Page 118 of Before Broken Vows
There are dinosaur footprints on the rug. A whole mountain of dino plushies sits in a corner near a beanbag chair shaped like a dinosaur egg.
There are shelves lined with dino books and puzzles, a desk with coloring supplies, and a mountain of other things I can't make out.
But the best part?
The bed.
A massive long-necked dinosaur stretches from one corner of the room to the other, its tail curling into a reading nook and its neck doubling as a slide that leads down to a bed nestled in its belly.
Xander loses his mind. He lets out the happiest squeal I've ever heard and bolts into the room, screaming, "ROAR!" as he climbs the bed, dives onto it, then immediately launches himself down the slide.
"Mommy, look! T-Rex! And jammies with dino!"
I cover my mouth with both hands.
Tears come instantly. The happy, overjoyed kind.
Theo's arm slides around my waist and pulls me into him.
"I started planning it the day I met him," he says. "I knew we'd all end up together. I couldn't let either of you go. And I wanted him to know he'll always have a place here."
I bury my face into his chest and cry.
He holds me tighter.
"Theo. This is incredible."
"Last night was for you. This, this is for him. And wait until you see his room in Chicago. This is just a taste."
Dimitri leans against the doorway. "I helped build the slide," he says proudly. "Almost broke my neck testing it, but worth it."
"You tested it?" Theo asks.
"Bro, you think I'm going to spend three hours helping build this thing and not slide down it?
Xander rushes over and grabs my hand. "Come see! Dino shoes!"
After Xander shows me all his toys, he runs over to Uncle Dimitri to show him a sticker book, and Theo comes up and holds my hand.
"Start thinking about your dress," he says. "Because we're getting married."
I smile. "Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah. You're going to be Mrs. Kastaris. Officially. But first…" He trails off and gives me a look. That look.
"There's one more thing my brother and I have to do."
My heart tightens.
"Theo."
"Then it's done, Stassi. You'll be safe. He'll be safe," he says, nodding to Xander. "And my family will finally have what we need."
I turn to look at Xander, who's laughing at something Dimitri told him.
I hold onto the moment, burn it into memory.
Because I know whatever Theo's about to do next, there's always a chance, however slight, that this is it.
