theo finally stopped and stretched, hands on her hips, arching her back like she’d just finished a marathon.

“I’m beat!” she declared, doubling over dramatically.

“Oh, wait—I forgot to grab?—”

“No way!” Theo cut me off, raising a finger to silence me. “You forgot nothing. My ankles can’t take another step. You might actually have to carry me to the car.”

I’d do it, too.

I laughed, raising an eyebrow.

Her lips twitched in amusement, but she shook her head, scoffing as she realized I was joking. “Bastard.”

A ding caught my attention, and I noticed a red six flashing on a register.

The items in the cart were on the surface, scanned in, and placed into our bags. When the man behind the counter said our total, I pulled out my wallet and inserted my credit card before Theo could protest.

“Rhodes,” her voice was low and testing as she turned to glare at me.

“Theo,” I replied, feigning nonchalance while typing in my pin.

The cashier stayed oblivious to the silent war raging between us. Theo’s narrowed eyes burned into me, but I kept my expression calm and casual.

When the receipt was handed over, I grabbed the bags and headed for the truck, still ignoring the daggers she was throwing my way.

We walked in silence. I loaded the bags into the back and helped her into the passenger seat without saying a word.

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