Page 40 of Play to Win

Théo nods approvingly, but his smile is gentle.“Was that hard?”

“Yes.”I stare out the window, getting my emotions under control.

“But you did it, brave girl.”

I nod.I did it.

We arrive in Los Angeles in the early evening, the sun setting and lighting up the sky orange and gold and pink.Théo changes freeways a couple of times and then we exit into Marina del Rey.

“I’ve only been here once before,” Théo says, turning on the GPS in his phone for directions to his new home, and we find our way to Ocean Front Walk.His place is a condo in a triplex, a multi-level, modern concrete building with lots of glass, and it’s so close to the beach there’s sand on the sidewalk.He parks out front even though there’s a small garage.

“I’ll need the door opener to use the garage,” he says, climbing out of the vehicle.

“Oh my God.”I take a few steps away from car.The sun is setting over the ocean and the vista sucks the air out of my lungs.I actually break out in goosebumps, staring at the wide expanse of pale sand, the silvery ocean, and the flaming sunset tinting the turquoise sky and wispy clouds tangerine, peach, and pink.A squat, squarish lifeguard tower is silhouetted against the sky.“This is incredible.I don’t want to move from this spot.Ever.”

He laughs.

I reluctantly turn and follow him up a short sidewalk and high concrete steps to the door.He unlocks it and walks in, flicking on lights.

I follow, my eyes probably as big as hockey pucks, gazing around at the incredible interior.A wall of windows looks out over the beach and the vibrant sunset.He doesn’t have a lot of furniture ...brown leather couches and chairs, glass tables, lamps with black bases and modern shades.A big area rug covers the gleaming stone-tiled floor.“This is gorgeous.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty good.I’m going to grab my stuff out of the car.”

“I can help.”I follow him, and we bring in his suitcases and the cooler bag he had drinks in.I feel a twinge in my chest thinking about my lost suitcase with Pete in it.I guess I’ll never see him again.Maybe someone will find the suitcase and keep it for me ...I don’t know.Oh well.

“Are you going to be okay for tonight?”Théo asks when we’re back inside.“I’ll take you shopping in the morning.”

“I’m fine for tonight,” I assure him.I wander to a set of doors in the living room and open them.They lead onto a terrace, also overlooking the ocean.There are a bunch of chairs and small tables and a shiny barbecue out here.“Nice.”Back inside I check out the spacious kitchen, all glossy white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and the same tiled floors.A vase of fresh flowers sits on the pale marble counter.

Théo sees me looking at them and smiles wryly.“Looks like my mom was here.She must have left those.”

“That’s nice of her.”

“This can be your room.”Théo gestures to a bedroom.

I peek in.“Whoa.Lots of white.”The walls are white, the queen bed has a plain white duvet on it, a matching dresser and vanity in white, and white blinds on the window.

“It has a bathroom too.”

“Awesome.”

“The master suite is upstairs.”He grabs his suitcase and hauls it up the open staircase, so I follow, curious.

The entire upper level is the master suite, with more floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach.“You have room for a sitting area there.”I wave a hand toward the windows.“Even with this massive bed.”

I’m kind of afraid to look at the bed, because I know I’ll think about Théo in that bed and hopefully me with him.

“Yeah.I might buy more furniture.”

His bathroom is huge too, with stone walls, a generous showeranda tub, and a double vanity.There are doors to outside, so I go out there to find another terrace, this one with glass panels to shield from ocean breezes but not impede the view.Two lounge chairs face the Pacific, and behind them is a hot tub.“Holy crap.”

“Pretty cool, huh?”

“Amazing.”

“I’m going to order pizza.That okay?”He lifts an eyebrow at me.

“Yeah, sounds good.”

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