Page 212 of Perfect
Theo spends the next few hours putting trackers in my clothes and bags and shoes and all the cars. I put on his college sweater and trail around after him, feeling increasingly relaxed as he goes.
He puts cameras up all over the house, which doesn’t make any sense to me until he says he wants to watch me if he’s not at home for some reason, or if he needs to be in another room for a long time, and that he’s putting some in my office again, and the trivia bar, and any other place I spend time regularly.
“You aresucha stalker,” I say, handing him another camera.
He winks at me. “You seem to like it.”
I shrug, fighting a smile. “I like how you love me.” He looks up from adjusting a camera aimed directly at our bed, his eyes wide and his smile soft, and I start to laugh as I realize what he’s doing.
“Baby, how long do you have access to the camera feeds?” His expression turns sheepish instantly.
“Uh, about 72 hours, unless I download something.”
“How many videos do you have of me?”
He shoots me a wicked grin. “Just you, or us together? Either way, the answer isa lot. I have a locked terabyte drive that I keep all the videos on, and I missed that fucking thing in prison,” he says, shaking his head.
“I bet you did. So, can I stalk you, too?” He laughs, stepping towards me and wrapping me in his arms.
“You don’t need to. I’m never going to be away from you again.”
“I know, Teddy,” I say quietly, “I just want to know how long it’ll take you to get to me.” Theo shoots me a pained look and kisses me slowly before he pulls out his phone and shares his location with me.
“I’ll do whatever else you want, too,” he says earnestly, and I eye the camera on the dresser.
“Then be a good boy and get on the bed.” He follows my gaze towards the camera, and he grins before he does exactly what I want him to.
61
THEO
MONDAY, AUGUST 11
There’s no way around getting the ring without Alex knowing, but I try anyway. I tell her I want to replace the necklace and earrings I’d gotten her before we leave for vacation, and she gives me a knowing look but doesn’t say anything.
I let her choose what she wants this time, and it takes her less than a minute to pick out a set identical to the ones I got her for her birthday, the ones lost at the cabin.
I feel a rush of excitement as Alex tries on the necklace, and I lock eyes with the woman behind the register, surreptitiously pointing to my ring finger. She gives me a conspiratorial smile and nods before complimenting Alex’s taste.
“Sweetheart, it’s going to take a minute to check out. I’ll meet you in the coffee shop?” Alex’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise before her gaze darts to the woman behind the counter and back to me, her face settling into a smug smile. She presses up on her toes to kiss me, and I watch her cross the street nervously, trying not to run after her. Once she’s in the cafe, I turn to see a small velvet box laid next to the necklace and earrings.
I open it to see the ring I ordered a year and a half ago, a large, flawless emerald set in a gold bezel that matches the necklace and earrings I got her for her birthday.
When I made this appointment the day I got out of prison, I specially ordered the same set so she could choose them for herself this time. She could have chosen something else, but I knew she wouldn’t.
I just wanted to give her options.
***
It only takes two minutes in the airport to realize I made a mistake agreeing to go on vacation with Alex. There are so many people and so many bad things that could happen to her. I don’t let her out of my direct line of sight, even pushing in front of two people to ensure I’m behind her in the body scan line. I keep my hands on her at all times as we walk through the airport, trying to breathe deeply when people get too close to her.
Alex, on the other hand, seems relaxed and comfortable navigating the airport, and she keeps trying to get me to calm down. When I get up to follow her to the bathroom, she rolls her eyes and hands me her bottle of Xanax, telling me to be good and take one for her.
I do, but it doesn’t help that much, and I still wait outside the bathroom and watch the tracking app.
I don’t like small spaces and I’ve never flown before, and I instantly hate how cramped the airplane is. We’re flying in the front of the plane in a row with just the two of us, and when I complain to Alex about how small the seats are, she just laughs and tells me I have no idea what I’m talking about.
She tries to sit in the aisle seat, but I make her take the one next to the window so I can have control over who gets near her. She sees how tense I am and puts her hand on my bouncing knee, promising everything will be fine. She’s patient with me, indulgent and even a little amused, but she makes me take another Xanax when I freak out as the plane starts moving. It finally calms me down enough to focus on holding her hand and listening to her go over the detailed itinerary she’s already told me twice.
