Page 12 of Begin Again

Theo groans. “Damn. Guess I’ll have to keep my insightful commentary to myself next time we watch a movie together.”

“Next time?” I echo, raising a brow.

He just grins. “And deep-seated fear?”

I purse my lips, debating how much to give away. Finally, I say, “Being seen as inadequate.”

His expression softens, but he doesn’t push. Instead, he nods, as if filing the information away. “Noted.”

As the sun dips lower, painting the sky in shades of gold and violet, we sit there, sketching and talking. The flirting is easy, the conversation effortless. And it hits me—I don’t mind letting my guard down around him. He asks what feels like eighty-nine questions to help him plan the perfect first date, which he insists on having tomorrow night.

I’ve never felt this kind of connection before. Letting him in and getting to know him is effortless.

By the time we decide to head back, it feels like we’ve known each other far longer than just a handful of encounters. As we reach the coffee shop, Theo turns to me, his expression warm.

“Thanks for letting me tag along, Selene. I enjoyed today.”

The way he says my name—gentle, certain—unsettles me in a way I don’t expect.

I swallow the sudden lump in my throat. “Me too.”

Before I can overthink it, he steps forward and pulls me into a hug. I freeze for half a second, but then… I let myself lean in. Just a little. It’s warm, solid, grounding. I let myself sink into it for just a moment, savoring the way his arms wrap around me, the scent of coffee and an unmistakable warmth I’ve started to associate with him.

When he pulls back, his hands linger on my arms for a beat longer than necessary. Long enough to make me wonder if he’s going to kiss me. Long enough to make me realize that I wouldn’t stop him. “See you tomorrow, Selene.”

I manage a small smile. “See you then, Hot Shot,” I say as he walks away.

Instead of walking into the cafe like I thought he would, he walks past my Subaru and to the passenger side of an old, beat-up truck. He catches me checking it out and laughs, tapping the hood.

“It was my uncle’s.” He says like it’s an answer to a question I didn’t ask.

I just smile at him as Valkyrie and I get in my SUV to head home. On the drive, I can’t help but feel a shift deep in my chest. I’d come to the lake looking for solitude… but somehow, I’d left with an unexpected gift. A connection. And maybe—just maybe—that’s exactly what I needed.

5

Theo

The engine rumbles beneath my hands as I steer my old truck down the quiet streets of Shadow Grove. The truck—a ‘93 Ford F-150 with more character than reliability—was my uncle’s before it was mine. He took damn good care of it, and I am beyond grateful he let me have this piece of him after he passed. The dashboard’s a little worn, and the radio takes some sweet-talking to cooperate, but it still drives smoothly. Steady. Dependable. At least, when it wants to be.

Like the man who left it to me.

I exhale, tapping my fingers against the wheel, glancing at the bouquet of fresh herbs and wildflowers I just picked up from the supermarket, sitting in the passenger seat. Not roses, not anything too much—just a simple bouquet that smells like summer and fresh starts. I told myself I wouldn’t overthink tonight, but here I am, running through the checklist in my head to make sure nothing is missed before we head back to my house.

Food? Check.

Drinks? Check.

Playlist? Already queued up.

Selene doesn’t strike me as someone who needs grand gestures. She doesn’t seem like the type to swoon over candlelit dinners or elaborate surprises. If anything, I get the sense she’d find them suffocating. She values control—keeps people at arm’s length until they prove they deserve to be let in. Tonight isn’t about impressing her with fancy restaurants or over-the-top plans. It’s about making her feel comfortable. Seen.

I turn onto her street and spot her waiting on the porch, Valkyrie sitting obediently at her side. Even from a distance, she looks like she owns the night. She looks effortlessly good—black jeans, a fitted top, hair down, catching the last bit of evening light. As I roll to a stop, she scratches behind Valkyrie’s ears and murmurs something to her before opening the front door and ushering her inside. She then jogs down the steps toward me and my truck.

I lean over, pushing the passenger door open. “Evening, Valkyrie’s human.”

Selene smirks, sliding in. She moves like she’s completely in control—even in the simple act of getting into a truck. “Evening, Hot Shot.”

I chuckle as she fastens her seatbelt. “You ready?”

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