Page 100 of The Dating Ban
A rush of relief floods me so hard that my legs nearly give out.
Theo sprints through the rain, barely pausing before reaching the shelter. He’s soaked in seconds, water dripping from his jacket as he ducks under the patio roof.
He studies me for a second. “What are you doing here?”
I huff out a breath, shoving my damp fringe out of my face. “Oh, you know. Just embracing my new life as a shower-shed gremlin. Thought I’d really lean into the whole outdoor experience.”
Theo raises an eyebrow. “Right.”
I sigh, shaking my head. “Long story short? My tent betrayed me. It rained, the inside got wet, my sleeping bag got soggy, and instead of drowning in my own terrible choices, I dragged everything here.” I gesture to the shed dramatically. “Welcome to Ivy’s Emergency Shelter for the Woefully Unprepared.”
Theo snorts and shakes his head, sending a few raindrops flying. Then, without a word, he drops onto the bench beside me.
For a moment, we just sit there, listening to the rain pounding around us. Then he tilts his head toward me, smirking.
“So… did you pitch the outer tent properly?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Excuse me?”
“You know,” he continues, far too casually. “Because if the inner and outer tent touch, the rain can seep through. So if you didn’t leave enoughspace—”
I throw my hands in the air. “Oh, fantastic! Where were you with this wisdom before I became a human rain sponge?”
Theo laughs. “I did offer to help.”
I glare at him, but I’m too cold and tired to put real effort into it. Instead, I slump back against the shed wall, pulling my jumper-blanket tighter around me and leaning my head against his shoulder. I just need this tiny bit of human connection in this moment.
“Great. So, not only am I failing at camping, but I’ve also failed at basic tent logic.” I sigh dramatically. “I am never living this down, am I?”
Theo chuckles. “Nope.”
"You want to hear the worst part?"
Theo tilts his head toward me, smirking. "Oh, absolutely."
I exhale dramatically. "I lost my emergency biscuit."
"Your what?"
"My emergency biscuit. The ones you and Lucy got me at the motor services. For, and I quote, ‘if I get hungry or sad.’"
Theo snorts. "And how exactly does one lose an emergency biscuit?"
I glare at him. "A spider attacked me."
That’s it. That’s all it takes. He throws his head back and laughs, a proper, belly-deep laugh.
I scowl. "I’m glad my suffering amuses you."
But then—midway through his laughter—I suddenly sit up straighter, my eyes widening.
"Oh, for crying out loud!"
Theo wipes his eyes, still grinning. "What now?"
I stare at the small, covered space around us. The solid concrete floor. The roof that, despite letting a little spray in, is definitely not flapping around like a soggy disaster.
"I could have used the gas cooker in here."
