Page 131 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
“Coffee is ready,” Nelly peeped as if this wasn’t fully wrecking me, and she turned back to the stove and started to crack a bunch of eggs into the oil that remained in the skillet.
“Thank God.” It was barely a breath as I dropped a kiss to the crown of Finn’s head.
I set him onto his feet, and he toddled over to the mess of toys he had scattered on the floor in front of the picture window that overlooked the lake.
I attempted to slip by Theo without getting fully caught in his orbit.
But it felt as if the world wobbled as I walked by him, the earth canting to the side and pitching me in his direction.
Somehow, I managed to stagger the rest of the way to the far counter where the coffee pot was, my hand shaking as I opened the cabinet above it and grabbed a mug. The glass carafe clanked as I fumbled to pour myself a cup.
“How do you like your eggs?” Nelly glanced over her shoulder at Theo.
“Over medium would be nice, if that’s okay with you.”
“I think our Theo here is the nice one, don’t you, Pipes?” There my grandmother went, digging it deeper.
“Very nice,” I breathed against the rim of the cup as I brought it to my lips.
So nice, I wanted to succumb.
I hesitated, contemplating if I should risk walking back through those landmines to get to the refrigerator so I could get my cream.
Remaining facing away seemed like a solid plan.
Because I wasn’t sure I could look again at Theo standing in the middle of my kitchen.
My kitchen.
How quickly I’d come to think of this place as something it couldn’t be.
“Anything I can do?” Theo rumbled.
“Oh, well, our Pipes usually likes that fancy creamer in the fridge if you want to grab it for her.”
“I can get it.” It wheezed out of me, but Theo was already pushing from the counter, voice cut low as he muttered, “How about I do it for you?”
There was a command in it.
A low crack of possession.
A tremble rocked through me as I felt his movement, and I could hear the whooshing as he opened the refrigerator before his heavy footfalls were thudding up behind me.
He leaned over my shoulder, and his slow exhalation hit my cheek as he set the hazelnut creamer on the counter.
His voice was nothing but a rumble in my ear. “Remember that taking care of you is what I’m here for.”
“Oh, I can only imagine the way that boy takes care of you.” Nelly mumbled it under her breath.
“Nelly.” Gasping, I whirled her way and basically knocked directly into Theo’s solid chest.
Theo’s arms darted out to wrap around me from the front to steady me.
Hysterical since I’d never been so unsteady in my life.
Nelly met me with an unflinching gaze. “What? I told you it was about time that you started living your life. And this one right here might be the one who shows you exactly how to do it.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” The grin that stretched across Theo’s face was far too satisfied.
